Q&A: Warbly Jets Takes Us Through The Making Of "NASA" and "LOW RESOLUTION"
HIGHLIGHTING THE TRULY CREATIVE AND INTIMATE PROCESS OF CREATING MUSIC - Warbly Jets gives us some insight into the making of their tracks “NASA” and “LOW RESOLUTION” through their latest walk through videos. The duo of Samuel Shea and Julien O’Neill come together to always experiment with their sound while bringing a fun approach to their music.
Shea notes, “I love the creative process of figuring out how to achieve new sounds - hearing something in my head and working it through in the studio until we find it. These videos give a little bit of a look into how we created 'LOW RESOLUTION' and 'NASA,' with some of the techniques and equipment we used to record the songs.”
Since their debut release “Alive” in 2016, Warbly Jets have continued to bring something new to their sound while always keeping true to that special energy they radiate. With a new emphasis on production, the band has showcased their skills not only as musicians and writers, but now producers as well.
Through these walk through videos, Warby Jets takes us through their process including how they make the most of their setting, some vintage sonic elements they like to play with and how they ultimately put their spin on each track. Understand their approach better through their videos below and hear from O’Neill on what they’ve been up to lately, taking the DIY approach to their music and more.
LUNA: How has this spring season been treating you?
O’NEILL: Positive. We’re half vaccinated and ready to meet the world in the middle. Excited to be doing in person collaborations, shows, and everything else we miss in the year to come.
LUNA: The track walk-through videos really give a great insight into your creative process - how have you seen quarantine shift that process, if at all?
O’NEILL: Quarantine hasn’t really shifted our process too much. We’ve been working a similar way in writing and production for the last year and a half or longer, so the interference of the pandemic only delayed things for a little while.
LUNA: Sonically, what are some elements you’d like to explore in future music?
O’NEILL: Involving more forms of new tech and post-modern production (modern being what’s happening in popular music currently). Future forward thinking as much as possible. We have some ideas for what those things are, but don’t want to share quite yet.
LUNA: Instead of getting frustrated from the noise of a party next door, you incorporated the sound into the track itself. What’s the craziest/most random sound you’ve sampled/incorporated into a track?
O’NEILL: Hard to say because we go a little crazy while making things! On a track we haven’t released yet, there’s a sort of strummed dismantled “electric piano harp.” It sounds very haunting when played, like something from an abandoned house, but it happened to be in the exact key for the song we were working on at the time so it worked seamlessly.
LUNA: “LOW RESOLUTION” also features a killer guitar solo - love it! What do you like about experimenting with your sound and trying new things?
O’NEILL: The element of surprise. It’s a great feeling to surprise ourselves with new ideas and giving fans something that’s entirely brand new, but still sounds like us.
LUNA: I really admire that you write, record and produce all of your music yourselves. It’s been cool to see this new “generation” of artists that take such a hands on approach to everything they do - what advice would you pass along to an artist wanting to get more into production but don’t know where to start?
O’NEILL: Experiment as much as possible and be hands on with engineering. Learn about the science of how sound is physically captured and what equipment does it to your taste. Make your own samples. Piece together your own drum kits from unique sounds. Don’t be afraid of doing something different while still aspiring to create something you already love. It’ll come out different no matter how close you try to replicate it. You’ll find your own approach and what flows best in time, but at the end of the day you’ll have full control to make exactly what you want.
LUNA: A fun one - where’s your go to place to eat near your studio in LA?
O’NEILL: Beelman’s Pub. They have a great beer selection and insane vegan food. It’s just a few blocks away so we taking dinner breaks there a couple times a week.
LUNA: You’ve kept busy this year which is great! What do you hope the upcoming months have in store for y’all?
O’NEILL: Looking forward to writing with new artists, collaborators. Releasing more music and just being as aggressively creative as we can push ourselves to be.
