Brick + Mortar – Meta Meta Etc.

By starrymag | October 5, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

Brandon – I would like to think it’s eclectic. A big part of my own personal goal for this band was to never sound the same twice. I didn’t want to be a genre specific artist. I want to do it all.

 

John – Like getting punched in the face with a kiss while reflecting on your life.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

Brandon – So many different songs and sounds influence us. I feel like our range spans from Wu-Tang to Pink Floyd to jazz, funk and beyond. We are not really emulators, I guess more of the kind to search for our own identity.

 

John – I don’t really look to music for influence. I’m more influenced by how music affects me. More of a vibe-based influence. Some of the time, it’s not music, it’s a sound in nature I heard that sparked a melody inside my head, it’s the tempo of my windshield wipers matching up with the old dude walking down the street, it’s watching someone really enjoy themselves at something they love doing. These kinds of things influence me.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your single “Saturday Night.”

 

Brandon – It’s my little ode to drug culture. People are dying every day from overdoses and we are a party nation. Feels almost like living fast and dying young is the new American dream.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

Brandon – I think everyone has that dark indulgent side to them. The one that makes you reckless and fearless when it comes to self-destruction.

 

Q) What made you decide to go label free with your music?

 

Brandon – Pretty much, labels didn’t get our sound. We made the record ourselves, shopped it around, but nobody got the sound it seemed. After a while we got fed up and decided to just focus on the music and not chasing some amazing situation. At the end of the day, I want to make music I think is great and not be a salesman.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

Brandon – I don’t need any music to come up with lyrics or melody. Actually, a lot of times I come up with a line or melody that’s stuck in my head and we find the music later.

 

John – I don’t have really any hand in the writing of our lyrics. I’m more of the guy focusing on the possible layers of sound that the song could offer. Lots of what I come up is me reacting to something. Anything. Like literally one bar of a simple melody could turn into a whole song if the right synapses align. Sometimes it takes time, but sometimes songs churn out quick. What I love about music is that if something isn’t working, you can revisit it days, months, even years later and each time you’ll have a new idea that you previously didn’t have thrown into the mix.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

Brandon – Tacon and I have a very heavy hand in the production of our music. We’re at the core of the unique sounds our songs contain. We are always looking for something that sounds fresh.

 

John – Yeah, on this new record, Meta Meta Etc., Brandon and I produced it all. We honed each and every sound ourselves. We experimented a lot with different micing techniques that dissimilar to how we achieved sounds in the past. We love to get our hands dirty and spend the time to get what we want.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Brick + Mortar performance?

 

Brandon – Insanity! Our show is a full spectrum audio visual experience.

 

John – I can almost assure you that you will be very entertained. And you might get hit with big blue foam hands.

 

Q) You were featured on Spotify’s “New Noise” list. How does that make you feel?

 

Fucking great! Allison Hagendorf was kind enough to put us on there. For a band like us, getting those placements is huge!

 

Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

 

Brandon – We just released our first full length album called Meta Meta Etc. It’s available worldwide!

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

Brandon – Every show feels important to me. To me the stage is the most honest place there is. I either do well or I don’t. I personally love that pressure; it makes me feel alive. Hometown shows in Asbury Park are always special.

 

John – Love playing Denver. Literally every time we are there it’s insane. Denver was the first place we had radio success from the help of Nerf over at 93.3 KTCL. We also recently played Europe and those shows were incredible. Would love to go back!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

John – Kanye West already hit us up and we’re going to work something out.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

John – Love this band Vacationer. Been listening to them for a while and they just put out a record called Mindset. Definitely check them out. Been really digging this dude Omar Apollo, too. I just really dig the dudes style. Super freaky, groovy, and weird.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

Brandon – Social media is a double edged sword. On one hand, it helps us stay alive and gain exposure as a band. We can connect with fans everyday. On the other hand, it’s terrible for your mental health when you get caught up!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

Brandon – Honestly, just thank you and I love you.

 

John – Brick + Mortar fans… Fucking love you guys, seriously. You don’t have to come out to see us, spend money on a ticket, buy a bunch of merch, then hang with us after the show, but you do anyway. For that and many other things, we are forever grateful. Don’t forget to buy/stream/share our new album Meta Meta Etc. See you on the road!