Sure, music’s good, but have you ever met a kitten? Smoothboi Ezra has because they’ve just got one. Oh, and there’s a new EP or something too.
Words: Felicity Newton. Photo: Leon McCullough.
Smoothboi Ezra is carving out their own niche amongst all the bedroom pop teens reckoning with tricky relationships and the vast obstacle course of growing up and figuring out who you are with their intimate, endlessly relatable bops that revel in that brief time before the boring cynicism of adulthood kicks in – when feeling your feelings reigns supreme.
Hello! How’s it going? What are you up to today?
I’m doing well, thanks! I’m hanging out with my brand new kitten Pixie, and my existing cat Frog.
Aaw. What are the best names for a cat, do you think? We rather like people names – who wouldn’t enjoy a cat being called eg Susan, y’know?
I used to have a fish called Susan, lol. But my favourite cat names are the ones I’ve chosen for my cat and my kitten, Frog and Pixie. Honourable mentions would be naming a cat after food like Tofu, naming a cat after clothes like Sock or naming a cat after crime such as Arson.
Ooh, those are good. What first drew you to music, and what attracted you to having a bash at songwriting yourself?
I don’t know, I’ve always liked listening to music and writing is something that I always did. I never made a conscious decision to write music; it just kind of happened.
How did you set about learning to put songs together?
I just messed around on Garageband a lot.
Did it come easily to you?
I didn’t find it hard per se, but I wasn’t exactly making masterpieces, so who knows?
What’s your aim in writing super personal songs, is it more for yourself or for other people?
It’s definitely more for myself, but I’m glad to share it with others.
When you write about relationships, do you discuss the songs with the people they’re about?
Not all the time, however, two of the songs on my latest EP are about one person, and she knows, and she has told me that she likes them. Lol.
Does the EP have any overarching themes?
The themes are about being in friendships and romantic relationships while being autistic.
It’s quite a brave thing to put your thoughts and feelings out there for everyone to hear, how do you overcome the anxiety that comes with it?
Because most of it has been online, it hasn’t felt very real; I think it would be more anxiety-inducing not to do it.
Are there any avenues other than music you use to work through your feelings or find cathartic, creative or otherwise?
I love to crochet and do any type of arts and crafts and makeup.
How did you pick up crocheting?
I started crocheting while watching New Girl in May of last year. Aldi were selling crochet supplies, and I was bored.
What’s the best thing you’ve made?
I am very proud of a blanket I made, and I’m currently working on a jumper.
What else are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on some future projects that I’m excited about.
If you could teach Pixie the kitten a trick, any trick at all, what would it be?
I would like it if I could bring my kitten on a walk with a lead like a dog.
Taken from the July 2021 edition of Dork, out now. Smoothboi Ezra’s EP ‘Stuck’ is out now.
