The Portland-based band Melt is readying their new LP Sour Fruit for release on June 30th via Halfshell Records. Formed back in 2014 by singer/guitarist Jeff Boyardee, he has remained the project’s core member thru the years. Joined by an often rotating cast of fellow Portland musicians, Melt’s previous releases include the 2017 LP Pick A Fight and the 2016 EP Black Gold. Boyardee’s upcoming effort was recorded by Cameron Spies at Gold Brick Studios and it finds Melt further expanding on their quirky, garage-driven psych-pop. Live Eye Tv recently caught up with the singer/guitarist to discuss the project and new album. Check out the email conversation below…
LETV: Congratulations on the new album Sour Fruit! Before we delve into the record can you tell us a bit about how Melt initially came together back in 2014? Also, while the band has core members, the line-up seems to have changed slightly thru the years. How did the band’s current iteration come together?
JB: It’s weird. Melt initially started as a side project of mine and I pulled other friends and musicians from their main projects as well. It kind of started as a melting pot, and certainly had a good deal of the naming of the project. As far as original core members, it’s really just me. Life happens, people dip in and out. People can’t commit to tour life, main projects take precedent, and sometimes people just don’t work well. I think at this point we’ve had 8 people including myself, formally, a part of the band in some iteration. Same goes with who’s still here. Some people have the time, can commit, and to be honest, give a shit. It’s hard to find a good crew of people to create and perform with but when it works, it works.
LETV: Sour Fruit was recorded by Cameron Spies at Gold Brick Studios. Is it fair to say that your previous albums, the LP Pick A Fight and the EP Black Gold, were more home recorded affairs than the new effort? How was the process different than previous records? Additionally, it looks like it took some time to get Sour Fruit recorded. Was that a matter of happenstance or more of an intentional part of the process?
JB: The short and honest answer is we’re not made of money and unfortunately playing small clubs, houses, and generally touring DIY style isn’t lucrative; and that’s not our goal either, it is also a labor of love. But that isn’t free, hahaha. Also, life happens.
After we finished all the basic tracking, I went off to tour manage two different bands over three months. We get busy. Working with Cameron was a blessing and a very eye-opening process in reflection. Pick a Fight was recorded between the moonbase and the house of a couple of ourselves. Black Gold was recorded in a good friend’s home studio. The biggest difference I would say that sets Sour Fruit apart from the others is extra attention to detail and songwriting. Couldn’t have asked for a better recording experience or better producer for us than with Cameron.
LETV: Curious to know more about the band’s songwriting for the new album…
JB: Originally this release was meant to be a full debut album vs. another EP. In the end, we actually split it in half and determined they belonged separate. We started with 18 songs and landed on 14 divided by 2 is 7.
LETV: Lots of great visuals for the new record including the cover and video for the album track “Strange Fruit.” What can you tell us about the production for the video and how did the album cover come together?
JB: Believe it or not the video and cover shoot were conceptualized separately–the video by Peter Karavias, the cover shot by Keanu Narciso. The only similarity is the fact that we based everything on the title track. They came to the final result almost completely on their own volition.
LETV: From the outside looking in it seems as though Portland has a very creative and supportive music scene going on right now. What can you tell us about making music in the city currently? Living there, does it feel as creative and lively as it does from the outside?
JB: It comes in waves, and it does feel like it’s at a high at the moment. Some good friends of ours are writing some of the best records we’ve heard in quite a bit and couldn’t be more proud to be apart of the city. It’s a fluid that changes quickly and frequently.
LETV: What’s next for Melt? Do you guys have a tour planned for this summer and will you be making it up to Seattle soon?
JB: We are about to head out on a US tour in less than a month. We’ll be in Seattle 6/28 (release day), actually, as well. And like I said, the other half of this release is primed and ready to go. Expect the darker, heavier side in the fall/winter.
Here’s a current list of Melt’s upcoming tour dates.
