Congratulations on the release of ‘Pacific Coast Highway’. I love the beachy rock feel of it. What was it that inspired the song?
Mike B: “Thank you! That song was born on the California coast. My girlfriend and I were living in Los Angeles for a medical school rotation spending a lot of time surfing and getting sunburned. I was emerging from a disheartening winter/spring where I decided I wanted to completely change my career path. We were in Malibu for a longboarding competition and I was laying on the beach thinking about how good things felt. It’s about finally feeling good again. “
Do you have a lyric from ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ that means the most to you?
Mike B: “Probably the intro lines “Days drift into night, You’re never far from home”. It’s a reminder that time flies and to enjoy the ride. Time and change often happen concurrently. Although change can be tough, it usually results in growth. All the house plant owners out there know that you need to prune back some branches in order to strengthen the trunk and root system. Realizing that I was ready to accept change to strengthen myself also inspired the album title “Home at Last”.”
What have you found to be the most challenging during the recording/mixing process?
Mike B: “I hate that I love the way stacked vocal harmonies sound so much haha. Too much Beach Boys growing up maybe? It’s just a really really tedious process to get the final product sounding tight, but when done right – it’s got unmatched power.”
Mike M: “With a song like Pacific Coast, there are so many tracks vying for attention, so it was really about what needed attention at specific moments. Carving out space in the frequency spectrum, utilizing the stereo spectrum, and using automation of volume and effects really makes the mix three dimensional and performative. Mike and Justin did such a good job capturing the sound and performances that, when it came to mixing that one, it was really about just finding a way to let those performances shine in the best light possible.”
When did you decide you wanted to start making music together?
Mike B: “Mike and I are from the same hometown and I met Justin during medical school at UConn. We just immediately became best friends and have always had very similar taste in music. Our hangs were usually either around the record player or at a live show. I moved into a house in Hartford, CT and we converted the basement into a jam space/live venue. From there, our music developed pretty naturally – probably because we all grew up listening to the same types of artists.”
You also released your debut album ‘Home at Last’ this year. What was the process of recording this like?
Justin: “The process for recording ‘Home at Last’ took about four years. We recorded everything in Mike B’s basement using Ableton. We usually start with a jam or a rough track Mike ripped during a late night sesh. Drums are recorded with four mics – two overhead and two dynamic (snare/kick). We try to take a minimalist approach and only add elements that bring the total vibe higher.”
Mike M: “We always try our best to serve the song. This shared approach helps us achieve a product that we’re all stoked about. When it comes to the lead guitar, the perspective is the same. Mike’s 60s-esque vocals create a rich backdrop where I can splash a little color and texture which goes a long way.”
What are your greatest strengths as artists?
Mike B: “We each bring something to the table to make the band work – that’s probably our biggest strength. I dig the songwriting thing. Justin has a really deep understanding of music in general. He kind of works like a filter – knowing what stuff would work and what wouldn’t. Mike M has a great ear for melody and we’ve been friends for so long that he just knows me and can kind of “see” for me in times of artistic blindness. I’m not great with mixing so thankfully they both are willing to invest so much time into it.
If you could go on tour with any other musician, who would you choose?
Mike B: “If only Dr. Dog would tour again! Their new album is so good, and Critical Equation was a masterpiece. I think there would be some good sound crossover too (probably because our music is so inspired by them and the freedom/fun it sounds like they have during the recording process). Or some other bands we love who are killing it right now like Dick Stusso, Babe Rainbow, Allah-Las or Andy Shauf. Opening for Weezer would also be a “dream”.
You can listen to Housewives’ single Pacific Coast Highway and album Home at Last here: