After postponing an original trip to Australia late last year due to bad timing, Beach Fossils are extremely eager to make it up to their fans and have scheduled a trip to Melbourne and Sydney next month. Having never set foot in Australia before, Payseur’s enthusiasm is palpable over the phone. “I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t really know how much time I’m going to have there.”
Beach Fossils originally began as Payseur ‘s solo project in 2009. I asked him if he ever desired to sustain it as a solo idea. “It didn’t really matter, I just wanted to write the songs. If it turned into a band, then I would be happy with it. If it was a solo thing, I would be happy with it. I didn’t really think that far ahead. The reason it started as a solo project was because when I moved to New York, I just didn’t know anybody. I really wanted to play in a band, so I just recorded everything myself.”
After meeting the rest of the band in various jamming sessions across New York, Beach Fossils released their debut eponymous LP in 2010. Since then, Beach Fossils have had several lineup changes, with Payseur being the only original member.
Earlier this year, Beach Fossils transcended from its original days of DIY and stepped into the studio with producer Ben Greenberg to record their sophomore LP, Clash The Truth. “I love recording stuff myself. I just wanted to see what it [the studio] would be like, you know; it’s such a different experience. I liked the producer that I worked with, but I don’t really know if I like going into the studio that much. I kind of like the feeling of just doing it at home. You have more control over the sound, more control over everything.”
Beach Fossils’ debut was defined by its lo-fi garage sound; minimalist atmospherics fused with subdued vocals. It was recorded in Payseur’s bedroom. When asked if he recommends the DIY approach to musicians starting out, he takes his time in answering. “Yeah, maybe just at least start that way and then go from there. There’s nothing wrong with going into the studio, especially when you work with a producer that you can be friends with.”
Clash The Truth personifies the trials of human existence and the everyday inability to grasp reality. “[Clash The Truth] kind of stood for this idea of daily life, of going through the motions and accepting everything as it is and trying to make sense out of what you want to call reality and then realising that it’s much different than you think it is. All the time, you actually have no idea what reality actually is.”
This aspect of confusion and self doubt is personified through Payseur’s lyrics. Thematically, the first half of Clash The Truth deals with an anxious and insecure protagonist struggling to come to terms with reality. The second half, however, is dominated by acceptance and self-actualisation. The idea to construct an episodic linear structure was not a conscious decision for Payseur during production. “I didn’t really think about it on purpose, but most of the songs are about myself and my feelings and everything that I am going through. A few of the songs are about some of my friends and what they are going through. It’s about all these conflicting feelings that come from just being a human – just everybody having the same feelings. You have times where you’re feeling great and confident. You also have times where you’re like ‘I have no idea what I’m doing with my life.'”
So, are there any downsides to being a musician? “I would say no. I think everybody should have some sort of creative hobby that makes them feel like there’s something beyond this experience. Something that can make you emotionally transcend everything that you are experiencing. It never ceases to be a great feeling, to know that other people are enjoying what you’re doing.”
Aside from his work with Beach Fossils, Payseur is also involved in a side project called Divorce Money. He plans to hopefully bring something out with this band sometime next year. “The guitar player just got ran over; he’s alright, but really not in shape for us yet. This Summer was supposed to be my Summer of playing shows with that band. It’s horribly unfortunate. We had to put that on the back wagon.”
So how would he define Beach Fossils’ sound to those that are unfamiliar with their music? “We’re like dub-step.” Really? “Oh yeah. Like a combination of Skrillex and Backstreet Boys.”
BY DINA AMIN
