Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Psychic Lines
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(Credits: Far Out / Psychic Lines)
Delusion can be a worthy companion in music, especially regarding creativity and innovation. It’s helpful in the thematic sense, not about self-worth, and usually helps to form the basis of some of the more abstract thinking without compromising on resonance. For Psychic Lines, Sunset on Sunset tackles reality and authenticity by addressing such misconstrued beliefs and the strange space that exists between expectation and reality.
One of the masterminds behind the Brooklyn psych-pop collective is Phil Jacob, an Ohio-born creative who grew up surrounded by the overwhelming whirlwind of 1990s eclecticism. During a time so heavily guided by technical advancements and electronic flavour, Jacob floated along the popularised stream as a young teen before an interest in the burgeoning Louisville indie realm led him slightly astray and into the world of the electronic guitar.
After relocating to Brooklyn, Jacob formed Psychic Lines with Dann Baker and Nancy Polstein. They blended indie rock with something a little more indescribable, creating songs that feel more akin to snippets of emotion-packed stories than simplistic compositions, complete with the allure of Leonard Cohen and the charm and poeticism of Warren Zevon.
The defining through-line is Jacob’s signature relatability and self-reflective sense of humour, which creates an endearing layer of viscera where the real and the surreal converge. On Sunset on Sunset, for instance, songs like ‘LA in my Mind’ and ‘Mind Control’ execute an unmissable Captain Beefheart-inspired edge with an additional injection of nuanced melancholy, the honest kind that doesn’t neglect to address the irony of such a complicated emotion and how it often bleeds into hopefulness.
To get to the heart of what makes Jacob tick, Far Out was lucky enough to bag ten minutes to ask the all-important questions, including whether The Beatles are overrated and why Warren Zevon created the perfect funeral song.
Quick-fire questions with Psychic Lines:
What is your favourite album of 2024 so far?
“That two-hour Cindy Lee album Diamond Jubilee is pretty wild. My Psychic Lines bandmate Dann Baker just released an amazing album last week called Cool Fires with his group Eljin Marbles. It could almost be a companion piece to Sunset on Sunset as California-themed albums made in Brooklyn.”
What song would you want played at your funeral?
“Judee Sill’s ‘The Kiss’ is so elegiac yet hopeful and serene. Such a gorgeous song. It’s crossed my mind before for such an occasion. Also, Warren Zevon’s ‘I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead’. I’d probably want to put an entire playlist together. Dress comfortably.”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“I sometimes feel haunted by dreams and memories that feel like ghosts. That’s kind of a complex word. You can read a book by a dead author, and it’s like they are speaking directly to you from beyond the grave. Something that flies around and slams doors? Not really, but it’s fun to pretend.”
With an hour to kill and no plans, what are you doing?
“Seeing what’s on Criterion Channel’s 24/7 feed, working on tunes, or taking a walk here in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.”
What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
“JD Salinger isn’t that good. Also, George Romero should be as celebrated as Scorsese and De Palma.”
What song are you the most proud of?
“The first track on the new album, ‘Lies I Tell Myself’. If I had to dig into the past, I’d go with ‘Contingency’ from Psychic Lines’ third album Dance, Cartoon Skeleton.”
Who is your biggest influence?
“It’s constantly changing. Syd Barrett, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon, David Lynch, Hunter S Thompson, Captain Beefheart, Kandinsky, Philip K Dick, Gil Scott-Heron. Basically any artist that has a unique vision can be my biggest influence at one time or another.”
What is the ultimate comfort movie?
“Big Trouble in Little China. It feels soothing because I’ve seen it so many times. Martial arts screwball fantasy action flick directed and scored by John Carpenter? Count me in. I may throw it on later.”
What would be your fantasy concert?
“Steve Hanley from The Fall on bass and John French from The Magic Band on drums. Stevie Nicks and Emmylou Harris on background vocals. Mulatu Astatke on vibes. Robert Fripp can do whatever he wants.”
What movie makes you laugh the most?
“A little ’80s film called The Miami Connection about a new wave rock band that uses their Taekwondo skills to foil a drug smuggling operation. It’s deliciously bad, and I love it.”
Are there any conspiracy theories that you sort of believe in?
“The JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations all seem very suspect. I’ve heard a lot of conflicting theories. There’s so much disinformation out there.”
What are you the most looking forward to?
“Getting this album out into the world and then finishing up the next couple of albums with Psychic Lines and another band I play in called Vague Plot. Also, our first female president!”
Who is the greatest songwriter of all time?
“The obvious answers are Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, but I’m going to sidestep those and go with Warren Zevon.”
What was the first artist you remember falling in love with?
“I was always into classical music like Beethoven and Schubert because that’s all my dad would listen to. Pink Floyd was my gateway. I remember hearing ‘Money’ on the radio when I was 13, and something just clicked for me. I went on a deep dive and scoured their entire catalogue. Atom Heart Mother is still one of my favourites.”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“Depends on the crowd you’re in. They’re underrated if you’re talking to people who have never actually listened to Revolver or Magical Mystery Tour. If you’re surrounded by rabid Beatlemaniacs, then they can certainly verge on overrated, but they were a legendary band that changed music forever and made some of my favourite albums.”
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