Interview: Catching Up With BRAEVES + Stream “Pull Me In”

Photo by Tim Toda

When last GroundSounds heard from indie-pop-rockers BRAEVES, we were premiering their great video for “Silver Streets.” The band has since added a fourth member, lead vocalist/guitarist Scott Goldbaum, and have just returned from a hiatus with a sparkling new single, “Pull Me In.”

To celebrate the return of BRAEVES, we sent them some interview questions to go along with a stream. Check it all out below and be sure to follow the band on Spotify here for more.

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

Ryan Colt Levy – Thank you! We’re a bi-coastal byproduct of four lads with severely distinct personalities and tastes. It turns out regardless of any LA or NY stigma, we all began around the same age with our curiosity of expression through music, finding anyone we could to play with, forming our knowledge of everything from band dynamics to recording. This in itself is an endless pursuit, but a truly gratifying one when you can share it with people you love and admire.

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

R – The process can range from bringing in fully formed songs, to little melody ideas or a single chord progression. Some of our favorite songs tend to come from the groove up as well. Regardless of what is brought to the table, it’s usually broken apart and reassembled with everyone’s personalities and input until we find the sweet spot. With any new material, we tend to re-approach the songs and the arrangements after they’ve been recorded, which helps expand ourselves and our sound.

Our influences range from Music to Film and beyond, so let’s say: Sam Cooke, Local Natives, Hans Zimmer, Moses Sumney, The National, Johan Johansson and Kendrick Lamar.

“Pull Me In” is your first single with your new lineup. What’s it about and how did it come to be?

Derek Tramont – We’ve been working on this song for quite a while and it has always been a favorite of mine. In the beginning stages ‘Pull Me In’ was initially called ‘Atoms’ when we first demoed it in pre-production. It had a different lyrical meaning in this version that was geared more towards the anger and frustration people are feeling with our current administration and political climate. But when we got into the studio, there was something that wasn’t clicking with all of us and we decided to rewrite most of the lyrics and melodies and subsequently changed the title to ‘Pull Me In.’ Now, the idea behind this track is one we’ve all experienced in one way or another; it’s the feeling of loss. When you’ve been through such an impactful and life-changing relationship and then that’s stripped from you, how do you cope with that?

You can find the answer in our new music video – coming soon.

Any new LA-based artists/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn our readers onto?

Flor
Talk Time
Moses Sumney
The Moroccan Lounge

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

D – You can keep with us at www.braeves.com for all of our tour dates, videos, merch and link to any other platform we’re involved in. But for straight music, Spotify would do the trick!

Show announcements coming soon.

Any parting thoughts?

To anyone out there still listening – Thank you for toughing it out with us through our long hiatus. We won’t let you down.