Cults Cull Their 'Greatest Hits' for Upcoming Debut Album

Much like the mystery and intrigue synonymous with the real-life versions of their namesake, very little information is currently available -- aside from some viral hit singles -- about indie-pop newcomers Cults. In an effort to avoid societal expectations associated with adulthood, Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion formed Cults as their own escape. They recently spoke with Spinner about the whirlwind surrounding their seemingly overnight success, their backgrounds and their plans following the May 3 release of their self-titled debut album.

Where did you get the name Cults?

Brian Oblivion: We felt that a lot of [our] songs had to do with being afraid of modern society and living a straight, normal life. When we wrote the album we were 21, just about to turn 22, dropping out of school and kind of terrified of being an adult. Joining a cult is the ultimate escape. The band was our way of forming our own cult and running away from that -- having a group with our own morals and our own sound.

How did you start making music together?

Madeline Follin: Just out of boredom, being on our own in the house. We just decided to go and record. He had been making music around the house and I said "let's go up ... and record some vocals on it."

BO: She bought me a keyboard for my birthday and I sat down and just wrote the three songs we recorded in a few days.

Since you released those songs, you've skyrocketed in popularity. Is it intimidating to release a full-length LP with expectations so high?

MF: It's exciting!

BO: We're just stoked to get more music out. We wrote 23 songs for this 11-song album. We took our time. It's been a year -- we're really confident in all the songs for that reason.

I'm not worried about [the album's release] too much. It all started for us so naturally and was never part of our plan. We cared for a while, but now we don't care what people think. We just want people to hear it and experience it. You can only care for so long.

What sort of musical background do you have?

MO: My whole family is a musical family. I was raised around it. My mom says it's a disease. I caught the disease.

BF: Her brother is in a band called the Willows and her dad was in White Zombie. When our band first broke and we came to her [mom] with all this exciting stuff, she got all depressed and was like, "not again, not again" [both laugh]. I was a suburban kid and I grew up playing in like Slayer cover bands and stuff.

What were you going for with your debut album and how do you feel like the songs flow as a whole?

BO: I think we threw out the book as far as debut albums are concerned. We wrote so many songs in so many moods and styles, and we just picked the best ones. Our [generation's] favorite albums are all greatest hits. What's your favorite Bob Marley record? 'Bob Marley's Greatest Hits.' It's disjointed in a way I really like -- like greatest hits.

Where do you draw your influence from?

BO: We draw a lot of mood influence from movies.

MF: I think it's more like Chinese music.

BO: A ton of old American Bands.

Madeline, for the 'Oh My God' video, you wore an elaborate suit made out of balloons. What was that like?

MF: It was awful! I had no idea what to expect and I got there and there's a giant balloon suit!! Adult Swim contacted us and said that they wanted to make a video and we said, "whatever you want to do, we'll do it."

BO: We worship Adult Swim.

MF: It was an interesting shoot.

Watch Cults' 'Oh My God' Video

And then they popped them!

BO: With acid.

MF: That was the scariest part!

Outside of playing music, what do you do to keep yourself grounded during your surge in popularity?

MF: We watch movies all day long. We never go out.

BO: We never go to night clubs or anything. When we are off tour we just sit around and watch movies all day. We'll watch seven movies in one day -- just sit around and drink whiskey and watch movies.

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