motel void

MOTEL VOID: Your upcoming EP, Long Island Sounds, was recorded live to capture the energy of your 3-piece band. What was the experience of working with Justin Pizzoferrato like?

PAUL BERGMANN: Justin is fantastic. There seems to be a line to walk as an engineer that is squarely between phoning it in and overstepping, and that is him. We spoke via email for a month or two in advance to discuss the overarching goals, recording ideology, vibes, and all that abstract stuff that really allows you to understand the minutia needed to achieve it. His approach to everything is fluid but extremely well considered. Sonelab is a high-ceilinged and unpretentious hifi studio in an old mill building, and being from western MA, it feels like home. Despite having some minor diva crises with my voice, we had a blast and were able to knock it out in a day.

MOTEL VOID: Across your fifteen releases, you’ve explored an impressive range of styles—from folk-pop to analog psychedelia and more. How do you choose the musical direction for each project, and what inspired the sound of Long Island Sounds?

PAUL BERGMANN: I’m not sure I intentionally choose musical direction prior to each project, except in one or two cases. The goal of Long Island Sounds was to capture the sound of our live 3-piece band. The band was formed with my two friends in order to play release shows for my last album, No Masters in Paradise. They didn’t play on that album, and it was cobbled together remotely. Prior to that, I had no live band in New Haven. The more we played together, the more the sound of the band became very distinct—one guitar, one bass, drums, and pedals (shoutout to the Mel9) for dynamics. Because we’re friends and we’ve developed the sound together, it’s always felt more like a band than a solo project. I wanted to honor and showcase what we created because I think it succeeds and is affecting, and we work at it a lot. Long Island Sounds is a blend of old and new songs, but the material all sounds new to me. It’s definitely a concise and cohesive release with a clear purpose.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve opened for artists like Lou Barlow and Angel Olsen. What were those experiences like?

PAUL BERGMANN: I opened for Lou Barlow in Chicago back when I was signed and living in L.A. The green room was in a basement, and I noticed there was a figure sitting behind a curtain in a little nook. It was Lou Barlow—I guess that’s the headliner treatment for you! He was really nice, and we talked about western MA.
I opened for Angel Olsen at the Echo in L.A. during her first album tour. It was a huge thing for me. And then I opened for her again at the Echoplex for her second album tour; not sure she remembered me the second time round, but she did compliment my hair. We didn’t talk much, but she always puts on a magnetic show.

MOTEL VOID: Being from New Haven, CT, how would you describe the current music scene there? Are there any local artists or venues you feel particularly connected to?

PAUL BERGMANN: New Haven is a criminally underrated city and music scene. Since moving back east in 2016, this is the place I’ve felt the most welcomed in. Really tight-knit scene, very supportive, very fun. Cafe Nine, Three Sheets, and Neverending Books really uphold the local scene for me. I still feel new here, but my buds the Tines, Pyramid Rose, Mother Juniper, and Allie Burnet are some of my faves (and in the non-indie rock realm, the DJ collective Neu/Body—shoutout to Townwide Tyler).

MOTEL VOID: Do you have plans to tour in support of your new EP?

PAUL BERGMANN: We’re setting up some delayed release shows in March. Definitely something in New Haven, and hopefully one or two elsewhere in the northeast. Stay tuned!