“what the fuck are you doing moving to New York? This place is dead, you’re too late”

Line of Best Fit has an interview with Been Stellar and it’s a good read. They’re one of the best bands I’ve come across this year — their EP has been on the turntable more than anything else recently, and I’m sure my neighbours are sick of hearing Manhattan Youth.

At the time, there were few opportunities for bands to play in NYC, and the nights that did exist were led by start-up companies who put on mismatched lineups to quarter-filled rooms, charging $20 dollars a ticket. Dissatisfied with what their surroundings had to offer, Slocum and co decided to put on their own shows, renting out gallery spaces and inviting their fellow creative peers to curate with them, keeping things cheap but authentic, with bands, clothing stalls and visual art all in the mix.

The singles from the album all share a kind of urgency and looseness, which is likely in part a result of the recording setup:

Scream from New York, NY was recorded live in two weeks, which contributes substantially to the record’s looming sound (with the exception of a few barely noticeable overdubs). “[Producer] Dan [Carey] really wanted me to record the entire album at once,” Slocum explains, “so we went into it as if it was a show. We even had some friends come and sit in the studio.”

Read the piece, it’s great. The record comes out June 21 (the day before my birthday!).

---