Psychobuildings was formed in 2010 by Peter LaBier alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Juan Pieczanski (of Small Black) in Brooklyn, NY. Their music has been spotlighted on Fader, Pitchfork, Spin and NME and featured on several compilations, including Kitsuné Maison Compilation 10. Psychobuildings has been described as “Like ‘Ghostrider’ filtered through ‘Let’s Dance’.” – Peter Macia, Fader. Tears, Vol 1 is the first full-length release by Psychobuildings since 2020’s Blackout.
Last month, Psychobuildings shared the project’s first single and video for “The Beach.”
Peter LaBier of Psychobuildings on Tears, Vol 1: “I started work on this album in the first year of the pandemic, living in Brooklyn. Alone, feeling the effects of isolation, uncertain times and processing a break up, feeling the loss of love and the loss of contact with friends. Dealing with the ending of some friendships as well and along the way, the loss of a mentor figure, Barbara Maier Gustern – a legendary New York based vocalist and teacher. During this time I was working as a tutor with children and experiencing the intensity of their emotions as well. This album is a reflection of and a testament to all of that time – to all of the grief, sadness, political turmoil, and growth both myself and many others experienced from 2020 until now. In addition, during this time, new connections were made. At various points I spent time living in LA and developed a community there. There are many contributions made by others to this record, some by old friends, some by new friends, some in New York, some in LA – all collectively processing uncertainty, fear, sadness, political tensions, and creatively finding joy in the struggle. I spent the last several years focusing again on guitar playing, on painting and drawing which has always occupied a large space in my life. Dance and movement has always been core to the music I make with this band – after struggling with a traumatic knee injury I was able to successfully rehabilitate it and learn to dance again.”
‘Tears Vol 1’ Tracklist
- Tears
- The Beach
- No One
- New Hand
- Run Away
- Outside
- Live Once
About Peter LaBier
Peter LaBier is an interdisciplinary artist who has worked within painting, drawing, video and performance. He received his MFA in Visual Arts from Columbia University in 2017. He has exhibited nationally and internationally. In the past several years LaBier has focused on a series of large scale drawings and several video series.
LaBier first began performing as a self trained dancer within his role as frontperson for Psychobuildings – choreographing his own unique movements in both live shows and in music videos. Over the years he has informally received feedback from friends within the dance world but remains without formal training. His influence range from various iconic figures such as Michael Jackson and James Brown to those working in contemporary dance/movement and performance such as Jodi Melnick, Michael Clark, and the late Trisha Brown, alongside legendary drag performers Willi Ninja, and American dancer Lil’ Buck and Lil’ Daniel to name a few from the Memphis Jookin’ dance community.
Featured image by Caroline Mathis.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://psychobuildings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/psychobuildings
https://www.instagram.com/psychobuildings
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Dz9AatqXZUwWK0t3cpkJ1
https://psychobuildings.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Psychobuildings