Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Oreaganomics

Oreaganomics - Locked out on Valentine's Day

Oreaganomics has been lo-fi and underground for 20 years. If you would like to stop their madness, try accepting them.

"Our songs are about fucking, fucking the system, and getting fucked by people and the system. It's all connected." - Oreaganomics

Interview with Oreaganomics

(•)> Oreaganomics, your music is known for its raw, unfiltered approach. How do you distill such complex ideas about personal and societal struggles into your songs?

Listening to pre-90s country music helped me write songs that can cut to the point in regards to the human condition. I am also a human, last time I checked, and am capable of complex ideas. I ponder a lot.

(•)> You’ve been underground and lofi for 20 years. How has that longevity shaped your sound and message over time?

Well we believe in ourselves because, to the surprise of everyone including us, we became more popular now than when we were performing live regularly. We were always pretty bad live so maybe that was the problem.

(•)> Your work tackles themes of rebellion, frustration, and confrontation with the system. How do you balance anger with musicality?

I use music to process my issues.

(•)> The way you connect personal experiences with broader societal critique is very direct. How do you decide which topics to address in each song?

Our song topics are about things which we have chewed on a bit. Like gum, we chew on it a bit than spit it out.

(•)> Your music has a very confrontational and unapologetic tone. How do audiences typically respond to that honesty?

We focus hard on attaching the heavy stuff to beautiful sounds so that way it's digestible.

(•)> How has being part of an underground scene for so long influenced your creative freedom and approach to music?

We are our own bosses and it shows in our music.

(•)> The message “accepting them” appears in your work. Can you explain what that means in the context of your music and philosophy?

On this album, it's accepting that XYZ happened and isn't cool so we're gonna process it and learn.

(•)> How do you maintain authenticity while still keeping your music engaging and sonically interesting?

By replicating vintage sounds that we truly like and think are timeless.

(•)> Have there been moments where your music provoked meaningful conversation or reflection among your listeners?

Yes. I am asked if I am AI all the time so I send recordings of me singing. I then transition to "Instead of AI, how about we talk about how little artist get paid per stream?"

(•)> After two decades of creating music in this style, what motivates you to keep producing and performing?

The fact that we are more popular now than ever and find things anew to question all the live long day.

(•)> If someone new is discovering Oreaganomics today, what do you want them to understand first about your music and your approach?

To be ready to have us be completely different by the next album. We are free to do what we want and often do it.

(•)> Looking forward, what can fans expect next from Oreaganomics: new songs, collaborations, or other projects?

I have some collabs out there. Our next album is likely to take a bit. Locked Out of Valentine's Day took a lot.

(•)> Finally, how do you hope listeners experience your music: provocation, reflection, or something else entirely?

I want people to vibe and find respite from the daily grind of hellish capitalism.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out  Oreaganomics on the Pigeon Spins Playlist