In your day-to-day life, what does your mind sound like? Could you pick out the pulsing cacophony out of a sonic lineup? If someone were to show you the sounds and swells, the frantic and frenetic, the washing and the wishing, would you recognize it? Well, the members of the new supergroup Packaging would. In fact, they’ve put their collective inner song to tracks and released it here today.
Videos by American Songwriter
Indeed, American Songwriter is proud to premiere the new single from the new band here today, June 24. Not only that, but we caught up with Packaging’s Daniel “Connor” Birch and Daniel Lyon to talk about the new project, which features members who have played in bands like Beach House, Nathanial Ratliff And The Night Sweats, Flaural, and Spirit Award.
American Songwriter: Tell me the brief origin story of Packaging, which from what I can tell is something of a modern supergroup?
Daniel “Connor” Birch: Well, supergroup feels hyperbolic, but that’s very kind of you. Packaging was something both Daniel and I had wanted to do after recording pieces of Spirit Award’s Neverending in Denver 2016. I think the hope to work on something together in the future really started then, and a surplus of free time during the pandemic gave us that initial opportunity. The first session, Daniel visited Denver, we worked 12-plus-hour days, and both stayed full-time at the studio writing together and often with members of Flaural. It felt fruitful right away, and so we just kept at it. That circle of collaborators grew quite quickly as we wanted to continue to work with friends and people we admire. We feel lucky for each person [who] collaborated on the record. So thanks and love to them! They are the Supergroup!
AS: Daniel Lyon, I know you from your indie rock band Spirit Award—how is this project different from that in your mind?
Daniel Lyon: I think the big difference is that this is a full collaborative effort with Connor. It grew into something where we started asking ourselves what these songs organically wanted to be, and setting some loose limitations, like “What if it’s mostly nylon guitar, drum machine, and synths? Minimal electric guitar.” Being in this kind of curious and meditative state led to some laughter-fueled explorations. I think I’ve wanted to challenge myself vocally as well, so I think some of these songs are a little more melodic with clearer vocals than Spirit Award has been, while still having some similarities with psychedelic moments.
AS: Tell me about the new single and accompanying music video. What happened in the “lab,” so to speak, to bring it to life?
DB: This one initially came from that first Denver session. I think it originated pretty late into the evening. Daniel and I had been just rolling through takes with the 606 drum machine, somewhat improvised, getting slightly later and slightly less improvised each take. The song in its finished state is pretty similar to that initial shape, although Andy Rauworth, who mixed and co-wrote this one, took it to new heights.
Aside from his unique mix style, he rewrote the bridge and added many really special guitar, bass, and textural ideas. Those moments turned out amazing. Whenever I hear those “special Andy moments” in the song, I feel like I’m listening to a Cindygod song, and that feels cool. We added lots of little “lab” sounds, including Daniel really chompin’ down on some chips and Nick Berlin (who drummed on basically the whole record) playing slide whistle and giggling. The intro is supposed to embody the startling feeling of waking late for the airport. Those textures were manipulated phone vibrating recordings we made, like the alarm forgot to go off, but your phone’s still vibrating on the nightstand.
AS: What’s next for the band?
DB: Lots of more releases in anticipation of the LP’s release on October 10. We’ll be playing some select shows in the US and hopefully the EU/UK soon as well, and likely starting on a 2nd record!
AS: What do you love most about who you are as an artist today, this minute?
DB: It feels really really good when you make it over the hump of convincing yourself why you shouldn’t do something. And I love myself when I can pull that off. That feels like being an artist. Just doing it, in whatever shape you’re in. Because every shape you’re in offers a unique opportunity to be exactly what you are right then. That’s the version of me I’m rooting for when I wake up!
Photo by Jake Hanson / Via Packaging
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