Interview: Baths

Back in January, I got the opportunity to speak with Will Wiesenfeld – the artist behind Baths – about his new album Gut. It’s been nearly seven years since Wiesenfeld released his last Baths’ project, Romaplasm, and Gut is his most thorough and fully realized Baths release yet – a brutally honest look at exploring his sexuality and the impulsivity and bleakness that comes from that. Gut is also pushes Wiesenfeld’s blend of electronic music into new styles and experimentation – a thrilling 11-track journey resulting in one of 2025’s most essential records. You can catch him on tour now. Below, Will and I discuss how the record came together, how he approached the songwriting, Heyshiro Matsuoka, and getting weirder and hotter with each release.

Drew Beringer Jun 21, 2024 0 comments

A few months ago I was privileged to chat with Chris Johns and Bryn Nieboer of Stay Inside about the band’s new album, Ferried Away. After releasing two beloved records (2020’s Viewing and the 2022 EP Blight) with No Sleep Records, the Brooklyn-based quartet released their second full-length independently – from the artwork to the videos to the physical copies Stay Inside has been completely in control of this release. It’s also the band’s most complete album to date – pushing their creativity and songwriting to new levels resulting in a nine-track 35-minute journey that’s both intimate and universal. It’s one of 2024’s most essential records – one that has a staying power beyond a typical press or release cycle. Below, we discuss some of the background behind the writing and conception of the record, releasing the record on your own, and more. And you can catch Stay Inside on a few tour dates with Arcadia Grey this week.

Drew Beringer May 1, 2024 0 comments

A few months ago I had the pleasure of speaking with Gulfer’s Joe Therriault and David Mitchell about the band’s latest album for Topshelf Records, Third Wind. The Montreal quartet’s fourth album expands beyond their emo/math rock wizardry and dives into more textured and sometimes poppier styles (songs like “Clean,” “Cherry Seed,” and “Motive” stand out). But even still, Third Wind is a Gulfer album through and through, still exhibiting the band’s charm and songwriting prowess that’s been developed over the course of their career. Joe, David, and I talk about the origins of the record, making three music videos, the joys of making music with your friends, and more.

Drew Beringer Jan 12, 2024 0 comments

On Friday, Infant Island will release one of the best records of 2024. “But Drew,” you say, “there’s only been 12 days of the year so far!” Trust me, I just know. Obsidian Wreath has been four years in the making from Fredericksburg, VA’s Infant Island. The quintet’s debut album on Touché Amoré’s Jeremy Bolm’s Secret Voice imprint (the band’s third full-length album overall), Obsidian Wreath captures the how desolate and dark our modern world is against a furious, scathing back drop of hardcore, screamo, and post-rock, as the album’s ten tracks paint a picture of survival, anxiety, and community. I was fortunate to speak with vocalist Daniel Kost, guitarist Alexander Rudenshiold, and bassist Kyle Guerra about the album’s themes, creation, and more.

Drew Beringer Aug 23, 2023 0 comments

Earlier this month, Chris Farren released his latest full length album Doom Singer. The propulsive power-pop record features Farren’s biggest yet most vulnerable songs ever, as he tackles nagging self-doubts and shortcomings all while the world continually falls apart around us. The addition of Macseal drummer Frankie Impastato and the production from Jay Som’s Melina Duterte, Farren was able to take his soaring choruses and musical idiosyncrasies to new levels, resulting in one of 2023’s best records. Below Chris and I discuss our favorite songs on the record, the making of Doom Singer, the creative process behind his music videos, and Buddy.

Drew Beringer Nov 7, 2022 1 comment

Drowse has delivered some of the best electronic and experimental music over the past few years dating back to their 2018 Flenser debut Cold Air. Now four years later with death, pandemic, and intense introspection all occurring in between, Kyle Bates is back with Drowse’s stunning fourth album, Wane Into It. As challenging as it is dark, Wane Into It explores how we curate the memories we want others to remember us by and how the internet plays an integral role in that. It’s a hyperrealistic and surreal look into loss, death, and all the anxiety that gets wrapped up into it. Today we are proud to premiere the final taste of Wane Into It before it releases on November 11th – the penultimate track “Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate).” A gentle acoustic strum paces the eight-and-a-half minute track before descending into sinister tones, all while Bates airy vocals chronicle what we lose due to distance and memory. But before we get into that, Kyle and I discussed the new record, what spurred some of the themes on Wane Into It, and ultimately what he hopes this record accomplishes. Check that out and “Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate)” below.

Drew Beringer Aug 26, 2022 2 comments

It’s been four years since Pianos Become The Teeth have released any new music. But after scrapping one record and reuniting with producer Kevin Bernsten, the Baltimore quintet is back with their most challenging and immersive record yet, Drift. A 37-minute journey through the night, Drift exhibits the most thrilling musical work from the band yet, ranging from pulsating tracks like “The Tricks” and “Genevieve” to murkier, groovier numbers like “Skiv” and “Mouth.” I chatted with guitarist Mike York about the inspiration and creation of Drift, the unique sonic dynamics of the record, and more.

Drew Beringer Aug 25, 2022 1 comment

Expert Timing returns with their sophomore outing Stargazing, its sound carrying an emotional punch that harkens back to the early emo of Hot Rod Circuit and Hey Mercedes. The record drops on September 23rd via Count Your Lucky Stars Records but we have an exclusive taste with the band’s latest single “New Queen.” Vocalist/bassist Katrina Snyder describes the track as:

It’s incredibly frustrating when you deep dive history and find that women have always been behind so many of the biggest events in history, yet their stories weren’t told and names were rarely printed. Even now, most women can tell you a circumstance in which her accomplishments were pushed aside or credit taken in favor of a man being in the spotlight. “New Queen” is about those forgotten women and celebrating them.

Check it out below and pre-order it on vinyl here.

Drew Beringer Aug 5, 2022 8 comments

Even though it’s been 15 years since Armor For Sleep released a new full-length, Ben Jorgensen never buried the idea of another record from the New Jersey emo-adjacent legends. After a handful of successful 15 16-year anniversary shows for their second record What To Do When You Are Dead, Armor For Sleep reunited with Equal Vision Records to release the band’s fourth album The Rain Museum, a 12-track collection that pushes the signature AFS sound to new boundaries. I recently sat down with Jorgensen to discuss the origin of the record, working with Equal Vision again, the emo revival, and the lasting legacy of What To Do When You Are Dead.

Drew Beringer Apr 5, 2022 0 comments

Today I’m beyond stoked to help premiere Cremation Lily’s latest track “Wavering Blood,” pulled from Dreams Drenched in Static, the UK-based artist and multi-instrumentalist’s debut album for The Flenser. It’s one of my favorite songs from a stunning record – Zen Zsigo has created an atmosphere drenched in reverb and booming ambiance. The record drops on April 15th and is available to pre-order now.

Drew Beringer Mar 17, 2022 2 comments

Warren Franklin is back with their new song “January,” which features vocals from Max Bemis. The song is from the band’s upcoming EP, Second April, which will be available digitally and physically on April 1st (pre-order here). The band described the song as:

”January” was the song that sparked the whole record. We wrote the song with Max in mind and he brought so much life to it. It was inspired by songs like Dancing in The Dark, Kyoto by Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski’s Nobody. Songs that sound so infectious and fun on the surface, but carry a deep sadness in them once you dig beyond that. That’s January for me.

Check out the song below.

Drew Beringer Jan 3, 2022

unfortunately 2021 felt a lot like 2020, huh? we’re fighting another wave of covid as I type this, our government is still putzing around, 40% of the country refuses to listen to science, etc. so that’s a major bummer but thankfully I’m vaxxed and boosted and if you are too, thank you. for me personally, the past 12 months were a whirlwind. my wife and I bought our first house this fall and a month ago we welcomed our first child into the hell world, a beautiful baby boy. so I can’t be anything but thankful for that. hopefully 2022 brings better things for all of us. anyways, below are the albums and EPs I liked the most – thanks for reading as always.

Drew Beringer Oct 21, 2021 12 comments

It’s been five long years but the new gods of Buffalo are set to return with their most complete and powerful album yet. Radical – Every Time I Die’s ninth full-length – features 16 of the band’s most personal, vulnerable, and heaviest songs yet with a couple of new wrinkles and twists thrown in for good measure. Vocalist Keith Buckley has been to hell and back and has lived to tell it, as the veteran frontman took time out of his busy schedule to cut it up with me about sitting on the record during a pandemic, his newfound writing style, and Malignant.

Drew Beringer Jun 1, 2021 3 comments

Parting is essentially a revivalist-emo super group consisting of Keith Latinen (Empire! Empire!), Ben Hendricks (Annabel), Gooey Fame (ex-Dowsing), and John Guynn (Hawk & Son). Latinen and Hendricks signature vocals pace the upbeat and melodic sound – their debut album Unmake Me is a must-listen for any fan of the genre. The collection drops this Friday but we got an exclusive first taste. Check it out below and pre-order it here.

Drew Beringer May 31, 2021 3 comments

Like many artists this past year, 2020 was a challenging one for Mannequin Pussy. Just a few months removed from releasing Patience – their first record for Epitaph Records – the world was shut down by COVID-19. After discovering that creating new music in a socially distant type of way wasn’t working, the Philadelphia-based trio booked time at Will Yip’s Studio 4 to spark some creativity. What emerged was the Perfect EP – a five-track collection that showcases the best of Mannequin Pussy’s sound while also displaying a tenderness within. From the booming passion of “Control” and “To Lose You” to the abrasive thrash of the title track and “Pigs is Pigs,” Mannequin Pussy continues to evolve their style in incredibly special and diverse ways. Below, guitarist/vocalist Missy Dabice and I discuss being creative during a global pandemic, working with Yip, and “Drunk II” (of course).

Interview: Baths

Interview: Stay Inside

Interview: Gulfer

Interview: Infant Island

Interview: Chris Farren

Interview: Drowse – Three Faces (Cyanoacrylate) (Song Premiere + Interview)

Interview: Mike York of Pianos Become The Teeth

Expert Timing – New Queen (Song Premiere)

Interview: Ben Jorgensen of Armor For Sleep

Cremation Lily – “Wavering Blood” (Song Premiere)

Warren Franklin – January (feat. Max Bemis) (Song Premiere)

Drew Beringer’s Top Albums of 2021

Interview: Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die

Parting – ‘Unmake Me’ (Album Premiere)

Interview: Missy Dabice of Mannequin Pussy