Interview: Catching Up With The Rareflowers + Stream Their Debut EP

Based out of the great Garden State, indie-rockers The Rareflowers bring a vibrant swirl of power-pop and jangle-pop tailor made for walking around in the warmer weather. Their debut, self-titled EP was released just last Friday and to celebrate GroundSounds sent over some interview questions.

Check it all out below and be sure to follow the band here for more.

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

We grew up in rural New Jersey. There wasn’t a whole lot to do there. Aaron and I met on our first day of 5th grade in gym class. We were making beats on the floor with our hands when I asked, “You drum?” We got together on the weekends to play, usually switching between guitar and drums. I think it was in our freshman year of high school that I introduced him to my brother, Jimmy, who sang and played the guitar. I made the logical decision to play the bass and we really hit it off from there. It all felt very natural.
 
What’s your songwriting process like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

Most times we’ll come together to work off of a riff or a beat that we really like. We’ll structure it pretty quickly, then make a tape. Jimmy and I will listen to the tape, write and record words, and add additional melodies.

Some of our biggest influences are Bee Gees, T. Rex, The Smiths, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, MGMT, and The Cleaners from Venus.
 
What are some of the larger themes at play on the EP?

The songs do reflect some of our own experiences, but we take solace in the fact that their meanings are universal and can be applied to pretty much anyone’s life.
 
How have the songs on the EP evolved live, if at all, since you recorded the EP?

When we met Matt Molnar, he spent a lot of time with us rehearsing the songs and making sense of their structures. I mean, he really worked us like dogs. We would cut parts out and extend others. We did a lot to emphasize the “hook”. He only cracked the whip once when we were really hungry. It was loud. We couldn’t eat until we finished work. Jokes aside, Matt is a great mentor, producer, and friend (and a stellar cook, ask him for his vegan recipes). Just an all-around guru when it comes to pulling it all together. We use what we learned at those rehearsals in every one of our live performances since then.
 
Any new artists/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn our readers onto?

We really like the new Kevin Krauter album. Also, check out PYNKIE, Kissing is a Crime, and Andy Cook, all whom have newly released material out. As far as venues go, we particularly enjoyed playing at Baby’s All Right and the Knitting Factory. The staff at those two places are always really helpful and kind. Finally, the owners/hosts of the house shows in New Brunswick that are nice enough to open their doors to us and so many other bands week in and week out. They keep the scene going and give everyone a comfortable place to be themselves.

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

Jul 06 – The Delancey in New York, NY
Jul 13 – Sunnyvale in Brooklyn, NY
Jul 24 – The Liquor Store in New Brunswick, NJ
Aug 07 – Muchmore’s in Brooklyn, NY
Aug 09 – Drom in New York, NY

Instagram: @therareflowers
Facebook: www.facebook.com/therareflowers