Indie dream-pop trio Stray Fossa return with their third album Blossomer, a record that captures growth, change, and the beauty of fleeting moments. Since forming in Charlottesville in 2018, the band made up of brothers Nick and Will Evans and their longtime friend Zach Blount has carved out a sound that blends atmospheric textures with heartfelt lyricism. In this heart-to-heart conversation, Stray Fossa open up about their musical journey, creative process, and the inspirations behind Blossomer.
Heart-to-heart with Stray Fossa: blossomers
How would you describe your musical style and the themes you explore in your music?
Zach: I think for a while we tried to synthesize three completely different musical styles into a single product. That didn’t work. Eventually we found it way more productive to focus on finding a common denominator in our experiences and let things evolve from there. Themes like fighting against time, the role of tech in a shrinking world, loss, nature, furthering a connection with someone by noting uniqueness in an otherwise mundane shared moment – we feel comfortable exploring those themes in our music because we’ve watched each other experience and wrestle with those things over time. So I guess: all that informing lyrical and instrumental choices plus Will’s production skills is what makes our “style”.
Can you share a bit about your artistic journey, from your early works to your most recent projects?
Nick: We really grew up playing music together. Will and I used to back up our Dad (with our younger brother, Ethan) at home playing Beatles and R.E.M. covers. Zach came over in like 8th grade with a bass he borrowed from his Dad, I think. The three of us had a little project in high school and then parted ways for a while before reuniting in Charlottesville in 2018 to start Stray Fossa. So, Charlottesville was home for a while. It has such a wonderful and welcoming scene, and it’s not so big that you get lost in it, you know? When the pandemic hit, life took us separate ways and now we are split between the USA and Germany. But we’ve released two albums since 2020, and Blossomer is our third – so the distance has just kinda become part of the story.
Who are your musical influences, both within and outside your genre?
Will: I think we each individually listen to a wide range of very different music, most of which probably doesn’t spill over much into the band’s writing. At this point I would say the band’s music is more influenced by a certain mood or energy we feel comfortable occupying and playing.
Nick: Yea, I tend to agree. I will go through phases where I listen to music intensely, usually one or two records, and then periods where I just don’t. Like, at one point last year I listened to Moon Safari by Air over and over for like a month – so I guess I’d be surprised if none of that seeped in, I don’t know. I think we also find inspiration in other mediums too – literature, film, photography. A lot of the artists I find inspiring personally, if not musically then just in general, are those doing cool things in our orbit.
How have these influences shaped your music, and do you actively seek out new inspirations?
Will: I think we’ve been pretty terrible about actively seeking out new inspirations. I honestly can’t name a single one for this record. I usually prefer not to listen to music while writing because then I worry it will have too much of an influence on the music. I’d rather the music be shaped by the place I am in life, or the kind of person I want to be. I find that listening to other people’s music seems to make that harder to achieve, serving more as a distraction than an inspiration.
“Blossomer” is the title of your newest album. Why did you choose that name?
Nick: Blossomer is also one of the tracks on the record, which was written kinda in the middle of the whole process. We felt that the name just summed up many of the main themes of the record – growth, change over time, maturation..to name a few. It also seems to be one of the tracks that people have resonated with the most, although we didn’t intend it to be a lead single or anything.
You started making music in 2018. Do you feel your music has already blossomed, or is it still in an early stage of exploration?
Zach: We’re always heading towards a goal that’s tough to define…and maybe we’re on to something, maybe we aren’t. What I can confidently say is we’ll continue to explore, musically, texturally, lyrically. We like to say no to stasis.
When, where, and at what point in someone’s life would you recommend listening to your album?
Nick: Blossomer is for anyone who wants to slow down, take a walk, and reflect on where they have come from, get lost in memories for a bit, appreciate the highs and work through the lows.
What are your hopes for this stage of your career, now that you’ve released this album?
Will: I’m just happy we managed to come together to finish an entire album at this stage in our lives. Hopefully, we’ll get an opportunity to tour again, but touring is expensive. I think we’d want the band to pull a bit more financial weight to justify all the costs that come with van life.
Wrapping up:
With Blossomer, Stray Fossa continue to evolve while staying true to the themes that have defined their music: time, connection, and reflection. Whether you’re walking through memories or seeking a soundtrack for late-night introspection, their new album offers a space to pause and feel.