Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with IMAAI.
Tell us about your music.
A beautifully strange indie-pop duo known for their blend of psych, dream pop, and electronic influences, the impliers emerged onto the scene in 2022, establishing themselves with thoughtfully layered music, rich vocal harmonies, and memorably vulnerable lyrics. The Denver-based duo stands out amongst the pack with their award-winning, wholly self-produced multimedia artistic explosion, which spans far beyond music, fusing psychedelic music videos, surreal short films, and sketch comedy together to create a uniquely brilliant experience.
When did you start performing?
Dan and Charles met at 15 and immediately discovered they had an intuitive artistic connection and soon began writing songs together using strangely tuned guitars in a sweltering North Carolina storage shed. By age 17, Dan and Charles’ songs were earning placements on compilations alongside diversely popular acts such as Of Montreal, Fugazi, and Jawbreaker. The duo soon traveled their own reclusive, individual artistic paths in solo music and video production, amassing hundreds of songs and videos, yet never sharing the final products publicly. During this time, each member refined their unique, complementary skill sets. Charles honed his dark, ethereal, ambient, and raw instrumental elements, paired with puzzling lyrics, while Dan arrived at his wide, polyphonic, layered vocals carrying perceptive lyrics over dense, colorful, and polished musical arrangements.
The two stayed connected into adulthood, primarily focused on video and sketch comedy, ultimately deciding to bring their primary passion for music back into the center stage, culminating in the impliers. Their 2022 debut full-length album, “Cocoon,” garnered rave reviews while highlighting essential topics ranging from mental illness and relationships to mortality over the sounds of lush indie guitar rock, ethereal electro-pop, piano balladry, and dark wave. Aaron Willschick of v13 states, “For a debut album, Cocoon is completely fearless, going places where many acts would not for a first go-around.”
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
Our first group together was as “The Phantom Zell” in the Greenville, NC scene which produced earlier versions of now-iconic bands Future Islands, Valiant Thorr, and Municipal Waste. The town was very supportive and if you had something interesting to present, it didn’t matter what genre you were. While the bands that were dominating that scene at the time were punk, and metal – they took us in and let us open for them as we introduced the psychedelic detuned guitar journeys which really opened the door for indie into that scene.
What performers have been your inspiration?
We’ve been inspired by a lot of groups, and have taken a liking to groups that had off the beaten path styles. Earlier in our lives we were really inspired by Sonic Youth & Swans, as both groups used their instruments in different and extreme ways, but the emotion conveyed was very strong. Today we’re each influenced by very different music from LoFI, and Dark Wave, to indie R&B
What do you base your success on?
To us, the creativity is the point more than any validation – we created for many many years without even sharing our work with anyone but ourselves and our families just to have something to laugh at. The fact that we are able to share what makes us feel good, and others will tell us how much it means to them, or how good it feels, or laugh beside us (or even at us) is all the validation in the world. We hope that over time that grows and helps us share more music & film, more frequently, with more people.
What was your latest musical release?
The Impliers, the award-winning alternative indie pop production duo, announced the release of their new single, “Love At First Sight,” the first single from their highly anticipated sophomore album, “The Magic – Pt 1.” The single is now available for streaming and download on all major platforms.
“Love At First Sight” showcases a stripped-down, upbeat, and danceable pop sound, representing a radical departure from the expansive, rich musical and vocal texture of their debut album, “Cocoon.” The track maintains an eerie similarity to the musical spirit of their previous work while embracing a new tone.
Accompanying the single is a captivating 4-minute music video, taking the viewer on a journey with a mysterious woman along a strange, fantastical, and winding road. The experience encompasses a wide range of emotions, visual aesthetics, and musical styles. The Impliers’ signature blend of mystery, comedy, and surrealism provokes profound contemplation while unraveling the irresistibly catchy, stripped-down, upbeat, and danceable pop sound of the lead single from The Impliers’ sophomore album, “The Magic – Pt 1.” This concept album delves into the vast dimensions of romantic love. The action-packed video, created, performed, recorded, produced, filmed, edited, mixed, and released by The Impliers, will leave you hitting the replay button repeatedly, offering both unexpected surprises and striking story elements that reward repeat views and listens.
Do you have any news to share?
The Impliers’ videos and celebrated social presence have received much praise, recently earning a Silver Telly Award in 2023 in the Social Video category alongside brands such as Netflix, HBO, and PBS for their promotional music infomercial for their debut album ‘Cocoon’.
The Impliers upcoming album, “The Magic – Pt 1” is part of an album series within The Impliers’ broader narrative, specifically exploring romantic love. The duo intends to cover a range of experiences and nuances in these partnerships, shedding light on aspects often overlooked in love songs. Dan commented, “This is definitely not a puppy love album. We’re delving deeply into the entire spectrum, and songs like ‘Love At First Sight’ capture essential experiences within that spectrum, including the clichés. However, in the grand scheme, we aim to address the things people experience but often don’t admit or express aloud.”
How can fans find you?
instagram.com/theimpliers
youtube.com/@theimpliers
theimpliers.com
Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
“Our entire creative library is one connected narrative. The vibe of the music mirrors the feelings. So, in a song dealing with having an anxiety attack or dealing with mortality, the song will sound different than a song about falling in love,” says Dan. “To be clear, this isn’t a puppy love album. We’re covering the whole spectrum pretty deeply, and songs like ‘Love At First Sight’ cover an important experience in that spectrum, grand clichés and all. But in the grand scheme, we’re trying to talk about some of the things that people experience but don’t usually admit or say out loud.”
“While the sound on this song might be a big change for listeners who have only heard ‘Cocoon,’ it’s not a huge departure for us,” says Charles. “The music we have produced over the years spans almost every genre. For those that just want more ‘Cocoon,’ you’ll probably be really into what’s coming down the road. These next two albums don’t really take the easy path forward from a content perspective.”