News Astronauts, etc.: ‘Slow Jamming To Your Own Song Is Totally Not Okay’

Anthony Ferraro’s journey from anonymous bedroom producer to online superstar may have portrayed itself as an overnight success. But Ferraro, who works under the Astronauts, etc. title, making suitably spacey and inventive pop music, might not see it that way: Diagnosed with arthritis from an early age his symptoms recurred and prevented him from becoming a classically trained pianist. When ‘Mystery Colors’ was uploaded to the internet two months ago, hard luck seemed to run its course. The ‘Supermelodic Pulp’ EP is Ferraro’s first work; a consistent, often breathtaking first release of beautifully laid out R&B pop. This R&B influence snuck up on Ferraro, as Neu’s Tom Walters finds out in one of very few interviews that Anthony’s agreed to, in a conscious effort to take things slow, acting against the overwhelming amount of hype surrounding his debut release.

Stream Astronauts, etc.’s ‘Mystery Colors’ video, below:


I read somewhere that you are a classically trained pianist who then begun to suffer from arthritis. Is this true?
I was diagnosed at 10 years old, but was told that I would probably “grow out of it.” My symptoms seemed to subside around the time I began college, so I thought a classical piano career was feasible. But they came back a couple years ago, so here we are. Strangely enough, I’m pretty happy to be here.

What got you into that in the first place?
I started piano lessons because everyone else in my family had played at some point in their life. I was a reluctant student at first – classical piano is pretty uncool when you’re young – but I grew to love it deeply. I still do.

If so, does that mean Astronauts etc. was intended to be a classical piano project?
Astronauts, etc. was born a couple months ago, some time after I’d decided to stop pursuing classical music. I do have a collection of solo piano material that I would like to release at some point, but that probably won’t be under the Astronauts moniker.

Is this your first experience with making music available online? How have you found the process?
It’s terrifying. I had previously released small batches of songs online, but I’d always taken them down a few days later. This is the first time I’ve kept something up for more than a week. We’ll see how long it lasts this time!

Can you see yourself pulling a Lil B in the future and releasing your own classical record?
I’d love to release music of all different kinds. Having just started creating original music, I’m enthralled by all of the potential genres I could explore. Classical music will probably be one of those. I’ve just started writing a musical, which I’m excited about.

Where do you record your music? Are you another one of these self-producing bedroom dwellers?
Yeah, it’s all done in my bedroom. Sometimes it’s difficult to have people over. There are lots of cables everywhere. It’s kind of dangerous.

How have your own listening habits influenced the sounds you’re creating, and how would you categorize what you’ve made in terms of a genre?
I’m not sure I create anything that’s similar to what I listen to. The band I listen to most is probably Guided By Voices – I really admire Robert Pollard’s ability to put out as much material as he does, as well as the longevity of his career. I suppose I draw inspiration more from the artists themselves rather than the music they create.
As for categorizing my music, I create supermelodic pulp.

Would you ever call it chillwave? A lot of writers pin you down with the term due to the slick and smooth vibes your music emits.
I think of chillwave music sort of like I think of impressionism. It’s more concerned with conveying a mood than a melody. I really enjoy that stuff, but I think that my music is a little closer to pop territory.

How do you feel about the term?
Like any other genre descriptor, I guess. It’s doing its best to categorize something that’s inherently uncategorizable. As long as people realize its limitations in describing the music that it purports to label, I have no problem with it.

I personally hear a lot of R&B influence in your music. Do you agree?
Definitely. That was completely unintentional.

Have you ever been a big R&B fan?
That’s the funny part. I’ve never really listened to R&B, but after I finished “Foreign Sounds,” I listened to it a few times and thought: “Wow, this is really R&B. I should really start listening to some of that stuff.”

Do you think an artist like R. Kelly – and pop music in general – is as relevant in 2012 as artists like The Weeknd and How To Dress Well?
I’d classify both The Weeknd and How To Dress Well as pop musicians. There are differences in production between them and “mainstream” pop artists, but those differences are a lot smaller and fewer than people think.
Also: Ignition will forever be one of the greatest songs of all time.

Could you ever picture a song of yours - like ‘Foreign Sounds’ - becoming the token slow jam at a club?
That’d be a trip. I would definitely leave the dance floor. Slow-jamming to your own song is totally not okay.

Artists scoring films seems to be the thing to do these days. What film – past, present or future – do you think would work with an Astronauts etc. soundtrack?
Probably something campy and melodramatic. I’d love to score the next cult classic B-movie. Lots of synths and snare reverb.

Stream Astronauts, etc.’s debut EP in full, and stream ‘You Can Yell’ below:


Astronauts, etc. supports Nigel Godrich’s Ultraista band, 22nd October at The Independent, San Francisco.