Fear, Transformation, and Noise: A Place to Bury Strangers’ Oliver Ackermann on the Making of ‘Synthesizer’
A Place to Bury Strangers’ seventh album, ‘Synthesizer,’ is a bold reinvention from these New York City sonic explorers, who have been going strong for more than two decades.
The band crafted a physical synthesizer for the album, available with the vinyl, symbolizing a return to DIY chaos in an era of AI-driven madness. The music is loud, messy, and deeply human, reflecting Ackermann’s desire to capture something real. Songs like ‘Have You Ever Been In Love’ explode with intensity, blending simple loops with brutal noise and vulnerability. The album’s themes dive into transformation, fear, and self-reflection, confronting personal struggles with a sonic catharsis. “It’s about giving everything you have and melting into it,” says Ackermann, explaining how the music serves as an outlet for his expression. “What’s perfect for me is something real—a human experience,” he adds, underscoring the album’s commitment to authenticity over polished perfection. ‘Synthesizer’ is a record that feels far removed from our increasingly automated world.
“…making an album cover with a circuit board because I think they resemble what the future was supposed to look like.”
‘Synthesizer’ is such a fascinating duality—both an album title and a physical instrument. What sparked the idea to create a synthesizer specifically for this record, and how does it weave into the sonic tapestry of the album?
Oliver Ackermann: I had this idea for a while of making an album or single cover with a circuit board just because I think they look so much like the idea of what the future was going to look like when I was younger— all chrome and sterile, but geometric. And then, as of late, we’ve been building a lot of oscillators and manipulators, and they are totally nuts. So once the idea popped into my head, we just had to do it. From there, it seemed like the most natural thing to play this synthesizer, which was going to be the cover, on every song on the record. This connected these two parts of my fragmented brain and sewed them together subconsciously.
With John and Sandra Fedowitz joining the fold, what fresh energy do they bring to the mix? Can you share any standout moments from the writing sessions that made you feel like this lineup was something special?
They are really great and supportive of what I want to do, which is amazing and makes it really exciting to write with them. We all come from a similar place in terms of what music we love, so it’s really natural working together. I think the big standout moment for me is in the song ‘Have You Ever Been In Love,’ where it started with a simple stand-up drum beat, guitar loop, simple bass line, and Sandra’s screaming voice. It naturally stopped, repicked up, and drones into absolute destruction. The song is so intense—you can just totally give it everything you have, let go of the physical world, and melt into…
You’ve described the album as “messed up” and “chaotic.” In a world where so much music feels sterile and polished, what drives you to embrace this wild side?
It’s way more fun. I think people are striving for perfection, but they think that has to do with lining things up in some precise way. What’s perfect for me is something real—a human experience—and if we can slightly capture that on tape, we have succeeded.
‘Fear of Transformation’ feels like a confrontation with something primal and dark. Can you dive into the themes of fear and metamorphosis in your music? How do these concepts reflect your personal journey?
It definitely is. I think this constantly drives me—overcoming fears and working on being a better person, helping more people, while also feeling adequate myself. It’s a complex and fucked-up life. Tensions get high working with other people, and it’s easy to feel pathetic. These songs are personal reflections of feeling these things. It can be easier to share and skate around these ideas with a badass beat pulling the words from your chest.
Songs like ‘Have You Ever Been In Love’ came together in a flash. What kind of magic happens in those spontaneous moments, and what environment do you find best sparks that creative fire?
You never can predict when one of these moments is going to happen, so you just have to be ready to give any chance you can every ounce of blood and sweat you have. I always feel lucky to have such good friends and such great moments. Make the most of them all.
You’ve mentioned that ‘Synthesizer’ captures a live essence like never before. What tricks do you use to bottle that raw, electric energy in the studio? How do you make sure it leaps off the record when you’re playing it back?
It really comes down to actually doing something wild and feeling it when recording it. The microphone doesn’t lie. If you are having a moment of fear and chaos, it comes through. Turn off the lights, crank up the music, and fight for your life.
Your history with Death By Audio embodies the DIY spirit. How does that ethos continue to shape your music today, especially with the community-driven vibe of this album?
If nobody is going to do something for you, quit talking about it and make it happen. That is DIY. I just try to shift and guide things to have happen what I want and, in a community, be the grease that makes it run. I think so often musicians are saying things like “What about me?” when they should be thinking, “How can I make this work as a whole?” It can be a tough thing to do, but it’s best to care for the people around you than think about yourself.
As you explore new sounds with ‘Synthesizer,’ what feels different this time around?
I don’t really know. We’re just sort of always searching and always trying to do better. I always feel like I can. I love experimenting, so it will always continue.
As you gaze into the future, what exciting directions do you see for A Place to Bury Strangers beyond this album?
More records. I think the next one will use more synthesizers. ‘Synthesizer II.’
Klemen Breznikar
Headline photo: Ebru Yildiz
A Place to Bury Strangers Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Bandcamp / YouTube
DedStrange Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Bandcamp / YouTube
A Place to Bury Strangers | Interview
“In sound we trust: A Place to Bury Strangers rocks out in Bratislava” by Zach White
