INTERVIEW: Catching Up With Looms + Stream The Way Up

Photo Credit: Liz Maney

From Brooklyn, NY, rockers Looms blend a litany of styles and influences into their own distilled version of dream-punk. Their recently released LP, The Way Up, finds the band’s Sharif Mekawy grappling with the strains of heartbreak and new beginnings across a series of songs that act like contained thoughts while weaving an overarching narrative.

To celebrate the release of The Way Up, we sent Looms some interview questions to get to know them better. Check it all out below and order The Way Up on vinyl via Good Eye Records here.

Hi, Looms! Congrats on your new album. Can you tell us a little more on who you are and how you first got into making music?

Thank you! I started writing songs for this project 10 years ago when I was living in New Jersey after college. The band has gone through a few changes, but I’ve been playing with Harry and Andy since 2012. Louis joined at the beginning of 2016. Best lineup

What’s your songwriting process like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

Most of the time, I write the bulk of a song (lyrics and music) and bring it to the band to flesh out their parts. Sometimes Harry will bring an idea in, and we’ll start from the there. One of my biggest influences, shockingly enough, is Wilco.

The Way Up is a deeply personal record for you spanning two relationships. Have you experienced any particular revelations or catharsis in releasing this record and performing it live?

I’ve managed to remain close with those two people. Looking back, I realize how subconsciously important it was for me to somehow get to the other of side of those bad times and be able to remain friends. It’s all about growth. That is truly cathartic.

Any new Brooklyn-based artists/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn our readers onto?

Extra Special is a new project I’m particularly excited about! It’s Amelia Bushell’s (Grim Streaker, Belle Mare) new solo project that Louis and I are both backing. We played our first show on May 22 at Alphaville.

Where can we follow you and where can our readers catch you live next?

Our website loomsmusicnyc.com will link you to our shows and all our multi-media things! Our next show is May 31 at Rockwood Stage 2.

Any parting thoughts? Open platform!

Be kind to everyone! Don’t litter! Support local music!