Emerging from the vibrant Brooklyn music scene, Lazyeyes recently delivered a captivating performance at the Great Scott, marking a highlight of their East Coast tour alongside surf rock contemporaries, Surfer Blood. Following their electrifying set, WHRB had the opportunity to delve into the minds behind the music, sharing pizza and conversation with Jason, the band’s insightful singer, and Sam, the virtuoso guitarist. Lazyeyes defies easy categorization, often described as shoegaze or dream pop, yet they transcend these labels. As they gear up to release their highly anticipated new album, their live show hints at a sound that’s both deeply rooted and refreshingly innovative, sidestepping genre clichés with a confident stride. Discover the unique soundscape of this up-and-coming band here and immerse yourself in the interview below, where they discuss their journey, inspirations, and the essence of their music.
From Brooklyn Roots to Bandmates
The story of Lazyeyes began in Brooklyn, a borough synonymous with musical innovation. Jason recounts the band’s formation, tracing back to earlier musical collaborations. “Sam and I actually go way back to our other band, ‘The Twees’,” Jason explains. The current lineup solidified when he and drummer Jeremy Sampson connected through mutual friends. “Jeremy Rose joined later,” he continues, “He was Jeremy Sampson’s roommate and stepped in just before a tour when our bassist had to leave.” This serendipitous connection highlights the organic nature of the band’s formation, a testament to the close-knit Brooklyn music community. Sam adds, “It was a last-minute call, ‘Want to go on tour?’ and Jeremy Rose was in.” The camaraderie extends beyond just bandmates; Jason fondly recalls a recent show where their former bassist joined them onstage, culminating in a chaotic and joyful pile-on of band members, a testament to their enduring friendships.
The Stage: From Intimate Venues to Festival Stages
When asked about their most memorable performance, Sam immediately declares, “This one tonight.” Jason echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the unique energy of the Great Scott show. The conversation naturally shifts to the dichotomy between intimate club shows and larger music festivals. “Festivals are great because you get to share the stage with bands you admire,” Jason elaborates, acknowledging the allure of large-scale events. However, he quickly balances this with the distinct charm of smaller venues, “Playing in a sold-out room like tonight, it’s incredibly intimate and awesome. It’s a trade-off, and both have their own magic.” This reflects the band’s appreciation for diverse performance settings and their ability to connect with audiences regardless of venue size.
Lazyeyes band members Jason and Sam share a laugh during their interview, highlighting their easygoing camaraderie.
Looking ahead to the summer festival season, Jason reveals their current focus is on their upcoming album. “No festivals lined up yet, as we’ve been immersed in recording,” he states. The band is currently navigating the label landscape, “We’re shopping around, figuring out the right label to release it, and touring will definitely follow the album release.” This strategic approach underscores their dedication to crafting their music and ensuring its wide reach.
The Genesis of Originality: From Plastic Guitars to Iranian Heritage
Delving into their musical origins, Jason shares a charmingly “embarrassing” anecdote. “When I was just seven, I picked up my cousin’s detuned plastic guitar,” he recounts. This seemingly trivial moment sparked a creative fire, “I wrote a song and walked around for ten hours singing it, much to everyone’s annoyance.” This early passion foreshadowed his musical trajectory. He then describes receiving a real guitar at age eleven, a gift that wasn’t always appreciated by his parents. “My parents are from Iran, and I’m a first-generation American,” he explains, adding a cultural dimension to his upbringing. His father’s initial support wavered, “There were times my dad threatened to chop it with an axe, regretting the purchase!” Despite parental skepticism, Jason’s musical exploration continued, evolving through phases of hip hop and rock influences, demonstrating a broad and eclectic musical taste. In contrast, Sam jokingly laments, “I don’t think I even know how to play music now,” before Jason playfully interjects, “Sam is one of my favorite guitarists in the world,” highlighting Sam’s musical talent and their band dynamic.
Stage Chemistry and Musical Dialogue
Reflecting on their live performance dynamic, the interviewer notes the engaging interplay between Jason and Sam. “It was like you were battling on stage at some points,” the interviewer observes, capturing the energetic and almost conversational nature of their musical interaction. This on-stage chemistry translates to their songwriting and arrangement process, where musical ideas seem to flow organically between them, creating a rich and textured sound.
High School Soundscapes: From Floyd to Zeppelin
Shifting gears to their formative musical influences, the conversation explores their high school listening habits. Jason humorously admits to a hazy high school experience, “I have no memories from high school. I would just get really stoned. Very little recollection.” He paints a picture of teenage rebellion and musical immersion, “I went to at least 4 different high schools in 3 years. I was a bad kid.” Despite the turbulent high school years, music remained a constant, “All I listened to was Floyd in high school. Literally just Floyd all day.” Sam, who was homeschooled, offers a contrasting yet relatable experience. “I listened to a lot of records that I don’t remember,” he jokes, before listing some foundational influences, “Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Nirvana, like the obvious things when I was a kid.” These classic rock staples, combined with Jason’s psychedelic Floyd immersion, provide a glimpse into the diverse sonic palette that informs Lazyeyes’ music.
Visualizing Sound: Cinematography and “Oldboy” Inspirations
The interview delves into the synesthetic quality of Lazyeyes’ music, exploring the visual landscapes their sound evokes. “When you play music it feels like more than just the sounds. It feels like you can hold it and see it,” the interviewer remarks, prompting a discussion about visual accompaniment to their music. Jason, who has ventured into filmmaking, describes his approach, “I’ve seen some crazy shit, so I guess that stuff. I’ve made a homemade music video for ‘Darling Dear’,” he mentions, detailing his DIY approach using found footage and experimental techniques, “A lot of overlays and color blends.” He expresses an interest in cinematography, “I like it. I haven’t practiced it enough myself,” suggesting potential future explorations in visual arts.
Their music video for “Adaptation” is then brought up, specifically its homage to the film Oldboy. Jason recounts the amusing backstory of the video’s creation, a project initially commissioned by the Marriott hotel chain. “We won some competition with Marriott,” Jason explains, “and they offered us filming locations and hotel stays.” However, the resulting video, with its dark Oldboy themes, clashed with Marriott’s brand image. “They were like ‘Yo, we’re gonna let you film in any of our locations, stay in our hotel’ and then we made this fucked-up music video and they were like ‘We can’t let our viewers see this. This is not family friendly.’” The band’s refusal to compromise their artistic vision led to a humorous standoff, “So we got our publicist to get it out on some blog and we released it.” Sam playfully envisions a Marriott-approved alternative video, filled with hotel room comfort and product placement, contrasting sharply with their actual Oldboy-inspired creation.
Narratives and Musical Evolution: Beyond EPs
Moving to their discography, the interviewer inquires about a potential narrative arc across their Lazyeyes EP, New Year EP, and forthcoming album. Jason offers a personal perspective, “Life experiences, where we were at that point in time, how we felt.” Sam provides a more concise, contrasting answer, “Short answer is no,” injecting their characteristic humor into the discussion. While not explicitly narrative-driven, their evolving sound reflects their growth and experiences as musicians.
Markets and Misunderstandings: A Band In-Joke
The conversation takes a humorous turn with a question directed at drummer Jeremy Sampson, referencing a previous interview quote about being “super stoked about the markets.” Sam and Jason erupt in laughter, anticipating the inside joke. “How did you know that? I thought that was stricken from the record,” Sam jokes. Jason clarifies the context, revealing a playful band dynamic where he is teased for his business background. “Sometimes they mock me. I’m a business major and I’m also a music manager and I manage the band.” The term “market,” in a business context, became a source of amusement. “The term market is the term for a place! Not an actual supermarket! Like different markets, which is the Tristate area or the West Coast. It’s called a market,” Jason explains. The band playfully exaggerated this, leading to humorous misunderstandings. “I just went along with it and started saying yes there are so many supermarkets where we are going to. This is going to be great,” Jason recounts, highlighting the band’s lighthearted camaraderie. Sam then interjects with a non-sequitur, “Unrelated, I’d just like to call out my girlfriend right now. My girlfriend is super awesome and I really like her,” adding to the interview’s spontaneous and humorous flow.
Studio to Stage: The Art of Live Translation
Transitioning back to musical craft, the interview explores the challenges of translating studio recordings to live performances, particularly for Sam, who joined the band after their initial EPs were recorded. “Anything you’ve heard from a studio, I wasn’t playing on,” Sam explains, emphasizing the learning curve he faced. “It was hard for me, but that was a translation I had to do. It was a little bit of work to try and figure out what was going on.” He describes the difficulty in deciphering layered guitar parts, “No one was able to explain to me what guitar part was my guitar part.” Jason acknowledges the complexity of their arrangements, “That’s kind of hard to explain. A lot of overlap?” he adds, confirming the intricate nature of their studio sound. Sam elaborates on the nuances missed in recordings, “There’s a lot of things, like this part means more than that part and you can’t really listen to a record and hear that.” Despite the initial challenges, Sam affirms their successful adaptation, “So yeah it was kind of hard but we figured it out,” showcasing his dedication to mastering their complex musical landscape.
Lima Bean Respect Day: A Humorous Farewell
Concluding the interview on a lighthearted note, the interviewer references the upcoming April 20th, playfully framing it as “Lima Bean Respect Day.” This unexpected question elicits amusement and playful responses. “So what are you guys going to do to celebrate 4/20, Lima Bean Respect Day?” the interviewer asks. Jason quips, “Get really stoned and eat lima beans,” embracing the humorous tone. Sam offers a more elaborate, whimsical take on lima bean appreciation, “Well when I was a little boy, I didn’t like my lima beans. Now as I grow, I have realized the power of the lima bean.” He elevates the humble lima bean to a symbol of profound experience, “When you ingest the lima bean it sometimes hits home in a certain way and there’s nothing like it. There’s nothing like having enough lima beans that you just don’t care about anything anymore.” This playful exchange provides a memorable and quirky closing to the interview, leaving a lasting impression of the band’s humor and easygoing personalities.
Just Beans, Marketplace Songs, and Jazz Sensibilities
Lazyeyes, in essence, embodies a “just beans” approach to music – stripping away pretense and focusing on the core ingredients of heartfelt songwriting and authentic performance. They navigate the “marketplace” of the music industry with a unique blend of ambition and artistic integrity, carving out their space with songs that resonate with genuine emotion and sonic depth. And while not strictly a jazz band, there’s a “jazz” sensibility to their music – a willingness to improvise, experiment, and engage in a musical conversation, both amongst themselves and with their audience. Their music is an invitation to experience sound in its purest form, a testament to the power of simple elements combined with creative passion.
The interview concludes with acknowledgements to Inbound Pizza and the Great Scott, leaving readers with a taste of Lazyeyes’ unique blend of musical talent and engaging personalities, and a strong encouragement to explore their music further.
