Austin-based quintet Font have built a live reputation in the last year opening for the likes of bar italia, Water From Your Eyes, Horsegirl, and CHAI. Years of improvising, playing, recording and re-recording both in studios and at home, the result is debut album Strange Burden, released earlier this month. With a sound they describe as “discordant, sinister minimalism” their songs are created from a blend of New Wave, No Wave, rock, punk and pop that calls to mind Black Country, New Road, Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem and Radiohead.
Font comprise of Thom Waddill – vocals, guitar, synths, Anthony Laurence – guitar, samples, synths, Roman Parnell – bass, bass synths and Jack Owens – drums. Jack and Thom knew each other from college and moved to Austin to pursue music in 2020. They met Anthony and Roman who had been playing music in Austin for years. They started playing music together and would go on to create what would become Font. Font began playing regularly in Austin in 2022.
Being the home of SXSW, how vibrant is the music scene in Austin during the rest of the year?
Austin’s music scene is pretty eclectic but welcoming. I think this is due mainly to the accessibility of music venues around the city that provide a space for any artists of any calibre to get to perform their music live. You’re essentially guaranteed to meet and become friends with most of the musicians in Austin just by playing out regularly. In doing so, a lot of us have been able to play with other bands or sub in for musicians when they go on tour, etc.
There’s a pretty vibrant DIY visual arts scene here that cross-pollinates with music a lot. Anthony and Thom were part of founding a warehouse DIY space called All the Sudden where we improvised and performed some. We also played a really fun sit-down performance at a place called Shed Shows that is, indeed, in a shed, and which usually shows paintings and installations. That scene has definitely informed our thinking, and we’re grateful for it.
What are the main themes and inspirations behind the album?
We wanted to make music that felt good to play, and then we recorded it.
On the song ‘It’, the pulsating electronic beats are wonderful, and then it heads off on a slight tangent.
The idea came from that initial kick pattern. That one was probably the only song mostly developed on the computer before it was brought to the band.
Bertrand Russell described electricity as “not a thing but a way things happen.” The song isn’t about electricity, but that description feels like a good description of whatever “it” is.
You supported Yard Act on their US dates. How was that experience?
It was great to be a part of that tour. They were extremely supportive and helpful throughout, we got to play to some of the biggest crowds we have played to yet in some really beautiful places.
What are your plans for the rest of the year? Any live dates we need to know about?
We’re about to leave on an east coast tour with Lifeguard for a few weeks, and then we have our album release show in Austin in early August. We’ll also be heading to Europe for the first time for some festivals in the fall.
If I looked in your fridge right now what would I find?
Since we’re all about to be gone, our fridges are pretty empty. Jack has 3 eggs and some kimchi that he’s going to cook for breakfast tomorrow.
