Last week, when Brooklyn based artist Discount Sunset released his debut single Slippery, we were immediately immersed in his hypnotic sounds.
As far as first offerings go, it doesn’t get much better that this debut song. It’s a shimmering and charmingly lo-fi indie-pop gem that we’ve been spinning relentlessly since we first heard it.
Now, fresh off its release, we caught up with the artist himself to chat about the track, his plans for a live show, and from whom he seeks influence.
A week removed from the release of his incredible debut single Slippery, we caught up with Brooklyn based artist Discount Sunset for chat.
HAPPY: Hey man, how’s it going? What have you been up to lately?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Hey! I’m doing well. It’s fall in New York… the city has a bustling energy this time of year. I finished an EP in July, and now I’m looking to put a live thing together.
HAPPY: We’re loving the new track… could you tell us a little bit about it?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Thank you! I wrote the hook four years ago actually! It’s the first song I wrote that I liked, but it took three different attempts at recording before my friend Mike Thomas and I tracked it at his studio in Bushwick, Black Lodge, last October. The song itself is addressing the perils of intimacy in age of transactional sexual relationships. Or something.
HAPPY: How are you feeling about it now that it’s out?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Honestly, I’m just relieved I finished it! I thought for a long time I’d never get it right, so now to have it out is even more gratifying.
HAPPY: We’re picking up a lot of different influences going on… are there any particular artists that have influenced you?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: I have a great affinity for the English; the Police, the Smiths, Cleaners from Venus, Supertramp. I always catch myself wanting to emulate those bands.
HAPPY: For a debut single, Slippery has a really fully-formed sound… how long have you been working on the Discount Sunset project?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Again, thank you for the kind words! I’ve been writing songs for about 5 years now, so the material I intend to release in the coming months represents the best of what I’ve written over that timeframe.
HAPPY: You’re from Brooklyn… are there any other Brooklyn artists that we should be keeping an eye out for?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Man that’s tough, there is top flight music going on in every direction. That said, I’m really into Loosie… they do dream pop but with a serrated edge to it, very expansive sound. Another is Twice Eyes, listen to 1way 2go. Super ethereal an an angular groove that keeps you guessing.
HAPPY: Do you have any plans to perform live soon? If so, what would your live set-up look like?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Well I’m playing a house show this week, so for that it’s going to be guitar, bass, drums, and I’m going to pretend to play synths while I sing. Going forward I hope to use this instrumentation while I actually play synths.
HAPPY: Any other plans in the works? Any new music coming out soon?
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Yes, I’m intending to release another single in October, and the EP in November.
HAPPY: Thanks for the chat.
DISCOUNT SUNSET: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me!
Slippery is available now.
