It’s rare to see an indie band that isn’t four white men singing about a girl in a way that makes you concerned for her emotional wellbeing, but finally...
Utah-based band Brother. are the chilled-out existentialist indie band we all need in this strange time. Their music is refreshingly personal, relaxed, and their videos gorgeously down-to earth. Reminiscent of punk but without the anger, their visceral sounds veer into psychedelic territory and writing this I’m thinking I should probably be listening to them through good quality headphones and not through the tinny speakers of my four-year-old MacBook.
Following excellent tracks like Honey and Oxidate, they’re now back with new music. Their newest single Ain’t Over You is stunning and captivating as it captures the haunting feeling of something you can't live with or without. The tune is a part of their upcoming album, and is available to stream now.
In this conversation with Brother., we talk about spending our lives creating, the film The Fountain, and being squished by a steamroller.
Push Up Daisies: What has your relationship with death always been like, and how do you view it now?
Brother: I have always had somewhat of an obsession with death. I have always romanticized it in my mind like becoming immortalized or the next “great adventure”, but as I’ve become older, death has become more realistic.
Push Up Daisies: Are you spiritual or religious? How do you think your culture/ideals affect your perception of death?
Brother: I consider myself more spiritual than religious, but we live in a community that’s heavily influenced by religion. The concept of death and afterlife is a huge topic and it’s painted as something we shouldn’t be afraid of, but I think most people are.
Push Up Daisies: As a creative, how does the thought or fear of death inspire you/does it ever drive you to create more?
Brother: I think about trying to create as much as possible before I go. I would hate to leave this realm before I could realize my fullest earthly creative potential. Right now, that is music, but I hope to create and finish a masterpiece or finale of sorts before my time is up.
Push Up Daisies: How would you like to be remembered?
Brother: I want to be remembered for doing everything in my power to achieve my dreams. So far so good but still working and grinding.
Push Up Daisies: How does the thought of death affect your everyday life?
Brother: I actually think about it often. I grew up around death in many different facets, but this especially has been on my mind. I am a tad bit obsessed with the “27 Club” and this being my 27th year, I imagine when and how I might die.
Push Up Daisies: In what ways can it be healthy to contemplate death?
Brother: I think death and what you believe in an afterlife can really shape what you do and how you do things now. And it can go both ways, as in, if you do believe in an afterlife you tend to want to make “good” choices so that death and afterlife will be good to you. Not believing in an afterlife is just as good as, in my opinion, there is no right or wrong choice but just what you feel. It’s the thought that nothing matters, you don’t matter. And because nothing matters, everything matters. Because you don’t matter, you can do everything and anything with endless possibility.
Push Up Daisies: Have you ever seen a film/art piece/read a book revolving around death, that left its mark on you?
Brother: The film The Fountain really impacted me. They speak of death as the way to live forever and become immortal. My favorite line from the movie says that ‘Death is the road to awe.'
Push Up Daisies: Is there something that you would be willing to die for? What would this be?
Brother: My family and my friends.
Push Up Daisies: What are your ideal and worst ways to die?
Brother: Ideal way, honestly, I want to die in an intense situation like a plane crash or something like that. Worst way to die would be being squished feet first by a slow-moving steamroller.