Nate Amos is on a musical journey. As one member of from indie pop rock Brooklyn band Water From Your Eyes, he has entered the realm of solo work a bit ago under the moniker This Is Lorelei. He created one of the best and honest albums of the year entitled Box For Buddy, Box For Star, which is out now. The project captivates as Amos stepped away from indie rock act Water From Your Eyes to make an album rich in Americana themes with a touch of light electronic (see “Perfect Hand”) and acoustic guitar sounds (see “Angel’s Eye”). I sat down with the singer/songwriter to discuss why this was the right time to step away to make Box For Buddy, Box For Star , how he constructed the songs, and the reception received at the shows he plays.
What inspired you to start This Is Lorelei?
Originally it was a solo side project that I could work on while my main band was scattered in different places. I would try to make this an annual project while I visited my parents in Vermont. The first single was suppose to be a one release, but it turned out to be full fledged project.
Is Water From Your Eyes still together?
This project is older from Water From Your Eyes. It operates everything else what’s going on. This project and Water From Your Eyes both allow each other to be what they are. They are two very different outlets.
Tell me about the new album Box For Buddy, Box For Star. What’s the meaning behind the title?
It’s nothing that’s supposed to be quantifiable. It has a couple different meanings. It’s a duality thing. It’s like a coffin for the past and the music box for the future.
What are the themes behind this project?
It intentionally plays with a lot of existing singer songwriter tropes. The funnier side of it is that leans into these serious things in this unfunnier way. The theme of the album is kind of using something you are playing into to be a vehicle for something that’s more honest than you what you’d expect to use it to project out.
I get an Americana electronic Death Cab For Cutie vibe on this project.
Yes, they were a band I was into for a long time. When you are first learning how to write and perform music there’s kind of moment, inevitably as you are on your journey, you kind of sing like the people you listen to. If you happen to have a similar voice already, people latch on to that. The Ben Gibbard thing was something that in late high school/early college I was trying to get away from because that’s the first thing people would say or compare me to.
How deep did you dig with the lyrics?
Probably deeper than I have before. A big part of the process of working on this album was trying to start with the words and the vocal melody because I come from that school from the art of beat making. I wanted to start with the melodies first and have them be these be independent melodies that would sound just as natural without accompaniment as they do with accompaniment. The music plays a looser role and the words would be more at the forefront. I was thinking about the words as the primary component of the album, which was different for me because the words would be very instinctual or an after thought. Some of the songs had to be so much content and had to be severely edited.
So the lyrics were the framework of the album then?
For the bulk of the songs. The goal was to play with these existing archetypes that exist in 20th century songwriting. I see the tropes that are the chord progression but the average person would talk about the lyrics just as soon as they would talk about the music itself.
What are your goals for your album and the shows?
Immediately around the album release there’s two shows—one in New York and one in Philadelphia. Then after I’m on the road for Water From Your Eyes. We are beginning to book more shows down the road though.
What kind of reception did you get at SXSW earlier this year with This Is Lorelei?
It seemed to go well. I forget to gauge what the reception of the audience was. In all of my projects when I am performing I should probably work to be more conscience of the audience. Crowd work is really not my thing. My mindset is getting the job done, be efficient, and demonstrate what I do. Stay focused so you do a good job all the way through.
