Interview: Pure Intruders
By Sophie Minello
Pure Intruders were formed during quarantine and through that they created a deep bond. In this warm collection of songs they capture the feeling of the reflection of isolation. Read our interview with them below.
What inspired the sound of the EP?
It’s so easy to get lost in this question. I think we’re all able to feel inspired by elements outside of music. A beautiful day, a walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood, etc. I think it’s more of feeling so inspired that it compels you to sit down and create. On “Canoe” for example, I couldn’t help but imagine listening to Jonathan’s guitar progression floating in water. That image was essentially a blueprint for how that song would be assembled. There’s actually a sample of a floating canoe in that song. But at the same time, we do feel indebted to a few artists we were specifically listening to that helped sculpt the ideas on No Hard Feelings. Dorothy Ashby, Margo Guryan; a lot of older artists that constructed such beautiful, organic songs. We never listen to something and think, “Okay, let’s recreate this.” It’s more of filtering enough inspiration to fuel you and create something entirely new.
- Brandon
What was your process for writing and recording the EP?
We were confronted with a lot of new challenges recording this EP. First off, we did not realize how much we were going to incorporate acoustic guitar on this release. Jonathan is a fantastic bassist that sometimes writes really attractive chord progressions on guitar. His sketches reminded me how much I actually love the sound of a classical guitar, especially with Madeline’s vocal fluttering over it. We realized we could incorporate acoustic as the framework for these tracks, without being full-on “Acoustic” songs. But recording acoustic is nothing like recording bass or keys. There’s background noise, there’s shuffling, there’s mic placement, etc. We were also recording this EP at home in Chicago, meaning you’d get a great take and then a police siren goes by. Frankly, there was a decent amount of frustration, but after hearing the end result and learning so much from the experience, I wouldn’t change anything about the process. Well, maybe the sirens.
- Brandon
What was it like to form a band during the peak of a pandemic?
In retrospect, it was probably a good time for us to launch a new project. Considering live shows went out the window, venues closed and tours were canceled, we didn’t feel guilty about shutting ourselves away to focus on writing and recording music. We didn’t have to fret about getting a live band together to play shows. For us, the year 2020 was just about getting material finished and putting it out with an objective.
- Madeline
How did you find inspiration throughout the pandemic?
There certainly wasn’t inspiration hiding around every corner, we had to believe in it and seek it out. One of the learning curves this year was attempting to stay motivated and positive. We had the time with no excuse to stay productive musically, but it was a challenge to write meaningful narratives with so little new experiences happening. Every day felt like the same day, and often I felt very lazy and deflated, and if I didn’t feel despondent I felt anxious or guilty about not working harder. It was hard to navigate how I should be feeling. I think for a lot of people, spending so much time at home forces you to look inward and outward. I think we all learned good things and bad things about ourselves, but hopefully we’ll come out of this realizing our true life necessities and the importance of human to human connection. Ultimately, the introspection of daily quarantine life was the substance necessary to write about, and those feelings of impassivity and aimlessness came out in the opening song ‘Canoe’.
- Madeline
Why do you think this collection of songs are important? What do you hope listeners will get out of it?
I think for us, this four song EP was really about putting something out that was genuine and tender. None of these songs are singles or ‘bangers’, they’re very toned down and sensitive. We have a lot of Disco-centric songs on the horizon, so this EP was an important opportunity to introduce our listeners to a modest sound. Overall, I hope when people listen to the EP, they feel relaxed, at peace with the pleasant melodic sounds but also rejuvenated to take on the day with more fervor and connection to the world around them. A lot of the running themes in this EP revolve around self-criticism, the importance of catching yourself when you’re feeling discouraged or anxious or doubtful, and to persist with a better understanding of your self worth and those around you.
- Madeline
Can you tell us about the album artwork for the EP?
Working with Italian artist Lorenzo D’Alessandro on the album artwork was probably the highlight of this project for all of us. When we first discovered his catalogue, we knew he was the artist that would make the album art for No Hard Feelings. His work has a very soft, organic, gentle aesthetic that reflected the sweet sounds of the music. He sent us several customized drawings that all challenged a final decision, but the woman sitting in the empty pool was the verdict. It encapsulated the mood of the songs so well. There is an acknowledged displacement in the image, a dissociative choice to rest and contemplate in an unorthodox place.
- Madeline
What’s in store for the future of Pure Intruders?
Plenty of new music. But organized music. In a digital age saturated with so much content, I want us to be a band that is always authentic and distinctive. I want our listeners to know they can rely on us to put out a good song. The music will always come first. We’re working on a new collection of songs, with a slightly more lavish upbeat tone. Something to dance to. After all, we’ll need a dance party after this. And as always collaborating with other artists, whether it be music videos, album art, publications or musical collaborators, there are always other creators that can contribute to making a better project.
- Madeline