Touching Ice makes music that’s brutally introspective and often self-deprecating, so how come it’s so fun to dance to? The Los Angeles trio—Abigail Reese, Davis Stewart, and Dominic Colangelo—dropped their debut album, I Just Remembered Everything Always Works Out for Me, last month, which, for half an hour of gorgeous digi-disorder, cuts industrial masochism with a strong pop sensibility. We shot them some questions about friendship, song selects, and the numerous canine references that dot the band’s body of work. Read their answers and listen to the album below.
What’s the best place to go dancing in Los Angeles?
Touching Ice: Our rotating party with untitled (halo) called “FAKESEEN.”
You just wrapped up a DJ residency at Night Club 101. What song gets the crowd moving, and what song doesn’t land as well as you’d like it to?
A song that gets the crowd moving “Alien 3 (Daniel Avery Remix)” by Mandy, Indiana. A song that doesn’t land as well as I’d like is “Cinema” by Skrillex after the chorus.
Your album’s called I Just Remembered Everything Always Works Out For Me—is this true? What’s the last thing that worked out for you?
All things pass and are as God intended.
What was the recording process like?
Songs start as sketches of an idea formed independently by each member. A voice memo, guitar part, some loops. Then we all come in the studio and Rick Rubin it together adding shit and pulling everyone’s demos apart and putting it together as a full band.
It was so much fun even though we’re sitting in a room with no windows for 12 plus hours. There’s nothing like making music with your best friends while crushing several beers. We also love an excuse to charge Thai Curry Pizza, Sonora Town or Whole Foods hot bar on the company card.
The “Heart like a dog” title is from the poem “Frida Kahlo to Marty McConnell" by Marty McConnell. How’d you come across it? Are there any other literary references on the album?
I think I found it on Tumblr when I was in high school and it’s stuck with me ever since. No other direct literary references on the album, but I’m constantly collecting words/phrases/quotes.
Most of these songs contain words like dog/puppy/bite/bark/fur etc. Why were you drawn to canine imagery? I love the cover—it’s DIY music’s answer to the Sabrina Carpenter Man’s Best Friend photo.
We just rly got that dog in us I guess. Bark bark woof woof etc. u know. Our friend Naomi did the cover for us. I think the quote “Americans may have no identity, but they do have wonderful teeth" sums it up pretty well. We consider ourselves a pop band so it's nice to be in the conversation with Ms. Carpenter. I like “Please Please Please.” It makes me feel warm inside when I hear it in the supermarket.
Did it cost anything to make the “Wish it (bite it)” video? Where’d you find the stock footage? I would’ve had choice paralysis.
It cost $37.99 to purchase the stock footage from some website. Abbey is a genius and assembled a perfect collage to pair with the song.
It’s rare to see you on a bill that doesn’t include your friends. Care to shout anyone out?
untitled (halo), Mandy, Indiana, Brutus VIII, Somewhere Special, Current Joys, Urika’s Bedroom, tracy, Provoker, my girlfriend bree, Cowgirl Clue, Reed Canter, Nick Noneman, most of Los Angeles unless you aren't cool and nice.
