Burner Phone Selfie are sharing their new tracks “Brushed” and “Tip Jar” from their upcoming debut EP. While “Tip Jar” is a brand-new original, “Brushed” is a cover which was originally written and performed by post-hardcore band Quicksand. Both tracks are produced and mixed by band member Matthew Bannister.
Listen to “Brushed” here:
Listen to “Tip Jar” here:
Ukranian twin brothers Andriy and Vasyl Matsola met British musician/producer Matthew Bannister (AKA the Beautiful Fear) at a design conference in Lviv in 2019. Together they formed Burner Phone Selfie earlier this year.
Matthew Bannister shares his thoughts:
“The Quicksand 2021 Distant Populations record was my ‘go to jog’ for months and every time the beautiful song Brushed came on I heard a different arrangement and approach in my head. Magical things happen musically on a good jog when endorphins kick in. I’ve never done a cover before so this was new territory. One has to bring something different otherwise why bother.
“I have known Walter on and off for almost 30 years (growing up at CBGB in the 80s) and when I went to see Quicksand in Seattle last year I asked him if he’d be cool with me doing a version. He seemed well into the idea, so I started to work through it. Rather than release it under The Beautiful Fear, I proposed to Andriy and Vasyl that we develop it as a Burner Phone Selfie release. A new project we were working on together. We wanted to create a kinda Shoegaze-Britpop-NYHC vibe, and this is where Chris Enriquez’s drumming glued it all together to complete the desired vibe. Walter loves it. Phew.”
Quicksand vocalist/guitarist Walter Schreifels says:
“So psyched this is coming out! Honored to hear Burner Phone Selfie’s awesome version of Quicksand’s ‘Brushed.’ I love the ‘dancy-ness’ of it, and this arrangement is stellar, especially the space added to the choruses, they really sing ……. wish I had thought of that!”
Andriy Matsola shares his thoughts:
“’Tip Jar’ started with me sending a video of my brand-new Gibson ES-335 to Matthew and Vasyl. I just played a random idea in the video—Matthew immediately said, ‘I can hear a song …’ A few days later, he sent over a vocal idea. Vasyl and I loved it, even though I had a completely different version in mind. Somehow, Matthew managed to merge the ideas into two parts that work as either choruses or verses. A few back and forths later, ‘Tip Jar’ was born, and so was Burner Phone Selfie, a new project where we would write collaboratively.”
Vasyl Matsola says:
“Recording bass for ‘Brushed’ was pure joy. When Matthew shared Quicksand music a few years ago, I was immediately a fan. The song is very driven by Sergio Vega’s bass line. Taking that foundation and reinterpreting it has resulted in a new version we are all proud of. Nothing like a song driven by a great rhythm section while everything else floats and dances around in beautiful melody.”
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Photo courtesy of Burner Phone Selfie
