An Interview with Apres Pompeii

A wonderfully woven, pop riddled, character new album from Apres Pompeii just released and this thing delves into several different styles of, not just pop, but R&B, soul, funk, dance pop, and plenty more, all rolled into this one juicy record that again, delivers loads of this personality that you end up getting attached to as the record unfolds.

The record is called Paint, and certainly doesn't waste too much time delivering that neo soul and funk, pop-coated vibe with the first track, "PANT".

The whole thing has a really deep-pocketed bass guitar riff, danceable rhythm, classic, sort of '80s and '90s style pop, funk guitars that all come together and make you think of a Prince song.

It's at this moment that you realize this artist has a lot of classic influences that he holds dear to his heart, and throughout this record, he kind of lets them all out in different places.

The vocals come in and deliver loads of that soul, running some great melody lines, hitting this colorful but sort of vibrant approach in the performance, and really just leaving a mark.

This is actually a great song to introduce the record with because you're getting some of these amazing staples that the rest of the album actually boasts.

Having said that, this is not an album that you skip around. You listen to this one from start to finish because, although you can hear a few tracks and get an idea of what you can expect, there are plenty of surprises around the corners, this thing branches off into different directions, and you just won't get the full spectrum of what the album itself offers by hearing a single or two.

It's kind of like an adventure. This record takes you on a bit of a journey, some of it's a little more personal, some of it's a bit more fun, but it all has this amazing pop overtone, and 90% of the songs are insanely danceable.

So, right from this first track, you already start moving your body.

Now, the record does get experimental. As I mentioned before, it branches often in different directions, and a great example of that is a song called "SMOKE", which has a unique sort of time signature in terms of the drumming, introduces edgy synths and an almost orchestrated backbone, making it a bit cinematic and driving in a different way.

This was a cool track too because it shows a little bit more of an alternative influence, but also this sort of world music undertone that still keeps its warmth even though some of it feels slightly edgier.

"MODED" is a song that showcases more of that '80s vintage pop sensibility. Again, you can tell all these classic artists are in his pocket, and he pulls them out when he feels the need.

These songs always bring out unique melodies and different moods. The lyrics again can be a little bit personal, and the mood of the song, at times fits those lyrics super well.

This is an experimental record. It doesn't sit in one space, but ventures off, and that's something I feel is important about the album as a whole. By the time you get halfway through, you sort of get a feel for it, but you still expect the unexpected, to an extent.

You have a good idea of the styles, tones, and songwriting, but you know that this is a record that keeps you on your toes, anyway.

Tracks like 'BREAKER" definitely take hold of synth pop styles and give this lush soundscape, still driving with a beat that is really fat and hard-hitting, which blends really well with his vocal performance on the song.

His tone gets a little heavier when he wants it to. He belts out a little louder when the songs are more driving, so he's able to sort of fit the character with the song.

"Paint", the title track, is also the record's closing. This is one of my favorite tracks on the entire thing, actually. The reason for that is that it blends a lot of the different styles across the record in one track.

Very flavorful and classic synths and keys flow through this one; there are great vocal harmonies, there's a lot of amazing energy, and a huge artist presence throughout the entire thing.

This song, to me, sort of encapsulates a lot of what the record is about musically and lyrically. It's a banger of a track and an amazing way to close out the album in my opinion.

This is a pretty big record, spanning almost an hour in length and 13 tracks.

One of the best ways to do this is to just start from the beginning and go all the way through. It is such a cool experience doing it this way; there's not a single track that really just sits there as a filler.

All of them have a certain kind of meaning, drive, honesty, personality, charm, charisma, and just a slew of pop influence coming from all these different places.

Now, upon listening to this album, I knew I wanted to have a sit-down with the artist himself to really find out where a lot of the stuff is coming from and what might be coming up next.

So, while you listen to this record, have a read through of our interview with Apres Pompeii, and don't forget where you heard it first.

Let's talk about Paint! This was a massive record that took a great approach to blending genres! A pop-coated, and pretty personal album from start to finish! Where did this record come from? 

Paint is an album I’ve been dreaming about making for over ten years. I initially conceived of it as a companion piece to my second LP, Lead—where that album is organic and internal and lives in the mind, I wanted Paint to be the opposite, a little artificial, sensual, and body-bound. I’ve been living in a more acoustic, singer-songwriter realm for years and while I love that type of music it is only a small sliver of my personal taste and I really wanted to try to make something that I would be excited to listen to. I was feeling the itch to push my boundaries a little, really stretch my abilities as a producer and songwriter and decided to finally make the thing of my dreams.

I'm hearing a few different approaches to this album! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I’ve always considered myself more of an Album Artist and I’m really drawn to artists who create new worlds with each release, ones who aren’t afraid to try new approaches and shake up the ecosystems that they themselves have created in their past work. Bjork, Joanna Newsom, and Sufjan Stevens are three huge artists for me who embody this.

Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

The entire record was written and recorded in Chicago, most of the tracks being produced in my home studio. We put a lot of the finishing touches on the album at Classick Studios, doing trumpet, live drums, and vocals there (as well as mixing and mastering). This was my first time not producing entirely out of my home and I could not have asked for a better experience.

Do you produce and write all the songs yourself, or do you team up with a producer to get things where you want them to be?

I did write and produce the record myself, which has been my approach with each album in my career, though this has been my most collaborative album to date. Nearly every song has guest musicians adding amazing work, fleshing out the ideas that I brought to the table. The album would not be anything near what it became without all of my collaborators, including some integral brainstorming sessions with vital feedback from fellow Chicago artists Jennifer Femme, Boy Maj, and Glossing. Also have to shout out my brother, Brandon, who heard what I thought was a close-to-finished draft on Christmas in 2024 and said “more.” You were right.

How did this all start for you as an artist?

I grew up in a house that had music playing constantly and I fell in love with it earlier than I can remember. My parents got me my first guitar when I was 11 or 12 and I wrote my first song maybe a year later. I continued writing all through high school and college, teaching myself production on Garage Band in my college dorm, doing some producing for some vocalist friends. I started performing live when I moved back to Pittsburgh after I graduated and found the music scene there which fostered me so well through those early years. To this day I’ve never experienced a more welcoming and supportive artistic community than the one in Pittsburgh and I attribute so much of my love of performing to my time there.

Are you performing live right now? 

Yes! I play as often as I can around Chicago, balancing acoustic sets with performing to tracks from the new album, it has been a blast bringing these songs to life in front of crowds.

Now that this is out, what's next for you?

I typically take a small break after releasing an album but I’m finding myself in a period of deep inspiration which has been very refreshing, I’m about to start working on a follow-up full length album that I’d love to have out as soon as possible, I have ten or so songs already that I’m in love with and I’m eager to bring them to life.  I’m also working with some local musicians to support them with producing studio records and playing supportive roles in live shows, I want 2026 to be full of collaboration.

Who's in your headphones right now?

Been loving damsel.’s album Soft Animal and Jennifer Femme’s album Private Show, felt really inspired by Oklou’s success last year, that album really stunned me, it took me a few listens to fully attach to it but those are often my favorite types of albums.

What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

Listeners can expect to hear a wide range of style, texture, and emotion on this album, it is dynamic and takes you on a journey if you’re willing to follow it. 80’s and 90’s influenced textures with heart-on-sleeve poetic storytelling.

Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

To anyone who has even spent a minute listening to music I have made, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. We live in a world where you can access any type of entertainment in milliseconds and constant distractions demanding our time and attention, I appreciate anyone willing to spend some of their time and attention in a world I’ve created. I am forever grateful to get to share my art and I hope that even one person feels seen, reflected, or moved by it in some way.

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