How Belong have created their timeless, space-shattering new album

FADER: First, the obvious: why has it been 13 years since Belong’s last album?

Turkey: We never gave up on the Belong project. We have been working on Belong’s music since its release The Common Era. Live music The real IX these are issues we have worked on for the past few years. The music we were working on before R IX they were things that we decided were not worth releasing.

Michael: We have been working together for 13 years. It’s just that the key album tracks we wanted to release didn’t come together. So there’s a lot of scraps – finished songs, unfinished songs, rough demos, scrapped sessions.

How did the writing process for the new album evolve over time?

Michael: The new album started with a group of songs with lyrics written around 2019/20. After that, other tools. Then rewrite the lyrics. It was good to go back to the original set of songs. After the break, it was clear what was working and what needed to be fixed.

In comparison The Common Era, The real IX it’s a very heavy duty with a low fog mixture. Are you both willing to explore these more powerful flavors with this project?

Turkey: The goal was to make this album more specific than before. This progression of music and music for us is more natural than you might think because there’s all the music we’ve done in between. The Common Era and The real IX that has brought us to this point… It happened in small steps during that time.

The label “shoegaze” has always felt lacking when it comes to describing Belong. How do you feel about it, especially since the genre has found a new audience?

Turkey: Shoegaze is not a genre I’ve ever really liked. There are certain songs and albums that I like at times that I like, but most of the time it just hasn’t clicked with me for various reasons. My Bloody Valentine is an exception, but MBV doesn’t sound like other shoegaze bands; it’s very much their stuff compared to other brands.

Michael: Thanks for saying that because we don’t think of ourselves as a shoegaze band, apart from a few albums and songs here and there, I don’t really listen to new or old shoes. I didn’t know that species had a revival. I don’t know exactly, but in terms of being recorded on the radio… Just the other day, I was talking to Bryan Funck and I said something about metal, and he said, “I don’t see you metal band,” and I was thinking, “C’mon Bryan,” but I totally understand where he’s coming from. When someone radios us, even though I think it’s not good enough, I get a reason.

Do you use other words for a purpose like this, where words have an indescribable intellectual value?

Michael: The songs are hard, the themes are hard, a lot of time is spent on each one. When I listen to music, the lyrics are the last thing I encounter, if I do at all. I don’t care what they are as long as they don’t get in the way. I don’t want a line or a word that can take me out of the song. So, even if the words are intentionally vague, the words work hard.

What is the future of Bellong? Do you have any plans to continue making music together, or will it be another ten years between albums?

Turkey: We are always working on music. The next release will happen when we fall into the category of our favorite songs. We don’t know what that timeline will be.

Michael: I’d say it won’t take that long. New songs are being worked on now. But we thought we were done with the new album first The Common Era released.