Supergroup boygenius talks about new full-length album ‘the record’ : NPR

Indie icons Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus form supergroup boygenius.

Shervin Reines/BoyGenius

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Shervin Reines/BoyGenius

Indie icons Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus form supergroup boygenius.

Shervin Reines/BoyGenius

Musicians Julian Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, all of whom have had big solo careers, joined forces on a joint project a few years ago. And from the moment NPR spoke with them, it’s clear they’re in perfect sync.

As a band, the members called themselves Shonen Genius, and in 2018 the group released their first music together in the form of a six-song self-titled EP. Since then, fans have been begging for more. record.

All 3 members participate weekend edition We talk about writing songs about the power of friendship, being called a “supergroup,” and the joy of pushing the button of don’t push.

The interview below has been condensed and edited. Click the link above to listen to the audio version.

Miles Parkes weekend edition: I was hoping I could actually start with the moniker “supergroup”. What do you guys think of that title?

Phoebe Bridgers: I like it more than “Side Project”.

Julian Baker: Yeah, I feel like side projects are like when members of an already successful band want to do something obscure or a little more esoteric.

Bridger: something not fun

I couldn’t tell you that. Do supergroups dwarf it? Or don’t you dwarf it? Because this music is clearly a great album.

Bridger: There aren’t that many supergroups that are cool contextually, so I think that just dwarfs it. Is required. I don’t think there are many supergroups that are better than the sum of their parts. And I think we are the tightest.

One of the common themes of listening to this record is the exploration of intimacy.that lyrics [on “Emily I’m Sorry,”] “I can feel myself becoming someone only you could wish for” really plays two sides to this kind of intimacy. I do not love. Phoebe, what do you think of that?

Bridger: It’s obviously self-deprecating, but it’s also demeaning.

Lucy Dacus: I always thought that line was an important context for the chorus. It’s like when you’re feeling, “Oh, actually, it’s just you.” That’s why I like you, sorry. It’s as if you’re my only chance to be loved. I’ve had an experience like someone else. This is the best you’re going to get.

Bridger: No one will love you like I do. that’s right. Please don’t do it again. [Laughs]

Baker: Because no one else sees how mean you are. They’re like no one else sees the real you—and if other people see the real you, they won’t love you.

want to talk about [the song “$20.”] Julien, that line, “It’s a bad idea and I’m all about it” can encompass a lot of your music in terms of trying to understand self-destructive tendencies. Wax that is are you all about that?

Baker: [Laughs] why morning am i all about it? What could be more fun than pressing a button that says “don’t press this button”?

[Everyone laughs]

Baker: what is it about me It’s been a constant struggle since I was five years old to not be that kind of guy, and it’s me who seeks more sensational, extreme emotions than healthier, more stable practices. I guess you’re trying to find out what’s in the .. how do you get to it? I wrote that part and that riff and sent it to them. And Phoebe and Lucy applied that to the overall story and setting.

Lucy, I want to turn to you and tell you about a wonderful short song on the album called “Leonard Cohen” that opens with this kind of vignette [about driving.] Can you tell us the opening story of “Leonard Cohen”?

Dachshund: After our first writing trip together in April 2021, we — [Laughs] I keep calling it “Upstate California” — in Northern California, driving back to LA, Phoebe says, “Oh my god, haven’t you heard ‘The Trapeze Swinger’ by Iron and Wine?” said. She drove the wrong way on the interstate and I realized in the middle of her song that she was very serious. She said, ‘You need to shut up and listen to this. Interrupting the moment was not good. Songs that are 10 minutes or longer. Julian and I said, “That was great, but we’ll have to turn back.”

Bridger: If someone questions that lyric, the only way it happened is if you’re in a Tesla. A giant iPad was screaming at us to turn around. And I wasn’t.

“Historically close friends” Bridger, Dacus and Baker.

Mikayla Robasso/Boy Genius

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Mikayla Robasso/Boy Genius

“Historically close friends” Bridger, Dacus and Baker.

Mikayla Robasso/Boy Genius

I was talking to one of NPR Music’s great critics. Marissa Lorusoand I was just asking her what she thought of the album. You said it’s something you see as love that’s worth it. Can you talk about why it’s worth writing about?

Dachshund: We found ourselves doing the “historically close friends” thing.

Bridger: yes. We are Eleanor Roosevelt.

Dachshund: I know people don’t say “lesbian”. They simply say they are historically close friends. [Laughs] But I don’t know what I think a lot about friendship. My life is defined by my friends. I think there is some good media about friendship, but not a lot. Romance also has its typical touchstones, but all friendships are very unique. So why don’t people do it? I don’t think it’s hackable. I’ve been writing a lot of love songs lately and I feel like this is overkill or not deep at all, but I can pick any of my friends and write the perfect song. specific to them.

One of the other moments on the album that I really liked was when you said “me and my dog” Melodies from the first EP. Full disclosure, [I] I got chills. How did you decide to do so?

Bridger: I just started writing songs and oh my god I have to stop writing this. It is exactly “Me & My Dog”. And, wait a minute, it was like making a Boy Genius album. There is a problem with that. I just haven’t finished writing the song. Once you’ve cracked the code of how to write phonetically and rhythmically in the world of songs, that’s when you’re at your best. It was like magic to be able to write songs for the sequel. Then Lucy suggested — I was saying, ‘I’m feeling this way, I’m feeling this way, I’m feeling this,’ so I said, ‘Do I want to be happy? ?” And, I… [pretends to sob.]

Dachshund: It’s the saddest thing Phoebe has ever said.

Bridger: And you’ll read through the entire record before you realize it’s referencing things we’ve done or similar ideas. i was really excited.

You guys seem to have a lot of fun writing and performing these songs.I had high expectations [after] An EP about if there will be a full length, and here it is. What are your future plans for the band?

Bridger: We are so excited to do this that I find it difficult to answer that question.

Dachshund: There are no plans as all the plans we have now are about this.

Bridger: because we live in it.

Baker: yeah, that’s true.

Dachshund: We said we were going to give each other gifts this year. We all have our own, so carving out a whole year is tough. I think it’s part of the interaction between the band and the people — extreme presence and gratitude, we have that too. We are all on the same page that this is an unexpected treat from life… I think that’s part of why it’s good to feel the present.