Brooklyn-based band Lazyeyes recently delivered a stellar performance at the Great Scott, marking a stop on their East Coast tour with surf rock icons Surfer Blood. WHRB seized the opportunity to grab some pizza and chat with frontman Jason and guitarist Sam, delving into their unique sound and upcoming projects. While their music might be labeled shoegaze or dream pop, Lazyeyes defies easy categorization. As they gear up to release a new album this year, their live energy suggests a sound that transcends genre clichés. Before you dive into the full interview, get a taste of their music here. Could their sound be as surprisingly satisfying as finding the perfect “Just Beans The Marketplace Song” – unexpected yet utterly captivating? Let’s find out.
So, the story goes you guys connected in Brooklyn through mutual friends?
Jason: Actually, Sam and I go way back to our previous band, “The Twees.” But Jeremy Sampson, our drummer, and Jeremy Rose – we met them through mutual friends. Jeremy Rose joined later when our original bassist had to drop out right before a tour. He was Jeremy Sampson’s roommate at the time, and Jeremy just asked him, “Want to go on tour?”
Sam: Yeah, it was pretty last minute.
Jason: We’re all still good friends though. The last time we saw our former bassist, he actually jumped on stage with us and we all ended up in a big pile-up. Like ten people on stage, it was crazy. I thought I was going to break my back.
Sam: I was there, but I honestly don’t remember that part.
What stands out as the best show Lazyeyes has ever played?
Sam: Tonight, definitely.
Jason: Yeah, seriously. Tonight was amazing.
Do you prefer playing at festivals or intimate shows like tonight?
Jason: Festivals are great because you get to share the stage with bands you admire. That’s a huge perk. But then again, shows like this, in a packed, sold-out venue, are incredibly intimate and offer a different kind of energy. It’s really a trade-off. I can’t honestly say one is better than the other. They both have their own unique awesome aspects.
Any festival appearances for Lazyeyes lined up this summer?
Jason: Not at the moment. We’ve been focused on recording our new record. Right now, we’re in the process of finding the right label to release it, and touring will definitely follow once that’s settled.
When did the journey of creating original music begin for you, Jason?
Jason: This is a bit embarrassing to admit. When I was around seven years old, I picked up my cousin’s plastic guitar – completely out of tune, mind you – and I wrote a song. I just walked around for hours singing it, and everyone was telling me to shut up.
So, that’s the raw origin story of punk rock then?
Jason: Exactly! And then, when I was eleven, I begged my parents to buy me a real guitar. My parents are from Iran, so I’m a first-generation American. There were definitely times when my dad threatened to chop it up with an axe because he regretted buying it for me. He’d say, “I don’t know why I bought this for my kid!”
I actually put it down for a while, got really into hip hop, and then started bouncing back and forth between rock and hip hop.
Sam: I’m not even sure I know how to play music anymore.
You sounded fantastic tonight, Sam.
Sam: Thank you, I appreciate you saying that.
Jason: Sam is genuinely one of my favorite guitarists in the world.
<a href=”<a href=”http://lazyeyesbk.bandcamp.com/album/lazyeyes”>Lazyeyes” class=”redactor-linkify-object”>http://lazyeyesbk.bandcamp.com/album/lazyeyes”>Laz…</a> by Lazyeyes</a>
The interplay between you two on stage was really captivating. At times, it felt like a musical duel.
Moving back a bit, what were you listening to in high school? What was on your iPod?
Jason: High school is a blur for me. I was pretty much constantly stoned. Very hazy memories. I think I went to at least four different high schools in three years. I was not a good kid. So, answering that is tough.
Sam: I was homeschooled, so no high school for me. True story. Basically, same answer – hazy. I mostly listened to records, but the details are foggy. But my постоянный playlist definitely included Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Nirvana – all the classic stuff you gravitate towards as a kid.
Jason: All I listened to in high school was Pink Floyd. Literally, just Floyd, all day long.
When you guys play, the music feels almost tangible, like you could visualize it. If you were to create visuals to accompany your music, what would they look like?
Jason: I’ve definitely seen some wild things, so probably drawing from that kind of imagery. I actually made a homemade music video for “Darling Dear,” it’s online, unofficially. That was my first attempt at that, using a lot of old 35mm footage, chopping it up and layering it all together. I’d say a lot of overlays and color blends would be in there.
Are you interested in cinematography?
Jason: I enjoy it. I haven’t really practiced it enough myself. That video was my first real try, and it turned out surprisingly well.
We’re also fans of your “Adaptation” music video, the Oldboy homage.
Jason: Oh man, that was a funny story. Marriott Hotels. We won some competition with them.
Sam: The hotel chain?
Jason: Yeah…and they were like, ‘We’ll let you film at any of our locations, stay in our hotel,’ and we thought, ‘sure, why not?’ Then we made this pretty messed-up music video, and they came back to us like, ‘We can’t really show this to our viewers. It’s not exactly family-friendly.’
Because the theme of Oldboy is so dark?
Jason: Yeah! They were like, we can’t have that associated with Marriott. And we were like, ‘Dude, we just made this whole video for you!’ So, our publicist at the time helped us get it out on some blogs, and we released it independently. Looking back, it’s still pretty hilarious.
Sam: Well, if I had directed that Marriott video, it would have been totally different. It would have been the band on tour, checking into a Marriott, going, “Oh my god, this bed is so comfortable!” We’d have a great night’s sleep, and then the alarm would ring, and we’d get a pleasant wake-up call from the front desk. They’d say, “Hello?” and we’d be like, “Yes, hello, I requested a 10 a.m. wake-up call,” and they’d say “Yes, it’s 10 a.m. sir, time to wake up.” Then we’d take a refreshing shower, marveling at how nice the soap is! And then we’d check out, feeling completely refreshed and ready to rock.
Jason: But then you’d see the tagline: “Marriott – rooms starting at just $129!”
Sam: Right, exactly. That’s clearly what they wanted. We just…missed the mark.
We should totally redo it, but with their competition at the end… who is their competition?
Jason: Hilton?
Maybe something a bit less glamorous… Motel 6?
Sam: Yeah, exactly! I like that idea.
From your Lazyeyes EP to New Year EP to your upcoming album, is there a connecting narrative thread? Is there something that ties them all together?
Jason: Life experiences, where we were at those points in time, how we were feeling. It’s all a reflection of our journey.
Sam: That’s the long, thoughtful answer. Short answer? No.
<a href=”<a href=”http://lazyeyesbk.bandcamp.com/album/new-year”>New” class=”redactor-linkify-object”>http://lazyeyesbk.bandcamp.com/album/new-year”>New</a> Year by Lazyeyes</a>
We actually have a question for Jeremy [Sampson].
Sam: I can probably field that one.
Jason: We can definitely answer for him.
He mentioned in a previous interview, “I’m super stoked about the markets.” What exactly was he referencing?
Laughs
Sam: How did you even unearth that? I thought that was buried forever.
Jason: I’ll explain. Sometimes they tease me. I have a business degree, and I also manage the band. And “markets” is just industry jargon for different geographical areas! Not actual grocery stores! Like different markets, like the Tristate area or the West Coast. Industry term! And they made fun of me for using it!
Wow, we were genuinely wondering if you guys had a passion for supermarkets or something…
Jason: I just went along with it and started saying, “Yeah, so many supermarkets on this tour. It’s going to be amazing for groceries.”
Sam: Completely unrelated, but I just want to give a shout-out to my girlfriend right now. My girlfriend is super awesome, and I really like her.
Moving from the studio to live shows, are there challenges in translating your recorded music to a live setting?
Sam: Well, anything you’ve heard on record, I wasn’t playing on. So, for me, it was a translation process. It took a bit of work to figure out what was going on musically. No one could really explain to me which guitar parts were my guitar parts.
Jason: It’s kind of hard to articulate.
A lot of layered sounds?
Jason: Yeah, exactly.
Sam: There are a lot of nuances, like certain parts being more emphasized than others, and you can’t always pick that up just by listening to the record. Your two EPs, especially, were quite challenging for me to decipher in terms of what you were doing and what I was supposed to be doing. So yeah, it was a bit of a learning curve, but we figured it out.
Alright, to wrap things up, one final question. As everyone knows, tomorrow is a very significant day for many people. April 20th. Of course, it’s Lima Bean Respect Day. Lima beans are packed with potassium and iron. So, how will Lazyeyes be celebrating 4/20, Lima Bean Respect Day?
Jason: Get incredibly stoned and eat lima beans.
Sam: You know, when I was a kid, I really disliked lima beans. But as I’ve matured, I’ve come to appreciate the power of the lima bean. When you consume a good amount of lima beans, it can really resonate with you on a deeper level. There’s really nothing quite like that feeling of lima bean-induced… contentment.
Thank you to Lazyeyes for a fantastic interview, Inbound Pizza for the delicious pizza, and the Great Scott for hosting us.
Amanda Glazer DJs on Record Hospital, Wednesdays at midnight EST. Andy Kim DJs on The Darker Side, bi-weekly on Saturdays at 9 PM EST.
