Nurturing an awareness of freedom in their music, untitled(halo) draws from a space of spontaneity and emotive resonance. Their recent EP towncryer unfolds like an intimate conversation between the band and their audience, each track building on a shared feeling rather than a rigid sound. It’s an instinctive approach, a far cry from polished formulas, which has earned them a reputation for their dedication to broadening the scope of their sound. Recently returned from their tour with DIIV, untitled(halo) exists in a constant state of exploration, with their blend of shoegaze, post-punk, and lo-fi beats reflecting a desire to transcend genre altogether.
The band’s roots are deeply tied to friendship and a shared passion for experimentation. Ari, Jack, and Jay, having come together during the height of the pandemic, developed their sound through jam sessions and a foundation of mutual trust, where each member’s influences are woven into a cohesive, fluid whole. From the hypnotic loops of “Skill Issue” to “Oblique Butterfly,” where guitars intertwine in a wash of sound. Their music is a re- flection of their intuitive creative process, and their performances resonate on a personal level, both for the band and their fans.
As untitled(halo) looks ahead to a European tour and new music releases, their work reflects a thoughtful connection to their emotionally resonant approach. The band has little interest in following fleeting trends or fitting into a specific scene; their priority lies in crafting music that feels genuine. With an increasing bond with their listeners and the evolving chemistry among themselves, untitled(halo) is developing a unique voice in the vibrant tapestry of music, guided by a true love for what they do.
Interview by Nick Amato
Photographed by Donovan Novotny
NICHOLAS AMATO: Can you share how you all came together and what initially drew each of you to one another?
Ari: We all were friends before we started the band. I met Jack through a good friend, Creek, who thought we’d get along since he skates and reads literature. Jay and I met getting coffee with another friend. I was doing Dublab radio then, and Jay was the art director there. We all got along pretty easily. Jack: Jay and I met when we both arrived early to a friend’s birthday dinner. I think Jay and I knew of each other, but that was the first time we actually met and talked. We became friends over time. NA: What were your musical backgrounds be- fore forming the band, and how have those ex- periences influenced your sound together?
Jay: Beats and loops, instrumental stuff. When the pandemic hit, I decided to release my music, having only put out SoundCloud throwaways. And I met Ari after the pandemic started, and she want- ed to start something. It felt like there was just a lot of fresh energy in the air.
Ari: I think that’s why so many bands started in that era. People were excited to like, live. I hit up Jay and said, “Let’s make music, come over.” He played the ‘El Prado Freestyle’ instrumental, and I did the free- style. Jack is an amazing guitarist and musician, so we decided to involve him too. That’s how the band formed.
Jack: And then I came in and did my own free- style. A two-sentence freestyle (laughs).
Jay: It does have a double meaning though. So it’s almost like four.
NA: I’ve noticed some of those hip hop-esque elements in your music, particularly in your new single ‘Skill Issue.’ Can you share how that track came about?
Jack: It was like a demon time session at 2 AM, re- cording at the Domino Studio near NTS and Warp. I found some drums, I’m not going to say where, but people probably know. I dropped my guitar into drop C, wrote this riff, and recorded a video. Then Jay and I worked on it in the studio.
NA: Right, that song does feel especially loose. Jack: Yeah it was loose! Also, there were like these White Claws...
Jay: They were like Kirkland Brand, and I vividly re- member them smelling like tuna.
Jack: When I got home, I don’t know where I got it from, but I had the worst food poisoning and was just completely obliterated for like three days.
NA: (laughs) For sure came from those claws. Speak- ing of NTS Radio, it seems your band has developed a nice relationship with them. Funny enough that’s ac- tually how I found your music. How has that collabora- tion influenced your music or reach?
Jack: They were a big part of the initial steam; just be- ing played on NTS.
Ari: I listen to bands on NTS and feel like I want to know them and connect with them. We love this artist Forma Norte, and I think the first time we heard them was on NTS, and now we’re friends.
NA: That’s what I think is great about NTS; though the genres might be different, the artists involved appear very community-driven.
Jack: Definitely. It’s not even geographically bound. We’re all in different places but share the same sonic inspiration and feel. It’s really cool.
Jay: There’s an unspoken aesthetic quality too.
NA: I really enjoy your show Temporal Cove, Ari. I’ve noticed some amazing guests you’ve featured, like Jesus and Mary, Chain, Drop Nineteens, and Bowery Electric. Can you share your appreciation for the leg- acy of these artists and how they’ve influenced your work?
Ari: Thank you. I think for myself, and I could speak for Jay and Jack because they’re involved, every time I book someone, I tell them. We love that era of music. I like to use the show to interview legacy bands and find out why they wanted to make music and how they did it. When we were on tour in Phoenix, we invited Alison’s Halo to come out. They’re a Phoenix-based shoegaze band from the 90s. They came to the show, gave us big hugs, and said we were awesome. It’s important to hear what these legacy bands have to say. I love interviewing them and just talking genuinely. The Jesus and Mary Chain were so cool. I was scared to talk to them, but they were genuine and interesting.
NA: I want to dive into your recent EP, towncryer. The blend of dreamy shoegaze elements, hypnotizing loops, and gritty guitars make for a hypnotic journey that pulls you in. Can you share more about the creative process behind it?
Ari: I like what you said. When I listen back to it, each song feels like a different genre. Earlier today we were saying how we wouldn’t categorize ourselves as a shoegaze band; I think it’s a lot more ambiguous than that. Creatively, we’d come together at Jay’s apartment or my place and make songs from so many random in- fluences. Jay will bring us a cutty loop and play it for us. Jack would come up with guitar parts, and I’d freestyle a poem. It all came together naturally, and we got excited to keep making the next song.
Jack: We would get better with every song and eventually went back to remake some of them. It’s cool to see how the first versions evolved. Songs like “Oblique,” “Intrusive,” and “Spiral” were recorded twice. Looking back; from the time the band started and releasing our first song, we all got better at producing, singing, and performing.
Ari: I remember “Oblique” was one of the first songs we worked on. It went from a two-minute track into a six-minute song that we perform live. It’s so special to look back on that.
Jack: It’s cool that “Oblique” came from a jam. We’re such a like “loop band”, but playing it live, we realized we needed to re-track stuff because of how it felt. We’d jam on it for ten minutes in Ari’s garage, which was the most cathartic I’ve still felt when making music, is that song. Even during practices; the first time we really dialed it in, I thought, “This is crazy.”
Ari: I feel like we all almost tear up every time we play it live.
Jack: My favorite musical memory was in El Paso. A girl in the front row started crying during “Oblique.” After the show, she thanked us, saying we made her cry. I always think about that, and it just reaffirms everything for me. I want to keep doing this and make people feel like that. And give them a space to like...
Jay: I completely forgot about those initial sessions. We were like “alright we just booked a live show and we need to translate all this loop-based stuff live”. We just keep adding and stacking elements to see how they sound. I remember playing “Oblique” and the droney quality of it. Even live, I often close my eyes to stay in the moment, making sure everything is on time, while standing next to Jack and his guitar is so loud.
Ari: It’s so cool to watch everyone too. Creatively, that song changed how I viewed making music. To me, it paved the way for our creative process. I like that we are not formal musicians. Everything we do, like Jack said, is based on feeling.
NA: What is it about creating from a subconscious feeling that draws you in, and how does it shape your music?
Jay: I feel like most of the time it’s our driving force. It’s better to do what feels right rather than force something that doesn’t belong.
Ari: It’s because we’re all emotional (laughs). Our one friend always posts “the emo homies” whenever she talks about us. Some artists are inspired by texture and environment; we bond over big emotions. That’s a big theme for us.
Jack: We all channel our feelings into our music. Since none of us are classically trained, all we have is feeling when playing, arranging, or creating. We’re very genuine, and if we forced anything, it would be obvious.
NA: Being a bad liar is more of a gift than a burden.
Jack: I’m a terrible liar. It’s embarrassing. It’s like if it’s someone’s birthday and I got them a present, I’d be smiling at them and they’d know.
NA: That sounds like a genuine quality. I saw you recently wrapped up the DIIV on the ‘Frog in Boiling Water’ tour. What was that experience like for you, and how did it feel to bring the whole project to life on stage?
Ari: It was so cool. I remember thinking, “We’re gonna all hate each other after,” but we had the best time ever. It was hard, driving eight hours, doing soundcheck, try- ing to eat, playing, and loading everything off to the ho- tel. But we did everything gracefully, and everyone had such a good attitude, and we were laughing the whole time.
Jack: Got two speeding tickets, though. That kind of sucked. But yeah, fuck the Texas Police Department. I fought it and won. Still had to pay the attorney, but I don’t want to pay the Texas Police Department. Any- way, it was a beautiful time besides that. I was so de- pressed on the second day of driving before we played any shows. Everyone was asleep in the van, and I was driving for three hours, feeling so lonely, and got those tickets. But after that, I had a good time.
Ari: Yeah, it was really great. I think we were all sad when it was over.
Jack: I want to go back.
Ari: DIIV and They Are Gutting a Body of Water were ex- cellent first bands to tour with, and they really inspired us. We’re excited for more tours in the future. Someone else, please pick us for a tour (laughs).
Jack: There’s a tour documentary coming out, so you can see how much fun we had. I’ve just been too scared to edit it because I know I’ll get sad.
NA: So with the tour behind you, what’s next on the horizon for untitled(halo)?
Ari: We’re dropping more music. We’re going to Eu- rope for a tour, playing Pitchfork London, EP release show is in November at Zebulon with the party after.