Through several years of cross-country moves that resulted in the passing and going of temporary bandmates, Michael Pasuit and Ben Ross have maintained the core of Le Big Zero. Now, adding Katie Cooney and Lukas Hirsch to the mix, on their latest EP, At Arm’s Length, their first for NJ indie label Mint 400 Records, the band share a new side of themselves, a reimagining of ther sound and style. Here is our interview with lead vocalist and guitarist Michael Pasuit.
The new EP At Arm’s Length—and first on Mint 400 Records—follows 2022’s A Proper Mess less than a year later, which is a pretty rare and impressive feat for a band. Were any of these new songs in the works in consideration for the last album, or are they all brand new?
The magic trick here was that the previous album was tracked pre-pandemic and then mixed and cobbled together while everyone was stuck at home. There was no incentive to release it at that time, so we just waited until the coast was clear and we could play live to support it. The one song that kinda harkens back to that era is “Heavy Handed”—although we added some bells and whistles along the way. The lyrics to it were written at the height of masks being politicized and the social dialogue was so extreme. “You’re an idiot. No, you’re just sheeple.” Everything was so steeped in extreme points-of-view.
You have a few new key members (Katie Cooney and Lukas Hirsch); was it exciting to collaborate with different people this time around? Did you aim to explore new sounds with the updated lineup?
It’s great, and we lucked out that both are accomplished songwriters in their own right. Lukas is such a thinking person’s drummer and amazingly versatile at the same time. He can effortlessly hold together our weirder tracks, maybe something in 5/4 or 7/8, but then can also just throw down a dirty rock ‘n’ roll beat when needed. Katie brought so much to the table creatively, with a sense of melody that really isn’t in my wheelhouse to be honest, and then being able to craft a really tasteful and satisfying layer of lead guitar on top of my messier parts. I felt bad that their immediate time with the band was essentially playing other people’s parts while we promoted A Proper Mess, but I think that also gave us a chance to gel as a combo instead of feeling like we had to start from scratch. Each rehearsal, we begin with an impromptu jam to get situated and a lot of the tracks on this album were developed that way. After over a year, I still feel like we’re getting new ideas and exploring new approaches to creating material that way.
The music is reminiscent of a unique and wonderful mix of indie rock sounds that emerged over the last couple of decades. How do you generally describe Le Big Zero’s music to newcomers?
Ahh, the age-old conundrum where musicians love talking about their projects until that moment you ask them to actually explain their songs using real adjectives. People love using the word “angular” when I think they mean “it’s a little weird.” And if you use the word “mathy,” you might as well tell someone on the subway next to you that you actively have a COVID fever. It’s a complete turn-off to a lot of people. I’ve begun just listing ingredients like: “Brooklyn-based, garage rock, angular songs, punk spirit, pop harmonies, banana peel. puree.” We try to do something a little different, but aren’t so arrogant to think that at the end of the day it’s just garage rock.
Lots of musicians pour themselves into their music as a form of therapy. It’s an amazing outlet that not only brings you joy but brings joy to listeners. Do you find writing and performing to be a cathartic experience?
Completely agree. I wouldn’t be my semi-functional self without music. I ran into someone who I was in a band with years ago who said, “You’re still at it?” And I’m like, “I don’t have a choice.” Writing specifically, for me, is the key to happiness. To have found people to continue to compose with, like Ben, who’s been with me on the majority of this journey, and then Katie and Lukas, who were so essential to evolving this band’s sound for At Arm’s Length, I’m so fortunate. Especially with the tension of the times, catharsis is needed. I know Katie was full of anger when writing the lyrics to “Watch It Burn.” She had just watched Roe v. Wade be overturned—so devastating. There’s got to be an outlet to express yourself; otherwise you’ll lose it. We’re lucky to be musicians to be able to self-therapize when needed.
At the end of the day, what are you most excited about the release of this album? More specifically, what do you hope people take away from listening to the record as a whole?
It’s the result of a year of a band basically rediscovering what it is. It’s a little more driving, a little artier, a little more aggressive, a little more melodic, a little more introspective. Hopefully there’s something for people to connect with. And in an age of playlists, we did intend for this to be an album. A complete thought. We’re just excited to share what we’ve been up to.
Photo courtesy of Jeanette D. Mosses
