After spending the last few years delivering a riveting array of soaring gems, Indianapolis-based artist Betageist returns once again to offer up his sprawling new single 'Blue Shift'.
Lifted from his forthcoming sophomore album, which is expected to be unveiled soon, 'Blue Shift' makes for an incredibly warm and dynamic listen. With its tender textures and airy atmosphere throughout, this new one will wash over you and leave you feeling renewed throughout.
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.
What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
My earliest memory is absconding with my parents’ Beatles records and playing them incessantly, then taking them outside to scratch and warp them on the sidewalk to hear what effect it made. The psychedelic imprint on a young child’s mind from hearing warped and scratched late 60’s Beatles cannot be discounted. It wasn’t until the 80’s that I discovered Yes and Genesis and became obsessed with all that incredible UK prog.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
I was in a very ambitious high school rock band. I had one synthesizer with 6 voices and I wanted to play all this lushly layered 80’s studio pop so I got into using sequencers and tape syncing on stage and it was just so bizarrely complex for a band that was mostly playing graduation parties and beer bashes in peoples’ living rooms.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
I have this emotional music building up in my head every waking moment and if I didn’t get it out I think I would combust. Also I want to make music that I would be excited to discover. And generally it’s a comfortable way for an introvert to connect with people.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
I can be incredibly passionate about music but I don’t think I’ve ever had that kind of particular envy. That would be like wishing I were the father of someone else’s child.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
I’d like to go back to my college years in Miami because there was so much mind-blowing music happening there and I didn’t have the time or maturity to appreciate it.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
I’m way more of a studio guy than a gig guy. I don’t feel like I’d have much to offer on stage but if I ever did anything live I would want it to be in some kind of surround sound venue where there’s as much focus on the mixing as the music. And I’d probably just coerce my local musician friends into joining me.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
Josh Kaufman lives in my hometown and he’s the whole package, an incredibly gifted and prolific singer-songwriter-performer who’s bumped elbows with all sorts of A-listers. But he’s also humble and kind and has depth - exactly the kind of person who inspires me.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
The only guarantee is that I’ll keep cranking out music and helping others do that, like my son who is making some wonderful tracks. As far as where that all goes, life is so noisy and music promotion is a torturous maze to navigate so I’m happy if it gets heard at all. Listening to each other is the way forward.
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Betageist's new single 'Blue Shift' is available to stream now. Listen to it below.
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