Those Looks is an indie pop four-piece from Lambertville, New Jersey. The band formed in 2018 and self-released their first EP, Come Unto Me, in the summer of 2019. Their debut full-length album, Cults Near Me, was released by Mint 400 Records on November 11th, 2022. With Cults Near Me, Those Looks grew into a wider sonic range that includes the velvety, surfy pop of their early days, a grungier 90s-influenced rock element, a healthy dose of dreamy three-part harmonies, and just a touch of country. The band consists of Kelly Bolding (vocals/guitar), Sylvia Barrantes (lead guitar), Randall Newman (bass), and Shaun Ellis (drums).
On August 18th, 2023, Those Looks released their newest single, "Laundry and Taxes," as the inaugural episode of Weathervane Music's Open Sessions series. Produced and engineered by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey at Miner Street Recordings in Philadelphia, Open Sessions is the follow-up to the long-running Shaking Through series (2009-2019), which featured acts such as Big Thief, Waxahatchee, and Sharon Van Etten in their early days. The track will be released, along with video posts, some documentary-based footage from the session about the band, their story, and the recording session.
We got a chance to talk with Shaun Ellis, drummer for Those Looks, on the band, their influences, and their collaborative songwriting process.
Q: In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that make a “good songwriter”?
A good songwriter is someone who can consistently write songs that resonate with people, so we try to think about what people are going to connect with when we write. A good songwriter will convey universal experiences through their own lens and by using language in a unique and surprising way – and it’s really challenging to not fall into everyday language or cliché. Almost as important as the lyrics are the vocal melody and harmonies as the human voice is what most people tend to focus on. Finally, music has the incredible power to change a room, and we get super excited about creating a “vibe” together that fits the topic of the song.
The songwriting process for us can be as varied as revisiting a riff or a phrase we came up with during a creative session to one of us bringing a song, usually half finished, to the table. Then we work out the details as a band and are not territorial about instruments – Sylvia (lead guitar) has written drum parts, I’ve written lead parts, Kelly’s (vocals/guitar) omnichord makes occasional appearances – you get the picture.
Q: What is the basis for writing attention-grabbing music in the year 2023?
We honestly don’t know other than just writing the best music you can and doing it over and over until people start to listen. Some of the artists who grabbed our attention in 2023, like The Beths, Frankie Cosmos, and Pearla, are simply writing tight, catchy indie pop songs and delivering great performances. We just want to make sure all our shows are a fun and memorable night out for our friends and fans.
Of course, collaborating with trusted creators with track records like Weathervane is one way to gain more attention. There is also a popular meme called “Laundry and Taxes” from the movie Everything, Everywhere, All at Once that could help grab attention for this track, so there’s that.
Q: What has it been like working with an indie record label as opposed to working on your own?
Working with Mint 400 Records continues to be a great experience. Mint 400 may not have as many resources as some of the bigger labels, but they have the resources and guidance that are right for us at this moment. They are very focused on what is best for the artists’ careers, and our new single, “Laundry and Taxes” is a perfect case-in-point. When Brian McTear invited us to work on this single, Mint 400 recognized what a great opportunity it was and allowed us to release it on McTear’s label, Weathervane Music, even though they could have easily refused based on the terms of our contract. Mint 400 also does a great job of connecting artists on the label, and you end up with a great scene where everyone is helping each other out and all boats rise on the success of others. It’s like you always have someone on your side, which is not the case when you’re working on your own, and is often not the case when you’re signed to a major label either! We’re very excited about the Mint 400 artist 90s compilation album coming out this Fall.
Q: Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?
We’ve been influenced by great songwriters like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Their lyrics have the power to completely gut you. Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” is quite possibly the sexiest song ever written – just pure desire for and submission to a lover. You can’t help but feel that song. But then you look at a songwriter like Tom Petty, whose lyrics are much simpler but still incredibly powerful – and maybe it's his brevity that charges them so much. In a country incarnation of Those Looks we call Those Boots, we do a cover of “Walls,” an absolutely beautiful Petty tune. We were also inspired by Angel Olsen and Hand Habits’ version.
We also focus on “vibe” because of our love for Chris Isaak, Warpaint, and Phantastic Ferniture (Julia Jacklin’s first band). Bands like Wet Leg remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.
I’ve been inspired by the infectious songs of Liz Stokes and Jon Pearce, the songwriters for The Beths. “Expert in a Dying Field” starts out describing a career that is slowly turning into a dead end, but then you start to realize that it’s about a relationship that may also be dying. It describes what happens when you make a life-long commitment to something that changes out from under you and you question the wisdom of your life choices, and think that maybe it’s all a lie. Come to mention it, in “Laundry and Taxes,” Kelly ponders whether or not she cares if it’s all a lie!
Q: Do you find it hard to be inspired by artists that are younger than you, or are you motivated by their energy? Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?
It’s not hard at all! New music inspires us. And young people are making some incredible music. In fact, one of the most inspiring moments for us was when we saw a video of Ace, a 16 year old artist from Lambertville, learning the guitar part to our previous single, “Hymnal.” For Shaun, that was the definition of success as a band. We all remember how it was to be 16 and how much music meant to us, so it was wonderful to see that spark in a young artist.
I think each member of the band finds their own inspirations from youth.
Sylvia has literally traveled across the country to see Tchotchke, an all female group that may not be old enough to get into bars. Randy (bass) grew up on a steady diet of R.E.M., but these days he’s into artists like Allah-Las, Merce Lemon, and Japanese Breakfast. Kelly asked me to send a shout out to Echo Plum (and their moms!), one of the most amazing and refreshing young bands we’ve had the opportunity to play with.
Q: For your new song, what inspired the lyrical content, song title, and overall vibe?
Nietzsche, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Country Music, and a wedding. Taking inherited institutions and re-imagining them.
Q: Do you find that you deliberate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?
Our last album had some songs that we had been working on for over a year. Often we will sit on a riff for months, or just rework things until they fit for us. We have been considering re-recording some of the songs on our first EP, since we’ve grown so much as musicians and it was really more of a demo. The experience at Weathervane Music really stretched us in a good way though, since “Laundry and Taxes” was only half finished and we had less than a week to pull it together, record, and mix it. On top of that our electricity went out and we couldn’t hear it with drums until the night before the session. Even though it made me nervous going into the studio, that turned out to be a positive because it forced us to focus on the harmonies, a highlight of the song, and a staple of our sound.
Q: Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?
We learned how fast we can actually work. To write, record, and mix a song in under a week, let alone in front of a studio audience, was unthinkable to us before. Brian McTear (producer) and Amy Morrissey (sound engineer) were simultaneously efficient and casual, never hesitating to answer a question in-depth or go off into a relevant story. In fact, education for musicians is part of the mission of Weathervane. Watching them mix the track was such a treasure of knowledge. The good news is that anyone can buy a ticket to watch an Open Session! Do yourself a favor and go to one.
https://www.facebook.com/thoselooks/