A Quick Chat with Butter Bath
You were doing a lot of traveling during the making of RUSHES, how did this influence your creative process?
I went over to the UK to play some shows and was able to see a lot of live music while I was there. I think watching and playing more music in a live setting made me want to try writing music that would be really exciting live. Even leaning more into rhythms youβd find in dance music but keeping the lofi tones that Iβve established in other Butter Bath songs. Also, not having access to all my instruments forced me to write in a completely different way. When Iβm writing parts on physical instruments my hands gravitate towards familiar patterns so it was fun to be forced out of those habits.
Can you tell us about the short film you have planned to accompany RUSHES?
I actually didnβt set out with the intention of making a short film for RUSHES, the idea gradually developed as the videos were made. I knew that I wanted to assume characters for each of the singleβs music videos and after doing the βLove You Nowβ video, in which I was the devil, I decided I wanted to be an angel in the next video and shoot some extra footage to show the progression from devil to angel. The progression from angel to man was then turned into the footage for the second half of the EP. The characters felt right for each of the songs and I wanted to tie it together in a way that augmented the narrative arc of the EP. Itβs also just really addictive shooting videos on Super 8 so once I started I didnβt want to stop.
RUSHES delves into the highs and lows you experience both as a person and an artist, what inspired you to explore these particular concepts?
When Iβm writing for Butter Bath songs I often just start scribbling down lyrics without thinking too much about a particular theme and about halfway through writing the song, the meaning becomes clear. I enjoy the process of spitting out a stream of lyrics and then formatting it into a cohesive idea afterwards more than I enjoy setting out to write about something intentionally - the songs always feel less contrived when I write that way. In hindsight, the concepts that ended up making their way in the songs were all really significant to me at the time.
Who are some artists you take inspiration from that people may not expect?
Iβve been listening to a lot of Hether and Men I Trust. I love how their music sounds simultaneously lofi and hifi. Itβs such a great combo. Iβm always listening to The War On Drugs but in terms of local artists, Iβve been really loving Maple Glider and Surprise Chef.
When and where can we catch your next Butter Bath show?
Weβre playing in Melbourne on the 7th of October at the Gasometer Hotel which will be my first headline Melbourne show so Iβm really excited for that one.