Influences: Dan Rogan of Brief Habits

Ahead of their second album, Dan Rogan of Brief Habits discusses the artists influencing the way he the group has approached music.

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The Lemonheads & Evan Dando

Steve and I were extremely privileged to have our brother Paul who was 15 years our elder growing up. Some of the earliest childhood memories I have are of lying on his bedroom floor as he would play us records from so many incredible bands like Husker Du, R.E.M, Bad Religion, Pixies, Pavement. Amongst them was The Lemonhead’s It’s a Shame About Ray. Our childhood selves connected to this record straight away; maybe it was the bright catchiness of the music contrasting the smooth warm tones and melody of Dandos voice – I can only speculate but I’m glad this record continued to stick with us into adulthood. I believe Dando and the Lemonheads on IASAR had an unrivalled gift for creating vocal and instrumental melodies that combined euphoria and melancholy in perfect balance. Sweet and bright on the surface but sour in the middle. It’s everything “Indie-Rock” should be.

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Mike Kinsella (American Football/Owen)

Possibly a quite different introduction to most – Owen’s I do perceive was actually the first record of Mikes I ever listened to. When I finished up with my early bands in my late teens/early twenties it’s the record that got me to pick up an acoustic guitar and start trying to properly write songs. It’s a beautiful record composed of rich acoustic tones/ a lush natural drum sound/ great fuzzy electrics that all web and fuse with an almost scientific precision. The vocal hushed and words full of all the insecurities we all could connect to at that age. I went back to American Footballs LP1 from there and of course like any one completely lost my shit over “Never Meant” devoured that album and every other Owen record over the following years until the release of American Football’s LP2. Goddamn it was as close to a perfect record as there can be in my opinion. It came out at the time of recording our first LP and we flogged it to death really. The production flawless, the calm and perfected song-writing/ tongue-in-cheek lyrics. I’ll continue to follow any project Mike lends himself to.

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Steve Milligan (One Inch Punch/ Mid Youth Crisis/ Coué Method/ Black is the Colour)

Ever since I caught the video for One Inch Punch’s Stupid Me on Channel Vs punk shift late one night as a teen I’ve been completely captivated by Steve Milligan’s voice, words and delivery. One Inch Punch/ Mid Youth Crisis/ Coué Method/ Black is the Colour/ That Devotee song he did with ADITF – I’ve spent years with every one of these records an LPs. As cliché as it is to say; Steve truly has a sound and style of his own and his passion to his craft is undeniable.

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Nada Surf & Matthew Caws

A certain level of Kindness and attention to detail – is what I feel comes across most in Nada Surfs music. Matthew Caws lyrics have this profound simplicity (that mirrors the like of Bernard Sumner of New Order) and the music seems to follow suit. The older you get the more you appreciate this kinda music. It’s Perfectly crafted power-pop that you can keep going back to no matter what mood you’re in. They have a great rocking/pretty contrast/ Huge Melodies and Hooks, Lush Harmonies. Perfect clean and Dirty guitar contrasts. Great and simple existential lyrics that anybody can relate and connect to. There is so much to find and love in all 7 of their full length albums but ‘Weight is a Gift’ is the one the sticks out above the rest.