Catch up with Southern California-based indie rock four-piece CAPTIONS. and listen to latest single, "Bearfights", off their upcoming debut full length album, ITERATIONS.
What brought you all together?
John: Adam and I started writing songs together around 2009, but the band went through a few different variations before becoming what it is now. We met Marcus when he played a few shows with us in another band that ended up breaking up. And Josh answered our Craigslist ad in 2011 after our drummer had moved up North. We officially became CAPTIONS. at the beginning of 2012.
Which musicians have you been influenced by, individually or as a band?
Collectively, the band is influenced by bands like Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Tame Impala, Porter, Elliott Smith, The Beatles, Flying Lotus, J Dilla, and Death Cab for Cutie. There are countless others, past and present, that we’re avid listeners of, too.
If you were to make a playlist to share with your fans, which three songs - from other artists - would you have to include?
Josh: "Host Of A Ghost" by Porter, "1983" by Flying Lotus, and "Age Of Consent" by New Order.
Marcus: Elliott Smith - "Clementine", The Beach Boys - "Don’t Worry Baby", David Bowie - "Heroes"
John: “When You Sleep” by My Bloody Valentine, “Sugarless” by Autolux, and “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead.
Which words would you use to describe your sound?
Playfully moody, dreamy, slightly hazy, introspective, and slightly weird.
What was your inspiration behind your single, "Bearfights"?
"Bearfights" was written in a similar fashion as the rest of our songs. We start with a rough idea and play it through as a band until it snowballs into the version you hear today. I think the most inspiration we drew on this song was from the drink 'bearfight', which is an Irish car bomb followed by a Jagerbomb. I’m sure it’s inspired a certain level of debauchery in all of us at some point in time.
Could you tell us more about your album, ITERATIONS, and what we can expect to hear?
Marcus: I think you can definitely hear our influences in our music so expect to hear something eerily familiar but present-day fresh.
How would you sum up that album in one sentence?
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
What do you hope listeners are able to take away from your music?
Josh: A connection. To relate the songs to life experiences, whether they be past or present experiences. I’d like for our music to be a part of the soundtrack to somebody’s life.
Marcus: Hopefully our listeners feel inspired to play music after hearing ours. The fact that we can make music and share it with people from all parts of the world from our bedrooms is borderline fairytale. Let’s keep it going people!
Is there anything you want to add?
Guac, please.