EP Insider: Squirm’s newest EP release
Graphic by Janet Xiong
Within the University of Minnesota music scene, Squirm has become a recognizable name among the close-knit community. In their nearly three years of performing, their second EP “Sun Pillow” was released on April 5th: a collection of six original tracks lyrically composed and mixed by Will Matuseki, a senior at the University of Minnesota, who I spoke to about the creative process behind this release.
“Sun Pillow” comprises tracks of both fiction and nonfiction. From the imagined life of a blade of grass to the band members’ stories of love and fear, this EP is brought together through the combined effort, passion and dedication of every member; graduates Gavin Olson on bass, Nick Tuel as lead guitarist and rhythmic guitarist Nick Andersen. Junior, Ian Peterson, is the band’s drummer, and senior, Matuseki, accompanies rhythmic guitar plus lead vocals.
Squirm started the lyrical and songwriting process for “Sun Pillow” quickly after their first EP, “Fine Dining,” was released. When creating a complete song, the process is far from linear. Multiple sessions of testing various tones and rhythms are needed to build a strong melody for the lyrics to connect to.
When it comes to lyrical composition, Matuseki takes inspiration from musician David Bowie, who used William S. Burroughs' famous Cut-Up technique. The lyrics are found within a thematic story or poem Matuseki writes after cutting up sentences and phrases, connecting them to an overarching theme or emotion he wishes to evoke.
Matuseki says the technique allows new concepts to take form–ones you may not notice in straightforward methods.
“It inspires different ways of writing lyrics… you rearrange them in a nonlinear format to see if random sentences form a new, different thought or idea until you have your foundation,” Matuseki said.
Matuseki shares that every member frequently writes their own instrumental parts, gaining the help of one another when a block occurs.
“There isn’t one person who is more creative than another. We all have our own fields of creativity we thrive in,” Matuseki said.
While they have individual processes, their years of friendship working alongside each other allow them to function dynamically. Understanding one another's cues, gauging how one wants the end product to sound, and helping find the pieces to get there.
“It’ll all come off the top of my head in that moment of playing the song. I’ll be like ‘Okay, I like this idea, this phrase, this melody, this lyric,' and I pull it all together after multiple live recordings to make the final track,” Matuseki said.
Months of creating, reimagining, mixing and mastering bring us to Squirms’ final product–one they are excited to share with listeners.
Photographer: @fanboyphot0on Instagram
In their works’ completion, the audience sees the reflection of a chaotic, high-energy, grunge-inspired process highlighted in their focused genre. But for the band members, it is far more harmonious. “Sun Pillow” allows the audience an experience encompassing all sides of Squirm and its individuals, from the spunky, kinetic anthemic energy of “Hide Inside My Room” to the intimate emotions reflected in “Black Iris.” The lyrics and instrumentals stand apart as confidently as they complement one another.
When asked what he wishes to accomplish with Squirm, Matuseki offers a quick-witted “A Grammy” alongside a heartfelt goal any creative may connect with.
“Never write a song anyone else likes; only something you are proud of and resonate with because that is what I believe separates good artists from great artists,” Matuseki said. “Even if it doesn't go anywhere, at least you made something that is totally you.”