Multiphased with Bayonne: On ‘Filters’

(Photo Credit - Pooneh Ghana)

We had the opportunity to chat with Roger Sellers, Austin, TX native and leader of the Bayonne. Bayonne is an experimental musical act, where Sellers pairs with percussionist Matt Toman. Sellers and Toman are releasing ‘Filters’, this Friday. The record is an incredible combination of psychedelic, electronic, and alt sound. Check out what Roger and Michael talked about in their chat below!

First question, I have to ask is how on earth did two humans create such a diverse and complex sonic landscape that sticks the landing throughout your new record Filters?

"At the end of the day, I probably took 70% of the burden on everything. The other side of Bayonne is my drummer is my best friend Matt (Toman). We've been working together for a long time. A lot of the songs came from 2016, we had these really good ideas that had been sitting around for a decade. We always wanted to do something with them. I brought Matt in more on a co-writing level on this record. It made the process and the music better. It was different, but it's also my best friend so it felt really natural”.

I’ve never seen an artist use samples of audio from sources such as nature hikes and family gatherings. You have a history of carefully selecting what you use as far as samples go. What goes into your thought process as far as pairing seemingly non-musical sounds into the melody you’re trying to create?

"It's something that I've done as long as I've been making music. I carry a field recorder and capture moments. It makes the music feel more personal and more like a diary. It makes it feel like this is a real thing that happened in your life. Of course, I like the sound of it texturally as well. Outside of the music itself, I used to listen to a lot of The Books and Animal Collective, who use real life sounds in almost an ASMR way. It brings more realism and emotions for me. I like the activity of sound and to incorporate that into the music makes it so much more of a process”.

Filters is one I feel is best enjoyed in it’s entirety, as we used to do before singles and clickbait were all the rage. What goes into your placement of tracks on the record regarding order and how you want to move through the listening experience?

"Yeah, that's another place where Matt really stepped in. He's great at sequencing and the curation of things. It's so important to me. I grew up listening to full records and getting into records that way. I feel like having a sick intro song is important. That's what is going to do the thing, if you will. The first side is super important to me. I like music that leads you and makes you not want to stop listening. That's just the way people like you and I grew up listening to music. It's sad that album creation is getting lost by the rise of streaming and singles culture ".

You’re known for your live show experience. Can you touch on how you translate your sound, much of which is synth or electronic fits into the live setting?

"I feel like it's changed throughout the years. When I first started doing live performance, I was in folk bands. I had a folk band behind me for years. At some point I started getting more experimental, with bass loop type stuff. I jumped on that and that kind of molded the way I present things live. I don't do as much experimental type stuff nowadays. I still use loopers and I like going from instrument to instrument. So the live performance has changed throughout the years."

First I’m sorry for the loss of your father. However, you had a bit of what I can only tongue-in-cheek term as “paranormal activity”, regarding voicemails your mother received after your father passed with “Multiphase”. Can you share a bit about this for readers?

"After he passed away, there was a period of time that my mom kept getting voicemails on her landline. There was this recording I had called "I Will See You in My Dreams” on eukele I did it for my mom on Mother's Day in early college. I put it on a CD and that was it and that's all I ever did with it and gave it to her as a gift. The two of them got really close with that. It was just a recording that was a bonding experience for them in a way. My mom and my dad, in whatever way, they just kind of enjoyed it together. She was getting these voicemails a month or so after he passed and it was that exact recording. It wasn't put anywhere, I don't even think I have it on my computer. Your brain can go all sorts of ways, like are they scamming her? But what's the scam? She'd send me the voicemails, they always came from a different number and they were all dead numbers or numbers that belonged to people that passed away when I tried calling them. I'm not a spiritual sense, but that was just 'What the hell?'. Weird things do happen with death. Throwing it into "Multiphase" felt right."

You'll be heading on tour soon to support Filters. Is there anywhere new or that you're returning to that you're especially looking forward to playing?

"Yeah, Chicago is one of my favorite places to play and visit. It feels good, I've played Schubas three times. Playing Lincoln Hall is kind of the brother/sister of Schubas. I'm stoked to experience that. Tons of stuff in Europe, there are so many places I've never been like Denmark, Poland, and Sweden. One of the places I have always wanted to visit is Prague and getting to play there is awesome”.

What are you most looking forward to in sharing Filters in its entirety with fans and the public?

"Honestly, just the songs that haven't come out already, the actual album in it's entirety, kind of how we were discussing earlier. There is a special song that's coming out the day of (the drop). The way I'm looking at it, I'm excited for the fans to listen to the first track ("Unexpected"). It's one of my favorite songs I've ever written."

FMI on all things Bayonne, visit their website.