motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’re from Charlottesville, Virginia. How would you describe the current music scene there? Do you feel that you’re part of it?

WORK WEAR: Oh yeah, the Cville scene is small and tight-knit. People know us for Dave Matthews, but he pulled from a ton of great jazz, folk, and country that’s been kicking around these hills for a while. People forget that we’re also where Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastonovich, and David Berman all met and recorded a bunch of experimental stuff that led to Pavement and Silver Jews.

MOTEL VOID: Your favorite local venues and artists?

WORK WEAR: SuperFly Brewery is our favorite spot to play right now. There’s new places popping up all the time. I’m hot on ‘when are we leaving’ for a downtempo Alex G kinda good time. Also gotta shout out our practice space-mates Films on Song, and Cville institution New Boss.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single ’64’. Will it be part of your new album?

WORK WEAR: Yep, it’s the third track on our debut full-length, ‘My Love Is Occupational and There’s Nothing I’d Rather Do.’ It’s a thematic pole of the record, for sure.

MOTEL VOID: Your dad recorded your first EP which was also mixed by your brother. Are you from a musical family? Do you still cooperate?

WORK WEAR: Yeah, super musical family with an eclectic set of talents. My siblings and I were lucky to grow with an incredibly tender and emotional male role model in my dad. I think we all seek out those qualities in the people we choose to share our love with, and Work Wear is a clear reflection of that energy and desire. It’s fitting that my dad and brother were our early and ongoing collaborators.

MOTEL VOID: Could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of your songs?

WORK WEAR: We got a Vibe King, a Composition Queen, and a Melody-Maker, but it’s all super collaborative. We prefer low lighting, and believe that the simplest ideas are often the best ones. We were psyched to record in the big room at The Bakery in Richmond while the paint was still drying. Noah’s brother Graeme got us in there. He recorded, mixed, and produced the entire record and has really shaped these songs into what they are.

MOTEL VOID: Your biggest inspirations right now?

WORK WEAR: We’ve had a lot of family stuff going on this year. I feel like a big part of our identity is bringing the beauty of our experience making music together inside of the loving relationships we have with our partners, parents, and kids…letting those things rub off on each other. I had a collection of poems by Rumi and a copy of Allen Ginsburg’s Howl sitting around the studio while we were recording. The idea was to incorporate a sort of holy and feral vibe into the record at the same time.

MOTEL VOID: Your plans for 2024?

WORK WEAR: Enjoy this moment. We’ve been baking ourselves as a band for almost 3 years now. We’re stoked to be at a point where we feel ready to make a cohesive long-form statement, and hopefully we can share that far and wide.