INTERVIEW: Catching Up With Russian Baths + Stream Penance

One of the more exhilarating noise-rock releases of the year so far just dropped courtesy of Brooklyn’s Russian Baths. Experimenting with discordant sounds and mantra-like, non-narrative lyrics, the band’s new EP, Penance, arrests from the outset and never flinches in intensity throughout.

To go along with a stream of Penance, we sent along some interview questions to Luke Koz (guitar, vox), Jess Rees (guitar, keys, vox). Check it all out below and order your copy of the EP here.

Hi, Russian Baths! Congrats on your new EP. Can you tell us a little more about who you are and how you first got into making music?

Jess Rees: We’re a band from Brooklyn. I met Luke at a job.

Luke Koz: I think we both had interest juxtaposing restrained vocals and bombastic music.

What’s your songwriting process like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

JR: I write songs in sections. Drums first.

LK: Most of our songs begun with some central musical idea, usually nicked, hammered into some other musical idea, also nicked.

What is Penance about? How did it come to be?

LK: I think the title is a good indication.

JR: We recorded the songs at Time Castle studio in Brooklyn.

LK: There is a concrete, quasi-utility closet at Time Castle that is a nice place to put an amp.

How does Penance differ from your previous work?

LK: We did it much faster and in one place.

Any new artists/venues/purveyors of the arts in Brooklyn you could turn our readers onto?

JR: Parlor Walls is a favorite. The Glove is a great spot to see new things. Ears to Feed puts on great shows.

LK: The latest Grooms’ record is very good. Animah is certainly worth seeing. Her voice is special.

Where can we follow you and where can our readers catch you live next?

@russian_baths on instagram, @russianbathsnyc on facebook

3/15 is our Brooklyn EP Release show at Elsewhere with Frankie Rose and Hideout.

Any parting thoughts? Open platform!

Thank you for reading this.