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Alt-rock outfit Loose Buttons on new music and New York City
Indie | Tuesday 1st September 2015 | Christina
Indie rock quartet Loose Buttons - frontman Eric Nizgretsky, guitarist Zack Kantor, bassist Manny Silverstein and drummer Adam Holtzberg – came of age in early-2000s NYC. They’ve matured into a powerful live entity, with accomplished guitar work, honest lyricism and a passion for their craft. Following the release of their latest single ‘Thrill’, Eric took some time out to give us the lowdown on new music and New York City.
Hi guys, how’s everything going?
We have been fantastic, we can’t complain. The sun is out and the birds are chirping. I think you can say that we are all pretty happy guys these days.
How has your summer been?
A ton of fun actually. We all just moved back to NYC after about four years away, so we are just excited by being back here. It’s good to be home.
Tell us how Loose Buttons came into being.
Well Zack and I have been playing music together since we were in high school and when we went to separate colleges, we knew that we wanted to keep playing together. We brought in my freshman year roommate Manny on the bass and recruited the best drummer on campus, Adam.
How has growing up, living and playing in New York City influenced you?
It has made such a big impact on our sound and our lives. The culture here is tremendous and there is no way you ever get bored. We just try to write songs that any random person on the street of New York is feeling. It’s a beautiful place and I highly suggest it as a place to visit.
What’s the best thing about NYC?
DOLLAR PIZZA. hands down.
And what’s the worst?
Subways during rush hour. Everyone is just fucking grumpy.
You also have a connection to Miami as three of you attended the Frost School of Music, so how has the city impacted on the Loose Buttons sound?
Miami is real interesting just because we felt like outsiders a bit. Nobody there was playing indie rock music, it’s all EDM, Top 40 or Latin music. So we kind of created our own scene to allow our sound to be heard. We would throw these house party shows with B.Miles and our friends The Roses and slowly started building a DIY scene.
You’ve just released your new single ‘Thrill’. Talk us through the inspiration behind the track?
Zack brought in the initial idea and we all fell in love with it and started running with it. Lyrically I wanted to talk about the thrill of chasing girls and being a young lad in New York.
Is an album in the pipeline?
Right now we are just locking ourselves in our studio and writing a ton. Hopefully that turns into an album, but we are just taking it one song at a time right now. Keeping it chill and keeping it real.
Eric you’ve co-written with B.Miles for her track ‘Salt’, how did that come about?
Brenna is practically my sister and I view myself as that rugged older brother, even though she is older, but I write with her constantly and I remember we were talking about writing a song that had a bit of a Western vibe. Next thing you know a beautiful melody was written and 'Salt' is born.
Any plans for a collaboration?
Not as of now, but you never know. Listen if Alex Turner or James Murphy calls us, we ain't gonna turn it down.
Do you guys write a lot with other artists?
Not really. We mostly just work as the four of us. We each have such a strong songwriting voice that we never have a shortage of ideas.
In your Facebook bio you state that your likes are guacamole and The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift – why this film specifically? Do you not like the rest of the franchise?
I mean right when you least expect it, Vin Diesel makes a cameo reprising his role of Dominic Toretto. It literally blew our minds. None of the other films threw such a curve ball.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Playing Mercury Lounge. I remember trying to get into Mercury Lounge when I about was 14 years old and being turned down at the door every single time cause I used a fake ID. I would try at least once a month to get in. Seven years later we got to play that stage. I don’t know, it just felt great.
And what’s been the shittiest moment?
Maybe this random show we did in Philadelphia. Manny was sick as a dog and we were all just pretty out of it. On top of that I think we literally only played in front of our manager, even the bartender wasn’t in the room.
What are you most looking forward to?
Releasing new content. We have been meticulously working on videos and songs and I just feel like it’s ready to be shown to the world.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Come to our next show and we will show you.
Which song in the history of music do you wish you had written?
Pretty much any song on Is This It by The Strokes
Who’s the biggest troublemaker in the group?
Zack “Kitty” Kantor. A wild boy, with naughty thoughts.
What are you most in love with right now?
YOU ;)
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would it be and why?
Water. I would refuse to swim in anything else.
What would you do to make the world a better place?
Keep mom + pop shops alive.
Follow Loose Buttons on Twitter.
