Interview: A Million Billion Dying Suns

June 10, 2014

If you were waiting for something sonically stimulating to ‘daydream’ to, your wait is over! San Francisco’s A Million Billion Dying Suns, comprised of singer Nate Mercereau, guitarist Steve Wyreman, bassist Josh Lippi, keyboardist Ben Schwier and drummer Derek Taylor, are ready to take over your speakers with their upcoming debut, out this summer! Their ear-pleasing psychedlic 2013 Strawberry EP is only a glimpse of what’s to come. I highly recommend listening to “Plush” at top volume!

I caught up with frontman Nate Mercereau to chat influences, the recording process and when we can expect to hear more music!

For readers not familiar, introduce yourselves!

– We are collections of experiences. We are connected by our experiences. Together we are all one experience. We are from San Francisco and we make transcendental rock music.

Who are your biggest influences and have they inspired your sound in any way?

– We take inspiration from life, nature, the absurdity of existence. We can’t help but be influenced by everything we’ve heard/seen in some way, but bands/artists like Miles Davis, Yes, Dinosaur Jr, Smashing Pumpkins are big sonic influences.

Let’s talk about your upcoming debut album! What was the recording process like and when can we expect to hear all of the goodness?

– Our debut album is a snapshot of where this project has been in the first year of it’s existence. We are a new project made by old friends. I write and record all the songs myself, the band executes them live. The recording starts in the bedroom and eventually makes its way to a professional studio for mixing. You can expect to start hearing the songs end of June and through the summer.

What was the first album you ever bought with your own money?

– I think it was Dookie by Green Day.

Tell us your top 5 favorite songs/albums at the moment!

– I have been listening to the song “The Creator Has a Master Plan” by Pharoah Sanders almost everyday for several months now. Also “Transcendence” by Alice Coltrane. For albums, I recently discovered Something/Anything by Todd Rundgren and I love it. Also been digging new stuff like Connan Mockasin and Deafheaven.