Interview with BEGINNERS

Author
Recent Posts

People who make music out of pure passion, this is what I find truly inspiring.

Latest posts by Jon Berrien (see all)

Big Gipp & James Worthy – Out Of Control (Official Music Video) - December 30, 2023
SnOOp Dogg Still DA FLyeSt and FreShEST - November 8, 2023
Sultry and Soulful Songstress Jori Sun Previews Fresh New Track - November 3, 2023

After years apart, Samantha Barbera and Nick Ruth finally reunited at L.A.’s Wiltern Theater, later joined by Neeraj Kane they ultimately formed BEGINNERS.

Featuring garage rock elements and dark electronic pop hooks, BEGINNERS should be on your music radar. GroundSounds recently caught up with lead vocals Samantha for an exclusive interview below, check it out below.

BEGINNERS EP is out March 25, download a copy!

For those just discovering BEGINNERS can you tell us about the night that Samantha and Nick reunited to form this new project? When did Neeraj come in the mix?

Foster the People was playing some back to back shows at the Wiltern in LA and everyone from Malbec came out to support Mark Pontius, our drummer in Malbec. Malbec had already been split up for a couple of years at that point so it was sort of a rare night for us to all be together again. For Nick and I, being around each other and at such a great show, made us miss playing together and really inspired us to work on something together again.
Neeraj and I play in a garage punk band together called Holy Fever. He’s also played in bands like The Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File that were super influential for me growing up in the hardcore punk scene. I wanted to bring that same energy to BEGINNERS and so Neeraj was the perfect fit.

How did you guys decide on the name BEGINNERS?

It was a bit of an epiphany I had while sitting in gridlock traffic on the 101 one night. Even though we had played music for years, this felt like the beginning of something. An important change for both of us.

Can you tell us about bringing the BEGINNERS EP to fruition?

The chemistry was immediate once Nick and I started writing together. We blasted through the songs that would become the EP. We were just super fired up to be working with each other again and were super aligned on what we wanted.

Can you tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind the track “Who Knows?”

Nick sent me the original verse beat to Who Knows to see if I had any vocal ideas for it and the first thing I sang over it (in my car where I do 99% of my writing) was what you hear now.
I was at a turning point in my life and wrote “Who Knows” about learning to let go of things you can’t control, and instead finding hope in the unknown.

What is it about LA that excites you guys the most?

The traffic? It makes me want to drive off of a bridge, but it gives me hours of alone time every day to write and was where a lot of the record was written.

What is it about garage rock and electronic music that attracts you guys to this sound?

We didn’t really set out to do a garage rock or electronic record. I think it’s just the result of our backgrounds. I come from the garage, punk, hardcore world and Nick more from the electronic side.

What are you guys currently listening to?

One of my recent favorites is the new Johnny Marr record. Flawless!

What people, places and books have inspired you guys?

Every person, place and book have inspired us. I really think it’s that collective experience of monumental and trivial experiences that add up to the sum of who you are.

There is a lot of honest lyricism in “Let Go or Get Dragged”, can you tell us about writing and creating this track?

Let Go or Get Dragged is about dark, unhealthy love and the self-hate and addiction that comes along with it. We built out the track to support that feeling.

After the EP is released (March 25th), what will you guys be working on? Is there a tour in the works?

We’ll be playing a ton of shows and working on the next record, which we’ve already started on.