Jill Donenfeld’s latest interview with the Papercuts, Jason Quever:

Jill Donenfeld: So you’re in recording now? How’s that going? …I know you’ve been known to hardcore collaborate. Anyone backing you up this time around?

Jason Quever: Right now I’ve just started making demos of my new material on a 4 track cassette alone. When it’s time to record I’m hoping to have as much help as I can….probably [from] the folks from Lazarus, who have been in my band this year, and also Alex from Beach House, who’s going to be playing with us on our tour…

Interview Continued after the jump, plus mp3′s…

JD: That’s great; I just started getting down with Beach House….I imagine with such a creative bunch, you guys all kind of influence each other; but what else influences you? Any fun bands you’re listening to right now outside of your collective?

JQ: I have been listening to Broadcast a bit. My Bloody Valentine, of course. Leonard Cohen, Beach House, Issac Hayes, [and] Curtis Mayfield. I’m thinking of orchestrated stuff lately…Nuggets, always. Air.

JD: You’ve got a good line up there. Now I know what I’ll be downloading tonight

JQ: Issac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul, if you haven’t heard it, is a hands down masterpiece.

JD: So, before Papercuts, what were you up to? Always something in music?

JQ: Yes, always. I used to make beats with my mouth when I was a toddler; my parents would say “stop with the mouth noises!”

JD: Cute. And always with this kind of sound? 60s influence, mellow, etc…

JQ: No, no not always 60′s-that was a phase-just an accident. I wanted to make songs based around the acoustic guitar so if I couldn’t get a band I could play solo. I did obsess over the white album and the way it sounded, but I hope to get away from the overtly 60′s thing.

JD: Right on. Well, way to watch your back…and totally come out on top. Hey, where’d you get the name Papercuts?

JQ: I just thought is sounded good; I was surrounded by aggressive music, as Americans seems to gravitate to, and thought it was a good way to represent subtlety.

JD: That is very subtle. But, I really like that. So, do you think you’ll be playing mostly stuff you’re recording now for your upcoming tour?

JQ: Probably not; maybe half—depends on how quick I can get through demo-ing and finishing all the songs. There are a lot—of varying quality, of course.

JD: Got it. Well, I happen to be a huge fan of John Brown and wouldn’t might hearing it live.

JQ: I still enjoy playing that one. Some I can see are ok songs, but get so tired of them quickly. That’s a great reason to always be writing more songs, I guess.

JD: I can understand that. In another life I cooked a lot for other people and never liked repeating dishes. Music is extremely personal and I guess everyone takes it in differently and gets something unique out of it. What do you think is the ideal situation to listen to the bulk of your songs?

JQ: You mean like what setting?

JD: Yeah. What setting, what mindset—I guess I’m asking: what do you think we should get out of your songs? ….I’ve been listening to a bunch of songs while snowshoeing this week, and it’s gotten me totally in the zone.

JQ: I try not to think about the physical act of people listening to my music. For some reason it’s hard to imagine because it is so personal to me. It almost seems like magic when people say something about hearing my songs. In the back of my mind I don’t know if it really happened. I don’t know if that make sense. Anyhow, on the last record I tried to convey some basic positivity about empathy and purity, so ideally I’d hope people might feel opened up to those kinds of things when they get into it, if they weren’t already….on a practical level, I hope people hear it on anything but earbuds, those sound terrible.

JD: Well, snowshoeing is about as pure as it gets, so maybe that’s why I’ve been so into it. I’m not going to lie though; earbuds are the only thing that fit under my hat.

JQ: I assumed that. Sorry. It’s just funny to labor over mixing and then realize most people are listening without hearing the low end.

JD: I hear your point loud and clear—definitely not ideal with the earbud situation. Well, I’ll certainly be catching you in NYC during your tour in April to get a good listen in surround sound.

JQ: Thanks.

JD: ‘Til then.

Here’s a few mp3′s that will hopefully tide you over until the next album:

Papercuts - Take the 227th Exit (mp3)
Papercuts - John Brown(mp3)