We had a chat with The Shrubs about their distinctive psychedelic style, new single ‘Let Us In’, and plans for the future
An ambitious duo who’s sound incorporates genres like indie rock, psychedelic and dream pop, The Shrubs are a duo who have been coming into their own creatively over the last few years, leading up to what they now consider the most accomplished and exciting work that they have put their name to to date.
Their latest single ‘Let Us In’ is a great showcase of that, an expansive track that has a unique tone and feel to it throughout while grappling with themes like mental instability and the societal judgment and treatment that comes with it. Their sound has a nostalgic quality that gives it a sense of familiarity while still feeling fresh and unique, and it makes for listening experiences that strike a chord with you as a listener in a profound and personal way. We love the project and their latest single, and we had a chat with them to find out a bit more about their style, their journey so far, and what their plans are going forward.
Who TF are The Shrubs?
We are a psych rock band, Miguel and Sophie, from Houston, Tx!
How long have you been making music?
Really as long as I can remember I (Miguel), have been playing with some instrument, I started on Violin in Kindergarten, started playing guitar around the age of 12? Started actually releasing music back in 2019, when we were signed to Blossom Records.
Why do you make music?
That’s much harder to answer, I thought these were gonna be easy questions!! Well, I think it’s probably a form of social maladjustment, or a general discomfort with expressing myself in a direct way. Most of the tracks lyrically are about topics I probably wouldn’t discuss openly to some degree or another. The other reason was that I grew up in a very non secular household down here in the deep south. So the only music I heard regularly was whatever I made up myself!
What are your biggest influences?
Musically, I would say like many rock bands, the usual foundational influences, such as The Beatles and Doors etc.. but for the past few years I would say Warren Hildebrand of Foxes In Fiction. I really admire almost every aspect of what he’s doing, from the song writing to the production etc..really big fan.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
I think it’s honestly happening right now…haha. I think it’s hard to pinpoint just one. We had a track in a commercial a few years back, but It seems like year after year we gain more momentum, in terms of just people accepting and being a fan of what we are doing, without us having to compromise or alter our direction or sound, just that fact alone has been really satisfying so far.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
I usually just say “psychedelic” but that is really vague right? I mean that would encompass everyone from The Silver Apples to Jane’s Addiction..I still use it though, I think the root of the genre is a certain creative freedom that I really like, it feels limitless in a way. I think Indie-Psych rock is probably the most appropriate, since we do adhere to the “original” Indie aesthetic of D.I.Y.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Hmm, not sure what that would be honestly..I think if there was ever a real moment like that, it would be the beginning of the end. I mean, once you reach your goals, it is probably hard to keep going on with the same motivation. If anything, I kinda hope that there is never really a moment when I think that!
We love your new single ‘Let Us In’, what more can you tell us about it?
It’s been one of my personal favorites to make, its actually really cool that so many people seem to dig it. The majority of it was recorded on various tape machines, from old cassette players to nice reel to reels. I always had some of those around, mostly to listen to music on, but this was the first track that really featured them extensively. I think my favorite part about it is that we worked on it so long, there’s layers on it that even I forgot were there!
What else do you have planned for the near future?
There is an album slowly being put together, the newer tracks have been much more uptempo than our previous work, so that has definitely been fun to explore.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
That’s really hard to answer! Whoever they are, they aren’t around me! Lol. People I know occasionally like what we do, but I think they are immune to its charms. I have a very small social circle, more like a half moon really, lol, so there isn’t too much “fandom” that I can observe directly.
