Psychobuildings Preview First Album in 6 Years with “The Beach”

Psychobuildings, fronted by multidisciplinary artist Peter LaBier, share “Outside” off of their first album in six years – Tears, Vol 1. The “Outside” music video was filmed and directed by Christian Prince on location in Washington, DC and the historic Cabin John Trail in Maryland. It features the artist wandering, sleeping and dancing in zombie-like fashion – haunting the woods while wearing found masks. It’s a song about loss of love and renewal.

Psychobuildings was formed in 2010 by Peter LaBier alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Juan Pieczanski (of Small Black) in Brooklyn, NY. Their music has been spotlighted on Fader, Pitchfork, Spin and NME and featured on several compilations, including Kitsuné Maison Compilation 10. Psychobuildings has been described as “Like ‘Ghostrider’ filtered through ‘Let’s Dance’” by Peter Macia of Fader. Tears, Vol 1 is the first full-length release by Psychobuildings since 2020’s Blackout.

Last month, Psychobuildings shared the project’s first single and video for “The Beach.”

Peter LaBier of Psychobuildings on Tears, Vol 1: “I started work on this album in the first year of the pandemic, living in Brooklyn. Alone, feeling the effects of isolation, uncertain times and processing a break-up, feeling the loss of love and the loss of contact with friends. Dealing with the ending of some friendships as well, and along the way, the loss of a mentor figure, Barbara Maier Gustern, a legendary New York-based vocalist and teacher. During this time, I was working as a tutor with children and experiencing the intensity of their emotions as well.

“This album is a reflection of and a testament to all of that time – to all of the grief, sadness, political turmoil, and growth both myself and many others experienced from 2020 until now. In addition, during this time, new connections were made. At various points, I spent time living in LA and developed a community there. There are many contributions made by others to this record, some by old friends, some by new friends, some in New York, some in LA – all collectively processing uncertainty, fear, sadness, political tensions, and creatively finding joy in the struggle.

“I spent the last several years focusing again on guitar playing, on painting and drawing, which have always occupied a large space in my life. Dance and movement have always been core to the music I make with this band – after struggling with a traumatic knee injury, I was able to successfully rehabilitate it and learn to dance again.”

Tears, Vol 1 Track Listing:

1. Tears
2. The Beach
3. No One
4. New Hand
5. Run Away
6. Outside
7. Live Once
(3 additional songs appear exclusively on the vinyl release only)

Psychobuildings ‘Tears, Vol 1’ album artwork