INTERVIEWS PRINT

Ben Asbury of Axxa/Abraxas chats with GroundSounds

Brendon Goldwasser

GroundSounds recently had the opportunity to catch up with Ben Asbury, frontman of Axxa/Abraxas, an emerging psych-rock group from Athens, GA. We had the chance to catch their live performance when they were touring with Amen Dunes earlier this Summer and can assure you that Ben and his band are well-rehearsed and especially on point when it comes to owning their music. The songs have intricate chord changes, 60’s folk sounds, and lyrics that are easy to follow and relate to. All of those elements aren’t by any means the extent of their prowess and skill. They bring together all of their influences into a cohesive blend that creates the best of vibes. 

To catch those vibes that we speak of, be sure to make it out to their next show in LA this coming Monday, October 6th at the Echoplex. For more info, visit the event page. Check out our convo below, as well as some of their tunes, and see you at the show!

 

Hey Ben, thanks for taking the time to chat with us at GroundSounds. You’ve had a crazy busy year and you’re on tour again now, too! Where are you currently?

I’m in a green room at Mahall’s just outside of Cleveland, listening to some of the Beach Fossils dudes play really bad music mash ups, it’s great.

Earlier this spring, your group, Axxa/Abraxas, released a sensational debut album and then went on tour with Amen Dunes. When did you know the album was ready for the public and how did that tour come about?

I recorded the record with Jarvis from Woods over the coarse of 8 days a little over a year ago, the next couple months we got the mixes right and mastered it, I think November was when it was totally ready to go into production.

Your initial self-titled debut weaved in an out of post-punk, indie-rock, 60’s Psychedelia, and bluesy folk sounds. For those who are just discovering you, how would you describe your music if categories of genre were irrelevant? Where did the music come from artistically?

I try to find chord progressions and vocal melodies that sound like they’re lurking deep down in the back of your psyche. Archetypal tunes haha.

You’ve been a record collector and music obsessive from a very young age, but when did you really decide to first pick up an instrument and make some noise?

I learned some piano and started playing bass around 3rd grade I think, I didn’t really start writing some until a few years later though.

I love the quote from Joseph Campbell on your facebook page that reads, “When you follow your bliss, doors will open where they were not open before — or would not open for anyone else.” Are there any other quotes or writers that you often turn to for inspiration?

Thats a very special quote to me, a professor from college told us that. I also really like the book “Be Here Now” by Richard Alpert. Leonard Cohen is also a favorite poet of mine.

As far as artists that you admire, who are some of the current labels, artists, or musicians that you’re really into right now? Anyone you would really love to collaborate on music with or go on tour with?

White Fence. Tim Presley is the best current songwriter in my opinion and would love to tour/ collaborate with him.

When it comes to where you have the most fun and feel the most creative, do you feel that you’re more drawn more to studio time or live performances? Do you have to prepare a certain way before going into either?

Working by myself in my home studio is ideal for me. Live is fun and so is real studio time but when I just sit at home and fully submerge myself and obsess over the songwriting and recording process is when I feel I get the most interesting results.

Well, thanks so much for taking some time to chat with us. What else is in store for you in 2014 and what can we expect next year?

We’re going out to the west coast with Beach Fossils and Heavenly Beat and then heading back home east with just Heavenly Beat. I should have a new record out next year that I’ll be recording when I return from this tour that I’m pretty stoked to get working on.