Basilica Soundscape 2013: Catching Up with Pure X

Last week, Paris and I checked out the BasilicaSoundScape festival at the Basilica Hudson, an art space inside a reclaimed 19th century factory. The event showcased both artists and musicians, with Matthew Barney and Jonathan Bepler conducting electronic artists Julianna Barwick and Evian Christ alongside noise artists Pharmakon and Pig Destroyer in a performance Friday night.

While Friday's lineup highlighted noise and negative space, Saturday's bridged the past and present; Malang Djobateh playing the kora (a 16th-century African string instrument) in between sets by Pure X, DIIV, and Cass McCombs. We caught up with Nate Grace of Austin band Pure X. Check out our Q&A and our pictures from the festival below!

Describe Pure X in five words.
Sculptures carved out of sound

What does pure ecstasy look like to Pure X?
This Bushwick apartment with a naked woman next to me and sun through the windows.

What's your desert island disc?
Right now, it'd be Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers' live disc.

What music were you listening to as a teenager?
Minor Threat, Youth of Today, Dag Nasty, In My Eyes, Black Flag, Circle Jerks... mostly punk and hardcore stuff.

How does the unconscious present itself in your music?
In the sound, the lyrics, the performance, the artwork––everything. The unconscious is the hand in the glove.

Describe your dream day in Austin, Texas.
Sun, swim, eat, love, music.

Which country musicians have influenced your music the most?
Hank Williams, Townes van Zandt, Waylon Jennings, Lefty Frizzell

What was your favorite thing about this year's Basilica Soundscape festival?
The whole vibe of the place and the people was awesome. The venue itself was gorgeous and everyone was there to have a good time.