Today, Voyeur — darlings of NYC’s DIY scene — have released their sophomore EP, Something Becomes You. The foursome, made up of guitarist-songwriter Jake Lazovick, singer-guitarist Sharleen Chidiac, drummer Max Freedberg, and bassist Isaac Eiger, are emblematic of the city’s current so-called “rock revival.” But while their sound is packed with whispers of Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the Velvets — it doesn’t lean “nostalgic.” Voyeur are about anemoia — reminiscence and yearning for a time or a place one has never known. Well-described in our summer issue, the band are loosely alike to “Jonathan Richman fronting an ’80s SST group, through the lens of a rock historian obsessed with the gunk of rock ’n’ roll.” Appropriately, their second EP was recorded at BC Studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn — the dominion of Martin Bisi, a legendary producer, artist and no-wave veteran who’s worked with Sonic Youth, Swans, Brian Eno, and more.
Since their impactful run at SXSW this year, the fairly new band have seen a surge of success, which spiked when Voyeur dropped their debut EP, Ugly. Today, their second EP, along with an accompanying music video, sees the group doubling down on their punky wit and darkwave poker faces — not to mention developing their sound. Simultaneously more polished and hazier, the kinetic tracklist showcases increased intention from the band, with emotive instrumentation and some of Lazovick’s sharpest lyricism.
Read more: Reckling are punk in its purest form
Voyeur regrouped with AP on their EP launch, the new video for “Velvet” — one of our favorite tracks — and let us in on five songs that inspired Something Becomes You.
Gray Matter – “Burn No Bridges”
I heard this song in a skate video as a kid. It was one of the first punk songs I heard. I aspire to write a song with this amount of energy and angst. —Jake Lazovick
Sonic Youth – “Shadow of a Doubt”
One of my favorite Sonic Youth songs that Kim Gordon sings. I love her sexy-relaxed whisper style of singing. Then halfway through, the song opens up, and she’s got that amazing compressed shout. Also love the nod to Hitchcock’s Strangers on the Train, an incredible movie. —Sharleen Chidiac
I was listening to this record a lot while writing for this EP. We recorded this EP with Martin Bisi, who also recorded EVOL. —Jake Lazovick
Black Sabbath – “War Pigs/Luke’s Wall”
This is one of the great Rock Drumming moments. I love when virtuosity can be used in service of the feeling. Bill Ward is smashing hard and fast and evokes the violent whirl of battle. —Max Freedberg
Yo La Tengo – “Autumn Sweater”
I relate to their range of songs between driving noise rock to light and delicate pop, this one being the latter. —Jake Lazovick
Fugazi – “Cashout”
Drums. —All