The Schisms Premiere Their Punchy New EP ‘Tejas’

When creativity comes knocking at your door as it did for Carson Barker of The Schisms, it’s best not to ignore it because you don’t know if that version of it will ever return. Barker made the right choice and turned it into the psych-goth trio’s new EP, Tejas.

Featuring four new tracks, Barker really came into his own in the writing and recording of this EP. As both a songwriter and an instrumentalist, he had the chance to stand out and flourish.

Commenting on the EP, Barker states:

“These songs are proof that isolation and depression can turn coal into diamonds. Stuart and I really conjured some magic, and we’ve made an incredible EP that I’m very proud of.”

Barker wrote half of Tejas essentially in solitary confinement. He was spending a winter alone in a one-bedroom cabin in the mountains of Colorado. With nothing to do and no one to talk to, he sought a creative outlet. He found it in songwriting, which gave him purpose in an otherwise lonely situation. That setting gave the music its purpose. Barker was seeking a way to lift his own spirits, so he immersed himself in his craft and wrote all the parts himself. It explains why Tejas sounds more uplifting than The Schisms’ previous album Moon. While Moon was darker, Tejas is brighter and punchier. Because of the circumstances, this was the first time Barker recorded every instrumental part himself. After a rough mix, he sought the input of his bandmates, bassist and keyboardist Goose McCollum and drummer Michael Stockton.

The other half of Tejas was finished up in the recording studio. The band worked with Grammy-winning producer Stuart Sikes. With his minimalistic approach and background working with The White Stripes, Cat Power, and Loretta Lynn, Sikes helped influence the direction of the songs. They are a lot punchier and brighter than anything the band has done previously. Sikes’ influence helped instill the songs with more pop sensibilities, particularly the pop of the 1980s and 1990s. In an uncertain era, Barker hopes that the listeners may gather some positivity from these songs. He needed something to remind him that things get better, and he hopes that this EP may do the same for you.

Tejas Track Listing:

01. I Learn To Love
02. One Blood
03. All the Good Things
04. Beyond Death

The Schisms ‘Tejas’ album artwork