INTERVIEW: AZ-based experimental pop outfit Emby Alexander Talks (And Premieres) New Music Video For “Arabesque (Wet Rusting God)”

Arizona-based experimental pop outfit, Emby Alexander, are unquestionably adept at crafting resplendent, oblique and big-hearted hooks that relentlessly shift and wriggle, as is the nature of their infectious, experimental pop schema. Touring extensively and playing festivals throughout North America, the band has garnered international recognition, opening for The Dodos on their 10-year anniversary tour of Visiter, and sharing bills with Weyes Blood, Courtney Marie Andrews, Miniature Tigers, Chicano Batman and more.

Lead singer and primary songwriter, Michael “Emby” Alexander, and his band are getting ready to cough up a new set of singles “Up in the Air” b/w “Morality of Accuracy in Photojournalism,” evincing a fun size glimpse of what’s to come on the upcoming album, SOARS ERA, the followup to 2019’s ebullient, psychedelic pop treatment, Cactus Candy; but if it’s any indication of what SOARS ERA has to offer, Alexander has hit the mark, without equivocation.

Can you tell us more about your latest video “Arabesque (Wet Rusting God)”?

I loved editing the music video because each one of us held the camera at different points throughout the tour so even though I may have been present at the time of filming, when I sat down to cut all the raw footage up, each member’s unique perspective of each event shines through, I think. We even handed the camera to strangers on the street to get a group shot of us when we’re doing our touristy thing in between shows.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

There are definitely vaguely connected stories of people-watching around Phoenix hidden within the lyrics. It feels like living downtown near the airport and many moving people using mass transportation. You meet lots of kind people. You meet lots of creeps, too. Some people pass by and you never meet them at all.

How was the filming process and experience behind the video?

Because we were shooting on actual film, we began running out of tape space by the end of the tour. We shot pretty loosely with little intent on the first leg but started filming over old tape to conserve space. Some of the odd juxtapositions in the editing process were inspired by the randomness of re-using the same tapes. A baby deer in a forest clearing cuts to children street performers cuts to car fire. Feels like the hectic pace of tour a bit.

The single comes off Cactus Candy, your previous album… What has changed since then, and what can we expect from your forthcoming album, SOARS ERA? 

I think a lot of people responded positively to some of the “less accessible” songs on Cactus Candy when we expected these songs to be ignored. We try not to be influenced by what others think but when radio stations were spinning songs like  “Arabesque” I think we felt inspired that we could be ourselves and explore more songs like that and not feel that we had to compromise on reaching a wider audience. I think SOARS is more us than ever and reaches weirder territory more confidently.

SOARS ERA – what’s the story behind the title?

I believe it alludes to literally soaring like being elevated in an out-of-body kind of way. Being above everything  and looking back down at yourself.

How was the recording and writing process?

I like to come up with a germ of an idea and present it to the band when we can meet up or share demos through email and sometimes things come quickly and sometimes they take some hammering out. As usual we’ll be working with Brandon T. Hickey at Hypnagogic Audio in Chandler, AZ. A few friends will reappear. Dane Jarvie from Dendrons, Joel Marquard from Dear and The Headlights/Spiritual Warfare, and Producer Yerfdog will certainly be on the record.

Would you call this a departure from your previous musical work?

Not a departure but a giant leap forward for us. Better crafted songs. Better production. Deeper exploration.

What role does Arizona play in your music?

I really like living in a giant metropolitan area with access to all things modern and convenient but just in our periphery there’s the looming wilderness of the desert to help keep us grounded and remind us that the world is natural and ultimately untameable and we should be a part of it rather than attempt to lord over it.

What aspect of life in general did you get to explore on this record?

A very basic rule has been set for this record: All songs must be a celebration of something. This doesn’t mean that every song must be sappy or anthemic or even cheerful. But whatever the topic is, the song must celebrate it. If it’s a sad song, then it will be a celebration of the sadness. I’m not sure what the experiment has yielded but I believe it is an interesting perspective to have tried.

Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?

I’ve been working on scoring films for Director Trevvor Riley lately and his scripts have been a great inspiration as well as any films he may be stealing from or referencing and he will give me homework of what films to watch and I’ll dissect the soundtracks in ways I didn’t used to. The oil paintings of Phoenix artist Eric Kasper always inspire something for me.

Any plans to hit the road?

Yes we’ll be on the “SOARS ERA TOUR” in the Western USA June through July. We’ll be in SLC, Boise, Missoula, Seattle, Portland, Eugene, SF, LA, and more. Tour starts June 19 at Valley Bar in Phoenix.

What else is happening next in Emby Alexander’s world?

We did the original soundtrack for Trevvor Riley’s film CHAMELEON. It’s streaming on Amazon now. The film is like a David Lynch/American Psycho thing with a Wendy Carlos/John Carpenter soundtrack.

Another song off of Cactus Candy, “No Makeup”, was used in fashion designer K.S. Garner’s new ad. She makes clothes for Laura Leezy from Khruangbin , Pearl Charles, Anni B. Sweet, and Courtney Marie Andrews.