On The Verge

The Octopus Project

Austin, Texas
Colorful indietronica
www.theoctopusproject.com

“We grew up experimenting with whatever we had—and this band seems like a good excuse to let that happen and get it out of our systems,” says multi-instrumentalist Josh Lambert of *The Octopus Project*’s stuffed animals, screenprints and clothing designs. “It’s a really collaborative thing.” The colorful, indietronica band typically crosses experimental noise with pop sensibilities, though its new EP is “a bit looser with more singing” than the band’s other seven releases. “The first song is just weird and sparkly and pretty,” and others were developed live and then recorded, Lambert says. The quartet met while growing up and reconnected while in college at the University of Texas at Austin in 1999 (Lambert is also now married to bandmate Yvonne). Influenced by art rockers such as Sonic Youth and Cornelius, The Octopus Project is more of an artistic collective than merely a band of musicians. In fact, the group often creates character motifs to go along with its music—sometimes dressing its amps in ghost costumes. After appearing at high-profile events such as the U.K.’s All Tomorrow’s Parties (and even making it into the festival’s subsequent documentary), the group is planning for its next album. “We’re all just excited to branch out as much as we can and let our ideas run wild.”