LY: The album is referred to a lot as ‘Lo-Fi’, was that what you intended?
CLB: I don’t think it is Lo-Fi.
TP: Compared to what I usually do it’s like Hi-Fi!
CLB: It’s No-Fi.
TP: It’s Mid-Fi.

LY: You wrote it in a week?
TP: Yeah, just taking breaks to get coffee and eat, in downtown LA where there is nothing. It’s very industrial there, that had the vibe.
CLB: The studio had no windows. And a ghost, that probably had an effect.
TP: Definitely! I felt a push on my shoulder once whilst we were recording, like a real strong nudge that came from nowhere.
CLB: Tim went so white. Maybe it was a friendly one.
TP: Yeah I think it was a cool one. I think he/she was stoked up on the take that we did. Like, “Yeah you nailed it man!” Ghost approved.

LY: Are the lyrics things that have happened to you personally?
CLB: A lot of it is just nonsense!
TP: It all comes from somewhere.
CLB: It’s like a diary. If you cut it all up and stick it back together, like an assemblage. Based on truth and then filled in with absurdities.

LY: Your song Tim do I like that dog? Is that something you actually said to Tim?
TP: It’s all she says!
CLB: I have a particular taste in dog so on the street I’ll ask Tim if I like that dog.
TP: It turned into a game where I had to guess if she did or not!

LY: What dog vibes do they have to give off?
CLB: I like dogs that look like scribbles. And there’s a particular type of big dog that I like.

LY: So has it been fun to play live?
CLB: Yeah playing it live, it actually made me remember what it felt like to be excited about playing music again. I’d forgot about that feeling. You play your own songs so much, it can be a grind. This was different, like I was a teenager really, really excited to play. And in the spirit of how we made the record and how we are friends it’s so fun to be playing and look over at her, and I just want to laugh! It feels good.

LY: Does the improvisational, spontaneous quality channel into your live shows? I can imagine you guys doing some discordant jam for like, ever.
TP: I’m so into that! I don’t know a lot about jazz, but this gives me the freedom to play like punk jazz!
CLB: Is that the Bloody Mary talking?

LY: Have you learnt things from each other?
CLB: Yeah, this may be the Bloody Mary talking… but I’ve leant to love music again! When I was touring I became a bit disconnected from what I was doing. To find someone you trust to collaborate with, I’m excited again about records, sounds, being in a studio playing a guitar solo and just laughing, its so nice.

LY: What inspires you most about Cate?
TP: A lot. With Cate I was happy to be in the studio again. It’s not scary if you’re with someone you trust and who makes it a fun, experimental, creative place. And I’m inspired by how wise a person she is.

LY: And what about you Cate?
CLB: I admire him so much as a musician and as a lyricist, and you would imagine that would inhibit you when you’re recording. But the way he is as a person, it doesn’t. It was always just egging each other on, running through the woods with you best friend like “ahhhhhh.”
TP: Theres got to be some kind of word for it, it’s a mutual admiration, mutual respect, where we’re not intimidated by each other, and we don’t feel less than or greater than, and you’re free to say stupid things. If you’re intimidated that can compromise you creatively, and that’s the worst thing, to handicap someone like that. I could throw all these ideas at her, I’d never feel stupid or ashamed, or too proud. Its a great balance, I don’t know what that’s called, but it’s a really comforting feeling, where you both can nurture creativity.
CLB: And it’s something that continually builds. We’re just running through the woods laughing.

LY: And is this going to continue?
CLB: Yeah. As soon as we finished we were like, “Fuck, I think we could do something really good again. I think we’ll just keep making records even if no one wants to listen to them!”

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