Picturesque: The Right Vibe

All bands and musicians strive to be unique and distinctive. This sometimes results in success, but the outcome could also just sound misguided. Kentucky natives, PICTURESQUE, were one of the lucky ones who have managed to create their own individual sound.

Their most recent release, Do You Feel O.K? doesn’t have one definable genre, yet by mixing together many different elements, produces something really great which you’ve probably never heard before. Guitarist Zach Williamson spoke to us about their new release, and talked about how the band didn’t really think about genre when writing this album, and focused more on ‘vibe’. This is an interesting concept, making room for completely free creative range with no limits, meaning the band can produce music that genuinely excites them. You can definitely sense the passion that went into creating these tracks, “we just wanted it to sound exciting and cohesive.”

The band has previously spoken about the meaning behind some of the tracks and what influenced them. Lead vocalist Kyle Hollis experienced a really impactful break up that resulted in him testing the waters of online dating, and he was shocked at what he was faced with. This meant the album tackled subjects to do with heartbreak and confusion, whilst also linking to dating in the modern age. Williamson spoke of how listeners can interpret the meanings of the tracks in whatever way they want to, but stated that the band tends to write about “very specific stories”. When asked which track was his favourite, Williamson replies, “I think the writing process of Swipe was so off the wall and liberating, it will always be my favourite from this record.” This track in particular speaks about dating apps and how they can be so superficial, and by mixing a pretty original topic with some great vocals, guitars and percussion it creates a truly memorable song, what more could you want?

The artwork for this album is very striking and thought provoking. The band actually delayed the release of the record three times as they didn’t have the art they wanted. After seeing the album cover it’s understandable that they wanted it to be just right. Like their songs, this cover can be interpreted in many ways, but for the band there is one true meaning. Williamson says, “we finally got linked up with Harley Wrecks and he knocked it out of the park. The concept is supposed to induce anxiety. Is the weight of the butterfly enough to make the trap go off? No one knows.” You could also say the cover could illustrate beauty being harmed by its surroundings, and it is great that fans will be able to interpret the album as a whole according to their perception.

When writing their two albums, the band has worked well together, mixing each other’s ideas and going with the flow until they reached the right sound. Williamson spoke of the creative process, “we just trust each other. The band has three songwriters and we love co-writes. By the time the recording process starts it’s just a matter of going out of the way and doing what’s best for the song. There is no shortage of ideas.” You can definitely hear from the well put together album that the band members really pull together to make sure that what they are producing is of high quality.

Zach went on to answer some more questions about PICTURESQUE‘s latest release.

You have said that you don’t want to be confined to a specific genre, and this is clear in Do You Feel O.K? How would you say this idea has developed since your previous release Back To Beautiful?

Zach: We weren’t “trying” to make a post-hardcore record when we made Back To Beautiful. I honestly had never even heard of that genre in 2015. I was informed that was the kind of record we had made after it was done! We were just trying to make a rock record that didn’t commit too hard to our metal influences. In retrospect it wasn’t as diverse as we imagined it being.

Because you have described yourselves as “genreless” in the past, this must mean you can take inspiration from literally every genre out there. When writing this album, which bands or artists were the biggest influences for you all and in what ways?

Zach: I think more than listening to things for inspiration; we listen to things to make sure that what we are doing isn’t too close to what other bands are doing. We will scrap a song if it is too close to a song that has been recently released. Having said that I like how DON BROCO seem to stay playful on their records.

It was really refreshing to hear a mix of rock and pop sounds with electronic and hip-hop elements, as it meant every track was surprising and enjoyable. As band mates, do you all have a favourite style from these that you really loved incorporating into the new album?

Zach: I think we hear the record very differently to the people that are hearing these songs for the first time. My ear tends to hear the guitar, which I feel is actually heavier than the first record. I’ve seen comments of people saying it’s “poppy” but pop is just short for popular. Top 40s pop isn’t any particular genre, I think it means the songs are just catchy. We weren’t trying to make a radio record. I think we just stumbled onto some catchy vocals.

Obviously, the future is uncertain at this particular time, but what would you love to see your band achieve in the next few years?

Zach: I think we would just be happy to get back out on the road. I’d like to do a sick headliner. We are also trying to make it back out to Australia.

Do You Feel O.K? is out now via Rude Records/Equal Vision Records.

Like PICTURESQUE on Facebook.