Recently I sat down with Carter and David of the music duo Aer, and we talked about everything from their independent music career, to their recently released album and upcoming tour alongside Cody Simpson.
You guys have been together as Aer since 2011, how have you guys grown over the years and how has that shaped your style?
Carter: I’ve grown, physically. So I am taller.
David: He’s become a big boy
C: So now that I am taller, I see things differently. Different perspective, new life.
D: I’m the exact same.
C: Yeah this guy was seven feet since he was born.
D: I think I have gotten more immature as the years go on.
C: I can vouch for that statement, he probably has.
C: Nah, I am kidding. When you grow and you become an adult, you start to realize you have to pay bills and eat food that you know wasn’t put on a plate in front of you. So obviously that affects our life which has an impact on the music. So we are getting older, getting real old, (points to David) you’re an old man.
D: I am old and wise now. (laughs)
Why have you guys felt it important to be unsigned and independent so far in your career?
D: Mostly because no label really sees eye to eye with what we are doing. We just like to do our own thing and tour while still being able to do music and make a living off it. We have nothing against labels so if we do come across a label that sees eye to eye with us then sure that might happen. Until that time, we are not going to give it all up just because we got some buzz or a hit song, we want a partnership that will be able to let us do amazing things.
C: Take over the world together.
With your self-titled sophomore album “Aer,” I really like the direction with the track “Won’t Laugh.” What does the song represent to you?
D: Yeah, that song is just about the impression that people have on us that don’t really know the amount of focus and hard work that goes into this job. It is kind of a screw you to people who see us and think we are starving artists, just a band trying to make it. That’s what that song is about. I’m glad you like it.
You guys recently released a new album, “One Of A Kind.” What was different in producing this record?
C: It’s different because it’s the first time we have made music since “Aer,” so it’s been a solid year and half, two years later. So the attitude and where we are at in our own heads is obviously different. We also branched out on this own album and brought in some third-party production. We worked with this guy Printz Board, who produced the majority of the Black Eyed Peas’ music. We have a few songs with him and the new song “Keep You Here” was produced with him.
D: A lot of people were involved in the studio, which we had never done before. It’s definitely different. We had engineers in the studio for the first time, we even went to a studio for the first time, everything before was homegrown. It was either in our parent’s living room or my room or where ever we were. It was the first time where wanted to bring other people in and let it be a group process which led to some amazing songs. My favorite song on the album is “Position,” which we did with Printz Board as well. I am still playing guitar but it’s like adding a person in there to make something brand new that we wouldn’t have been able to make for this album. It’s fun.
You are about to set out on a 30-day tour for your new album, what will be special on this tour and what are you guys most looking forward to on the road?
C: I don’t know, it’s definitely a new vibe, this tour. We have done hip hop tours and we have done rock tours, this one is going to be cool because it’s definitely rock based but it’s also just very chill summer music. So I think it will be really cool coming off of the summer to be able to extend that feeling for the fans and for the people because…
D: It’s what they need.
C: Everyone will be either back at school or work and getting back to the normal year grind. So ideally were going to try and get hundreds of thousands and millions of people there, and everyone will be talking about it.
D: Have the bass hit the face. Have their socks fly off.
C: I mean at the end of the day, it’s still going to be an Aer show. There is going to be a lot of energy, it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be wild.
When you guys are not on the road or writing new music, what are you favorite things to do in your free time?
C: I have been trying to get out of the city and go to the beach as much as possible. So surfing.
D: He’s a snurfer actually.
C: Yeah surfing would be nice and just kinda forgetting is pretty fun. Letting go. I spend like two weeks on the beach just having bonfires, drinking, surfing and it was the best two weeks I’ve had in a while.
D: I was in Montana for a week with my brother and went on a bunch of hikes. Watched a couple of his plays, was in the middle of nowhere, that was a good time.
So Cody Simpson is one of the acts joining you on tour, how do you feel being with such a big star who recently decided to leave Atlantic and start his own independent label.
C: Yeah, it’s a really mutually beneficial situation which I am excited about. He’s introducing us to a new world with the pop star or the pop fan base and we are introducing him to a different fan base as well. I think there are going to be really good vibes and it’s going to a rad time.
D: I hope he’s ready for the amount of fun he’s about to have, he has no idea. You have no idea Cody!
C: No i-dea.
Where do you see Aer going in the future, and is there a goal you guys are still moving toward?
C: A Grammy would be nice.
D: My Grandma would love a Grammy.
C: Yeah she probably would.
D: We want to be big obviously and be successful, everyone does, but we want to have it be authentic. As well as experiment and shock people and do stuff that’s unexpected. Keep it moving, keep the fans in love with us. I just want to stay inspired and keep doing stuff that surprises me and getting into the studio with people that I’d be like “What the heck, how’d we get into the studio with Doc Genius or Teddy Geiger” and just make awesome stuff.
What is an album or new artist you have been listening to lately?
C: Finally got into Toro y Moi after five years of being told to listen to them and now I listen to him. The new Tame Impala album too, I don’t know just have been all over the place, listening to a lot of new stuff.
Thanks so much to Aer for taking time out of their busy schedules to talk to us, you can order their new album “One Of A Kind” that just recently hit the shelves.
