motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’re based in Brooklyn, New York. How would you describe the current music scene there? Do you feel that you’re part of it?

SMOLTZ: Just like NY as a whole there seems to be something for everyone. You can get your metal fix by spending time at St. Vitus or see a super cool indie band at TV Eye.

I don’t feel like we’re part of a scene but I don’t feel like there’s any gatekeeping either. We work slow, and only play every now and then but during times when we’re more active we’ve had good experiences with bands and venues. Connecting with more local bands is something I’d like to do more of this year.

That said, there are probably huge scenes happening that I just don’t know about. It’s a big city. There could be like a 2024 version of the Warhol factory happening in Bushwick and I simply have no idea about it.

MOTEL VOID: Your favorite local venues and artists?

SMOLTZ: For venues I really like Windjammer, Our Wicked Lady, Union Pool.
Favorite local artists…Reclining Nude, Work Wife, My Son the Doctor.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released a new single ‘keep it dull / holding out‘, could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of these two songs?

SMOLTZ: Both of those songs were written a few years ago when everything around me felt chaotic. Not that things are super chill now…from a news cycle point of view. But yeah it was just a time of hyper outrage and these songs are just notes about the things I was feeling and seeing at the time.

“Keep it dull” was recorded at our bass player’s studio (out of the box studios) in Westchester and “holding out” was recorded in Greenpoint at our guitar player’s studio (Greenpoint Recording collective). Keep it dull is a bit more straight forward in terms of instrumentation…we just sort of plugged in and turned it up. For ‘holding out’ we did a little more experimentation on recording day. I remember Tommy coming up with and adding the ghostly piano part in the moment.
I’m really happy with how both turned out.

MOTEL VOID: I must say I really love that list of your favorite artists: Pedro the Lion, Dinosaur Jr., Stephen Malkmus, Alex G, Smashing Pumpkins, Hum, Hovvdy… who is your biggest inspiration right now?

SMOLTZ: Thanks! I mean, most of those artists are just like monsters of top quality rock music. But biggest inspo right now? Man. There’s just so much good stuff out there. I really love Hovvdy. Everything they do is cool. From the artwork to the videos. Also Ovlov. Those are probably my favorites at the moment. I’ve also been listening to A LOT of Jay Reatard. RIP.

MOTEL VOID: Your other plans for 2024?

SMOLTZ: We have a few singles we’re working on that I’d like to release this summer. We’d also like to play some shows. Could be fun to do something outside of the NYC area. Our friends in the Winter Sounds started a new label/collective called Kitty Kant and we’ll be working with them on some releases and compilations.