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Our Exclusive Chat with SPEELBURG
SPEELBURG is releasing his new record Porche on October 2 and we got to chatting with him on making an album during COVID.
Please tell us everything you know about your latest single, “Everything I Know”.
Nice. Well, the arpeggiated synth idea that opens the song was the first part. It was actually a pretty easy one to write. Other songs on the record like “Gwyneth” or “Lay It Right” had a bunch of different iterations, but as soon as I had that bubbling synth, the chords and lyrics came pretty easily. I spent a week out in New York and since Cautious Clay and I had been talking on Soundcloud, we got together when I was in town and he played down that beautiful sax part which really tied the whole thing together.
We used to go back to the States every couple of years in the summer, and I always loved that feeling of chasing lightning bugs and going to sleep and hearing bugs and crickets outside so I dug through our childhood tapes and sampled some of that background noise in the track going through that doppler plugin so it’s all weird and panning from ear to ear.
How did the collaboration come about with Cautious Clay?
I think he originally reached out on Soundcloud a few years ago and we kept in touch ever since. He had a couple tracks on there that I was crazy about. A great Toro Y Moi cover as well!
Are you open to more collaborations? If so, who is your dream collaborator?
Maybe Dirty Projectors. Or Action Bronson. Or Ex Reyes. Or Bleachers. And also Jamie Lidell.
Also, Gwyneth Paltrow was in the movie “Duets” with Huey Lewis and I’d love to make a sequel to that. Maybe it’s me, Gwyneth and Huey as a trio. I haven’t really given it much thought, but I could probably get you an outline by next week.
Why did you decide to name your upcoming album Porsche?
I wanted to have something that was uniquely weird and concise. We used to go to the supermarket when I was a kid and I would tell my mom that I would buy her a Porsche when I was older and wealthier. She’s no longer around so this is the next best thing. Also, there was this commercial in the 80s and it said, “Porsche. There was no substitute.” I love the balls to say there’s no substitute to this album when there’s obviously thousands of substitutes coming out every day. It’s really deep in one way and in another it’s quite funny.
What do you hope listeners take away from the album?
If I watch a skate video, I immediately want to go out and skate. It would be great if someone felt the same about mine. Like they saw my video and wanted to go out and shoot something. And as a person listening to it, I hope they like it enough to listen to it a second time.
It would be cool if people made out while it played in the background. Best case scenario is that it’s one of those albums people just listen to from start to finish every time. Maybe on a road trip to Barcelona or something.
Did you write and record during COVID?
Sure. I mean, I’ve spent more time directing than I have making music in the past 5-6 months just because I was getting ready to release a record so I wanted to get better at directing but I’ve started doing stuff with other people, which is pretty fun. I’ve written for a bunch of other people and I’ve kept a bunch of those ideas just for me. Album 3 is starting to have its own identity.
It’s also a good palette cleanser when there have been weeks of just directing and editing videos. It’s great to have a clear day where I can just go in and write music and it feels fun.
What are some things you watched, read, and listened to during quarantine?
I listened to a lot of Glenn Campbell and Thin Lizzy. Remi Wolf’s new EP is so so good. Lady Wray is also fantastic. What a voice! One of those things you listen to and have to rethink everything you’re working on.
I’ve been reading the Andy Warhol biography for so long, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t. Considering I ate up both Sally Rooney books last year in about two weeks, this is a completely different thing, but it’s sooo sooo good.
Obviously the Michael Jordan documentary. And that show “Corporate.” Those are both great. Also, there’s a new season of “Pen15” that just came out. Haven’t watched it yet but really looking forward to it.
What do you think the future of live music looks like?
Tough question. I think it’s probably not coming back the way we’re used to for another couple years, which is super sad, but I think livestreaming is only going to get better. Like better quality, better audio, better video, bigger production.
At this point, I can feel it in my bones like a calcium deficiency. I am severely lacking the approval of an audience. but I am hopeful. I think parking lot / drive-in shows could be really fun. People are getting amazingly thirsty ‘cause they have to, so it’s really fun to see all these new things pop up.
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