The same way that destination cities seem to trend for travel, the artistic output of certain cities sometimes flows in waves. This year, Chicago’s caught the attention of Fire Talk Records, who recently signed flow-fuzz duo Earring, and now, Deeper, whose debut single “Trans” came out last month.
The title track carries the weight of longing in its melody, with some ease, over a poppy rhythm, painting a warped and dreary background for its soulful vocal harmonies. The percussion comes like rain pelting against a tin roof on a summer day, cooling the scene and building a fog to leave you with after the storm. Guitar arpeggios cascade down the walls, which are laden with cool bass thickness, the oscillation of their collective groove interweaving perfectly. It’s heavy, and then it’s not, and then it’s cool, and then it’s sad, all just before the vocals hit, and everything’s burdened with the pain of feeling too much.
We snagged a quick Q&A with Deeper. Check it:
What would you say your goal is in creating music? Either artistically or cathartically?
We just wanna make music that we’re into and that we’re proud of.
Where does it come from? Inspiration or otherwise.
It’s automative. Us four understand each other really well. No one comes in with an acoustic guitar and plays a stripped down version of a song and says here’s a verse and a chorus or tells each other what to do. We all create our own parts that intertwine within each other’s parts.
And what would you say the end result looks like? Visually? What does it feel like?
Steel mills on a beach.
What’s the first record you ever bought? Was it the first one you felt connected to? Or how would it fit in with Trans?
Aquemini by Outkast, From the Muddy Banks of Wishkah by Nirvana, Greatest Hits by Velvet Underground, Sung Tongs by Animal Collective. Listening to VA made us want to start a band. Trans is just a product of our writing process. We were listening to Jenny Death by Death Grips at the time.
What other art forms drive you, and in what way? Any works that stand out in particular for your being?
We’re all pretty into film. Alejandro Jodorowsky, Verner Herzog, Harmony Korine, John Carpenter. We try to create a similar zone and environment as the films by these guys. Jodorowsky’s Dune Documentary showed us that the process of creating is the most important part and that it isn’t always about the final product.
How was it getting the record together, and getting in touch with Fire Talk?
It was really out of the blue and it all moved really quickly. The record is still in the works. We knew of Fire Talk because of being fans of Murals, Woodsman, Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk and of course our homies Earring. Trevor heard our song and told us that he really enjoyed our sound and hit us up, that’s basically it.
What does the year look like for you?
Writing a record, and touring.
