Diving into Psychic Graveyard’s lineage, with members hailing from bands like Arab On Radar, Chinese Stars, Some Girls, Doomsday Student, and Hot Nerdz, merely scratches the surface of what this band is about. Their music—edgy and electrifying—serves as a counterpoint to the bleak, dispassionate landscape shaped by today’s media. Yet, amidst their disruptive sound, certain elements remain steadfast: Charles Ovett’s unwavering dynamism on drums sets the pace; Nathan Joyner and Paul Vieira layer in gritty, pulsating rhythms with their raw synths and reimagined guitar sounds; and Eric Paul, with his versatile vocal prowess, brings to life an array of characters, from ethereal specters to edgy surrealists, each navigating the stark reality of a world at odds with itself.
Today, Psychic Graveyard announces a brand new LP entitled Wilting (due June 7) and shares its first single, “Your Smile is a Hoax.”
The band found inspiration in a Butthole Surfers riff and took it from there, complete with a fuzzed-out bass guitar.
“Over the years, we’ve realized that our songs are birthed in pairs,” reflects the band. “Your Smile is a Hoax is the sister to another Psychic Graveyard track off this upcoming album called Haunted By Your Bloodline. Both feature the use of two low-register instruments playing off of each other, with a higher synth note popping obnoxiously out of the mix. We feel as though it helps keep the chaos grounded. Those higher swirl elements come from a forgotten field recording of an ambulance passing by Nate’s house in San Diego. Lyrically, it fills in the listener on some of our experiences as an afflicted band in today’s world, traveling all over the place while we’re wounded, but somehow having a blast while we’re out there—bleeding everywhere.”
The video is a strange animation reminiscent of R. Crumb and 60s concert posters, sure to lull those into an altered state.
With a manic output of four full-length albums—Loud As Laughter, A Bluebird Vacation, Veins Feel Strange, and Wilting–in nearly as many years, this creative juggernaut is just getting started. Post-Punk.com had a few questions for Psychic Graveyard regarding the new single out now via Artoffact Records:
You said “higher swirl elements” in “Your Smile is a Hoax” come from a recording of an ambulance in San Diego. Are there lots of sounds in life that make it into your music, and do you think the geography of where you write and record affects what you’re making?
Quite a few field recordings make it onto our releases. We compose music by recording things and then chopping them up and reassembling them. Sometimes it’s just a click or a pop from someone moving the recorder. We find “life” sounds add a human feel to our digital workflow. We live very far away from each other and rely on technology to communicate our ideas. With that. YES! Where we are, definitely affects the outcome of what we’re making. Not because of the environment. It’s because we can communicate in real time. On the rare occasions that we are in the same room working on ideas, we notice they have an audible difference to our ears. Not to mention it speeds up the workflow tenfold. The foundational sounds we create in different locations stay pretty consistent. No matter where we are. No matter what environment.
How does “Your Smile is a Hoax” compare to the rest of the sound we can expect from the album?
Don’t trust it! HA! Most of our albums have phases. WILTING is no different. There’s a gamut of emotions it passes through and circles back again. We even went in directions none of us had ever gone in before. We were terrified while making it. But I love every moment of the finished version. We hope some others will dig it too!
You said the main impetus for creating this song was the craving for a fuzzed-out bass guitar. Which usually comes first for you- music or lyrics?
For Psychic Graveyard, it’s always a very loose musical idea. Someone has a sound they’ve made. Let’s see if we can make this resemble a song. If we can, we move on to vocals and lyrics.
While creating their latest LP, Wilting, Psychic Graveyard traversed the distances between Providence and San Diego, and now they beckon listeners to look beyond their impressive backgrounds and dive into the vibrant, uneasy dreamscapes they conjure. Mark your calendars: “Wilting” is set to unfold its enigmatic layers on June 7, 2024.
Wilting – TRACKLISTING
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