You're Laughing Wonders Whats So Funny
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Philadelphia Angular rock band You're Laughing who earlier this year released their debut self-titled EP which can be found on all platforms.
Over the course of their lifetime (which honestly they have no idea how long that is) Mustard has observed that humans enjoy laughter. Laughter varies dependent on the human. Depending on their sense of humor (what they classify as comical) certain things will make them laugh. Perhaps you are a clumsy human who often trips and falls. Your inevitable downfall can be the catalyst for your coworkers next chuckle.
It is important to note that you are not laughing. They are. You’re laughing at the misery of someone else. It was a musician on Twitter named Jetski whose tweet inspired Philadelphia Angular Rock band You’re Laughing. You’re Laughing is fronted by Katie Materson who answered a Craiglist ad looking for a post-hardcore vocalist a year and half ago. In July the band released their self-titled debut EP which helped Katie discover:
there is no better antidote for sadness, anger, or loneliness than screaming about it with a bunch of men you met online. - Posted on Instagram July 5th, 2024.
In our conversation below the band notes that they are very serious people. They also note that they are not the ones laughing. We are. Remember that. We had the pleasure of speaking about things that make them laugh, what can be found in the palm of their hands, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have You're Laughing join them at Music Shelf. How is everyone doing today?
All: We are sweating it out in a concrete room as usual. So, good. Thank you for having us!
2. Mustard wonders what the context is behind your band name? Was a member laughing at the time? Does everyone with the band enjoy a good laugh?
Corey (guitar): A musician on twitter named Jetski (posted something like “You’re laughing? They Are Gutting A Body Of Water and you’re laughing?” and Corey thought that sounded like a bill. TAGABOW if you see this hit us up so we can make this real. We promise you won’t have to play on a stage.
All: Oddly enough, none of us have ever laughed, we are extremely serious people.
3. Additionally, what are some things that make You're Laughing laugh?
All: We mostly laugh in the face of death. Ha ha!
4. When is it inappropriate for a human to laugh?
All: Never.
5. Who (or what) influences You're Laughing?
Katie (vocals): One of the things I like most about our band is that we all come from different musical tastes and backgrounds. So our band is influenced by so many different sounds. For me I approached the vocals from a grunge perspective, heavily influenced by Hole with a mix of Gouge Away, Dismemberment Plan and Pile. Strange mix, but those were the folks I listened to when finding inspiration.
Corey (guitar): I like any band that starts from a pop context and screws it up and any band where the guitar player looks like they are operating at max capacity. Any band with that criteria influenced me.
6. Mustard is curious: what key elements are required to create a song by You're Laughing?
Corey adamantly believes if he’s bored during a song then it’s not a good song. So just know that in every song you hear from us he is having a blast.
Katie: A super weird B section, they are always my favorite to write over
Adam (drums): just switched to drums so he is trying to figure that out
7. Mustard has observed that You're Laughing creates Angular Rock. Are there a lot of crushed stones in Philadelphia? Could you share more about your brand of rock?
Corey: Someone once told me that Philly is built on bedrock with a lot of limestone in it which is why there’s constant white residue in the tap water and one of the reasons there are so many potholes. I don’t know if this answers your question but I think it’s interesting.
Katie: As a child I used to visit a rock museum frequently, so my rock knowledge tells me that we are in the sedimentary family, probably Shale.
8. Delay is the antidote for anger. How does You're Laughing feel about this statement?
Corey: Why are you reading the fortune cookie insert I have taped to my amp? Did you break into my house?
Katie: Delay in action does not always mean delay in understanding or feeling. Sometimes one is more of a solution than the other.
Adam: Adam agrees with the fortune cookie
9. Earlier this year you released your self-titled EP. Could you share what it was like to put this project together?
Katie: The band came together over various craigslist ads about a year and a half ago now. We spent a LOT of time writing our first year. Our process evolved over time, but we primarily all write on our own and bring our ideas to the group to flush out. These songs changed a million times until they felt just right for us. The five songs featured on the EP best represent who we are, and the sphere of what we can and want to do as a band.
All: Working with Chance Cypress during the actual recording was a dream. They were an incredible engineer and guide through our first recording experience as a band. We could not have found the sound we shared with you, without them.
10. The cover of the EP features fake wind up teeth. What makes these teeth laugh? Are these teeth owned by anyone in the band?
All: These teeth came to us in a vision.
Adam: We are open to corporate sponsors from the fake chattering teeth industry. They can reach out if they are interested.
All: Like us, these teeth do not laugh. You’re Laughing (not us).
11. Mustard loves listening to albums (and EPs) from start to end. Could you share more about how you structured this EP?
Adam: I just did what felt right. Something I can’t explain about the process, it just happened.
Katie: Adam sent the EP structure to the group and no one objected, it felt right to present ourselves in this way. We never edited the original list.
12. What are some things that can often be found in the palms of everyone's hands in You're Laughing?
Corey: a brick but it doesn’t stay there long 😈
Katie: Takis
Adam: drumsticks
Steve:
13. Mustard noticed throughout the EP there is a lot of mention of "you." Is the "you" throughout the songs on the EP about the same human? Are these songs set within the same universe?
All: We all had a little hand in the lyrics for this EP. Katie wrote most of them but Chant Song was an incomplete song from Corey’s first band that he fleshed out over the years and Adam contributed on a couple. So the “you” might not be the same physical human but they occupy the same conceptual space, usually someone who has hurt us or upset us in some way.
Katie: Katie here, when I was writing the lyrics to our tracks, I was focusing on the idea of rage and specifically the folks who had made me feel that level of anger and fear. So though the “you” captures a few different identities, there was always the common thread of unbridled female rage, something we are often taught should not be explored.
14. As a condiment Mustard wonders: what is a carousel?
Katie: Mustard! A Carousel is an incredible carnival ride that simulates riding different animals. Primarily horses are used on carousels, but sometimes carousels will incorporate mythical creatures or inanimate objects as the vessel for “taking a ride”. The carousel moves in an endless loop, sometimes causing people to feel nausea or claustrophobia, for fear the carousel will never let them off and they will be caught in an endless rotation. Mustard should try it sometime! I would suggest a diner, they sometimes have mini tabletop condiment carousels that they might enjoy.
15. What are some signs that a human may be pretending?
All: As Kurt Vonnegut said “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
Katie: Anytime I think of pretending I think of the Goosebumps episode where the kids go mask shopping for Halloween and the masks become their permanent form. Just kids trapped in the body of a monster. That haunts me to this day. So I guess what I am saying is….a mask?
16. A human invites their friend to see You're Laughing perform. What three words best describe your live shows? Does You're Laughing have a pre or post show routine?
All: Loud, rippin, and roaring
Corey: Pre show we have an elaborate, secret ritual that only true Chuckleheads (our fans) can be privy to. I can say it doesn’t involve any type of living sacrifice. That being said, we do take donations of leather gloves and ostrich feathers.
All: Post-show we mostly laugh and cry and hug each other.
17. What is on the horizon for You're Laughing?
Corey: We recently lost our drummer to the shadow realm of “Columbus, OH” so we’ve been re-configuring ourselves as a 4-piece and trying out new musical ideas. We hope to have another EP (or full length 👀) sometime next year!
Katie: We would like to play a lot of shows! We have a few coming up this Fall, check our insta for show updates.
18. Where can readers listen to your music?
All: Spotify, Apple Music and bandcamp!
Music Shelf with Mustard is a publication that interviews independent musicians from all across the globe. It is read in 36 states and 30 countries. Check out previous interviews here.
Music Shelf with Mustard originally began in early 2021. Inspired by independent musicians on social media application TikTok Mustard knew they had to do something to help share their music. Shortly after Music Shelf with Mustard was born. Its goal is to highlight independent artists from all across the globe. Mustard appreciates you taking the time out to read this interview.