Austin’s own Roger Sellers is one of a few local bands that will perform this year’s annual Austin Psych Fest. I’m always inspired by how Psych Fest reaches out to local artists as well as international psych rock legends. Roger Sellers has gained notoriety over the last year or so, and we’re looking forward to seeing him play. He will perform the Levitation Tent at 5:30 today, so show up early! Below, following an embed of Sellers’ track “Sincere,” you can read a quick Q&A we were able to conduct via email in advance of his performance.
Pop Press INTL: What does the psychedelic descriptor mean to you?
Roger Sellers: Psychedelic music can be looked at in different ways. “Psychedelic Rock” carries more of the stereotypical late 60s drug-induced, “trippy” views on music and art. Then again, to me there is also just psychedelic music – that which bends one’s own perception of reality and stretches the mind beyond our own physical space. So I guess I would argue that literally any music could be seen as “psychedelic” depending on the affect that it has on the listener. Our Culture has shaped and helped define what we consider to be psychedelic but to me its way more diversified.
PPI: Your music, like psychedelic music at large, fuses genres and possesses diverse sonic textures. Do you think this is the primary aspect that makes your music “psychedelic”?
RS: There are many psychedelic elements in my music but I would not define it in that way. I’ve been pretty inspired by many musicians that might be considered psychedelic, so yeah some of that will shine through many of my songs. Dynamics in texture is something I’ve become well acquainted with when writing and recording my music. These textures and samples are the most obvious expressions of psychedelia in my music.
PPI: Over the last few years, your sound has changed drastically. What life or musical experiences did you have along that path that elicited these shifts?
RS: General life changes (moving to another city, getting another job, breaking up, etc) have shaped my sound throughout the years. As life changes, so will your craft. I’ve never been too afraid of musical experimentation. I never wanna be hung up in a particular sound or genre, which is why there is such an eclectic, almost messy arrangement of songs on the records. My live set that I will be performing at Psych Fest is more on the electronic pop side I guess.
PPI: What bands are you most looking forward to seeing and playing alongside?
RS: Avey Tare’s Flasher Flicks and Panda Bear are the two most exciting to me right now. I’ve been a huge fan of Animal Collective since I was in high school so it is an honor to play this festival alongside some of my musical heroes. Of course I’m stoked to see The Zombies. Such legends. There’s a bunch more but those are the performances I’m the most pumped about.
