After recently following up their much-loved 2022 debut album 'Waiting For God To Turn On The Lights' with their stunning comeback offerings 'Carny Song' and 'Last Girl Standing', fast-rising outfit The Lower Aetna are back once again with their breezy new single 'Blood Moon'.
Capturing more of that warm and riveting aesthetic they have earned a reputation for over the years, 'Blood Moon' makes for a dazzling return to form for them. Brimming with rich and shimmering textures, a sweeping atmosphere, and stellar vocals layered throughout, they are returning with one of their more impactful efforts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what has been inspiring them over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The bass guitar. I had a drum set as a kid, and I banged the hell out of it…but I never became much of a drummer. (Sorry/thanks, Mom and Dad.)
I moved to guitar after that, but I don’t really think I truly understood and fell in love with an instrument until I started playing bass. It’s helped me grow as a producer, a guitar player, even as a songwriter—the bass is such an emotional instrument; it’s capable of expressing so much with so little. It kind of became the key that I used to unlock other instruments and different ways of being creative.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
The soundtrack of my teenage years was Sam’s Town by The Killers, The ‘59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem, and a non-stop rotation of ‘70s Springsteen.
Someone once told me that the music you love at 15 years old ends up shaping your taste as an adult, and though I don’t necessarily want to admit that that’s true, it clearly is in my case. Growing up in New Jersey and discovering Bruce and The Gaslight Anthem in high school pretty much sealed my fate. At my core, I really do just want to make big, ambitious, character-driven rock n roll songs. We do a lot of that on our new record Pine, and I suspect we'll continue to going forward.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I’m pretty sure it was Songs About Jane by Maroon 5. I think I asked for it for Christmas. I must’ve been about 9 or 10 years old, and I remember being so embarrassed by the cover—a naked lady? How scandalous!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Oh, there are so, so many. I think Jason Isbell is kind of the king of songwriting these days, so I’ll say “Cast Iron Skillet.” I seriously doubt I’ll ever have the poetic genius or lightness of touch that’s required to write a song as delicate and devastating as that one. But I’m very, very grateful to live in an era with someone who does.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I tend to work in two-year cycles. At first, I’m just grasping around in the dark, looking for the right idea. I’ll spend a few months forcing myself to just write. Something. Anything. It’s not an enjoyable phase, and 90% of what comes out of it will never see the light of day.
But eventually, I’ll land on an idea that’ll show me the way forward. For our new record, Pine, it was the song “Getting Older.” “Getting Older” was the first song I wrote during the Pine sessions that made me think, “Okay, yeah, this is interesting. There’s something here. Let’s explore this.”
Once I’ve got that core idea, I basically just mentally tape it to a dartboard and throw darts until I feel like I’ve hit ten bullseyes. I just write toward that core idea from however many interesting angles I can think of, and whatever comes out of that ends up being the record. Then we spend about 14 months or so actually making it.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
The National, Zach Bryan, Hiss Golden Messenger, Concrete Blonde, The Killers, The Gaslight Anthem, Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, Chuck Ragan, Charley Crockett, Craig Finn, Franz Nicolay, The Hold Steady, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, The War on Drugs, Cayetana, Brian Fallon, The Eagles, Future Islands, Lana Del Rey, Alex Cameron, Warren Zevon, Bob Seger, Low Cut Connie, Japanese Breakfast, Richmond Fontaine, Carly Simon, ELO, David Gray, Lissie, Fleetwood Mac, New Order, David Bowie, U2, Pixies. Oh, and Charli XCX. A lot of Charli XCX.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Right now? Zach Bryan. I am astonished by how prolific and consistently excellent his writing is. It really seems like he’s on a rocketship right now, and he’s only in his late twenties. It’s not hard at all for me to imagine him having a career for the ages, there’s just so clearly something special going on there. He really seems like a generational talent.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Songwriting lets me explore and express emotions that I'd otherwise repress. I usually write about or from the perspective of fictional characters who are often inspired by real people or real experiences that I've had. That layer of fiction creates just enough remove for me to feel safe exploring things that I'd otherwise struggle to process or talk about.
And that's rewarding enough on its own. But one of the greatest feelings in the world is when someone lets you know that your music connected with them. It's like a complete stranger saying to you, "Hey, I heard what you said, and I want you to know that I feel the same way. Now we're both less alone." There's a humanity and a comradery to it all that I can't imagine living without.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Honestly? Booking shows. At the indie/DIY level, booking a show—even a small show—can be a lot harder than you’d think. You have to find a venue and a date that works not only for you and everyone else in your band, but also everyone in all the other bands, too. That’s a lot of information to keep straight and make work. It’s like trying to schedule something with twenty other adults, all with their own busy lives, many of whom are strangers to one another and may not be the world’s greatest communicators. It blows my mind that someone hasn’t invented a clean, clear way to streamline and organize the process. There’s gotta be an app or something.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Write what scares you.
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The Lower Aetna's new single 'Blood Moon' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.