I've noticed there's only 4 tracks on the EP. Is this a hint of what we can expect on a future album?

After we released Thereafter last year, we didn't want to do another full length, but rather a shorter concept EP. All 4 songs are very full and don't use as much minimalist space as Thereafter, which can sometimes be a bother to listeners who want quick relief. We have put a focus on layering effects onto the heavier parts as well as backwards loops and themes that flow in and out of a song. We're not too sure what to expect on a new album, because we are always trying to do different things with our music. Our plans as of now are to probably begin work on another full-length after Fear Eats The Soul. 

Will there be a tour once the EP drops or will this depend on the reception of the EP?

Either way, we are planning to tour towards the end of the summer near September. We're hoping to do a full US tour, possibly with another band. Right now we're in the process of finishing the mix for the EP, printing new merch and shooting a new music video. The music video for "epigram (divorcing body from self)" will be out 2 weeks before the EP drops to give everyone a feel for the music. 

What elements in Fear Eats The Soul are different from other releases?

Fear Eats The Soul is a concept EP about how one views the self. We defintely haven't made any drastic changes musically, but rather added layers to the sound. We've tried to keep a strong focus on melody, but we don't have any good words to describe our sound. Personally when I write, I try to add a focus to time signature changing, something that Tera Melos  used on their self-titled LP. 

What was the influence behind the name Fear Eats The Soul?

The name for the EP is taken from Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1973 film, Ali: Fear Eat Up Soul" or Angst Essen Selle Ouf in German. Fassbinder's life and work has very strongly inspired me, and I felt a personal need to pay homage to his life. He made over forty films, twenty-four stage plays, two television shows and acted in over twenty films in his 16-year career, which was cut short by an overdose on cocaine and sleeping pills. Fassbinder died with a cigarette in his mouth while writing the screenplay to his forty-first film. His films mainly looked at tormented love between humans and laid importance on the mellow dramatic aspects of life. Fear Eats The Soul's tracks are named after his key themes to human emotion and introspection. (our epigrams, our bedrooms/houses, our thoughts while alone on the staircase and our view of heaven)

I've noticed that you direct all SUFTA videos. How is it to both direct and be involved in the video all at once?

Admittedly I'm a bit of an obsessive cinephile. I love shooting our music videos, which consists of me yelling at everyone until I'm able to edit together something I like. I have an obsession with black and white and have been shooting like that up until the new video. "Epigram" was shot under the premise that real life being portrayed in color, and the dream in black and white. I had the idea when I was with my roommate Don Mock and we wrote the video idea down when we were really drunk. We ended up shooting the video the same night. 

Can you give us a preview of the idea behind the video for "epigram"? 

The video reflects the theme of the EP, which is how one views the self. In the video the main character views his life as finished and gives up, chugging an entire bottle of pills to kill himself. In his dying dream he runs into his friends (played by band members) who can no longer see him. His dream portrays the literal aspects of his life that he'll never get to live again. I'm not interested in making happy, colorful videos. I believe the most interesting art comes from dark themes, or things that provoke uncomfotable feelings. I'm very lucky that I have such amazing friends who let me direct them for my oddball, zero budget videos.

In relation to your style, do you think there is more of an impact with songs that have vocals compared to the more ambiant non-vocal style you use?

I think it really depends on what you're trying to convey. Some music places more importance on vocals to get the theme across. When we write, we really don't consider vocals to be necessary to the feeling we're conveying. 

Are there any production tricks that you'd be able to let us in on that give off your signature sound?

We're always involved in the tracking and mastering of our music one hundred percent. Every release we've ever put out has been recorded and produced by ourselves, specifically by Nelson, who takes on the role of the producer. Nelson hand-built his computer specifically for recording and we spend a lot of the time tracking and nit picking over the small details. It's our nature to be extremely precise and obsessive. Production wise, we've gone for a more natural and open sound. Nothing is too compressed or artificial, while the music still contains a variety of dynamic rhythms. We've recently added a focus on the clean sections and layers of ambience underneath the full band sections.

Is there anything you have to say for fans to look forward to in the future?

New music in due time...