After breaking through with his highly-praised debut EP 'Back In The Sun' back in 2020, California-based singer-songwriter Ryan Ayala aka Are We Hunting has returned once again to offer up his breezy new single 'California Kurt Cobain'.
Offering up more of that warm and illustrious direction he is known for, 'California Kurt Cobain' makes for a wonderfully rich and enticing listen. Channelling a sweet and driven dream-pop direction throughout, he is certainly marking himself as one of the more captivating names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and influences over the years.
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What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
I have two-- Neil diamond and Nirvana. My grandmother, who I was very close with, was always playing Love on the Rocks and Coming to America. I remember loving those songs when I very little. I still love those songs. They're funny. With Nirvana, someone’s older brother asked me if I liked them. I didn’t even know if he was talking about a band, but I assumed so. I pretended that I didn’t like them, because I was an insecure, contrarian. I then secretly listened to them and fell in love. I can’t really listen to them much anymore since I've been listening to them literally my entire life. But it’s still so good.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they
sound like?
I was in a few punk bands in Junior high and early high school. We loved sing-songy, oi stuff. So we tried to sound like The Business, The Adicts, Cock Sparer. But all that stuff is catchy and melodic and we weren’t good enough to do that. So we just wrote songs about working and playing football even though none of us had a job or played soccer.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
Trying to forget myself, I think. I don’t know why it helps me to forget myself by writing, generally, about myself, but it really does. It turns pain into an accomplishment or at least an acceptance.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
I don’t think I wish I wrote anyone else’s song. I’d enjoy the song a lot less if I wrote it. But right now, I’ve been listening to Flirted with you All My Life by Vic Chesnutt, a lot. Its perfect.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
I don’t think of it like that. I’m just trying to make art that is sincere and unafraid.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
Maybe Modest Mouse or Tom Waits.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
I would have loved to collaborate with Lou Reed, if he wasn’t an asshole to me. Lucinda Williams would be rad. Tom waits and Modest Mouse too.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Probably still trying to forget myself. Hopefully getting closer to making sincere and unafraid art. I'd like to be living in Paris or maybe Sicily.
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Are We Hunting's new single 'California Kurt Cobain' is available to stream now. Check it out below.