Written by: Paul Gleason

(Photos by Nichole Fusca)

FIANCÉ are an experimental pop quartet from Delaware. Consisting of vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Andrew Fusca, guitarist Jeff Marvel, bassist Tyler Yoder, and drummer Brian Bruce, the band has released its debut record, EP1, on SQE Records.

The band’s first single, “Division,” gives a good idea of what FIANCÉ are all about. Yoder and Bruce play like a terrific post-punk rhythm section; they groove like Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz of Talking Heads, as well as Dave Allen and Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four. Marvel adds dreamy arpeggios and atmospheric noise, echoing Fusca’s intriguing melodic lines. Think Yo La Tengo by way of Sonic Youth.

Together, FIANCÉ create a beautiful sound “Division.” And the rest of EP1 follows suit. Just watch the terrific video for “Era,” from EP1.

Drummer Brian Bruce was kind enough to complete Stereo Embers‘ Scouting Report.

FULL NAME: Brian Bruce

NICKNAME: Octie (Because I have an Octagon shaped head, or so they say)

HOMETOWN: Wilmington/Newark, Delaware

WEBSITE: fiancemusic.com

RECORD LABEL: SQE

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN ONE SENTENCE: Experimental Pop

PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Probably when we released EP1 on vinyl. I work in a record store and have been selling and collecting vinyl for the last year, so hearing my band on wax for the first time was a big deal.

THE SONG YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN: “Sara Smile” by Hall and Oates. I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, but man that song just gets me. The groove is so smooth, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

FIVE MUSICIANS YOU ADMIRE: It’s hard for me to pick specific musicians because I think the way a band sounds together is way more important than a single player. The top five bands for me, in no particular order, would be Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, Pixies, Modest Mouse, and The Stooges.

ALBUM YOU CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO: I’ve been listening to Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys on repeat for the last month.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A KID: Like most kids, I was a self-centered little asshole.

THREE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT: Ebola, Ebola, Ebola.

LAST BOOK YOU READ: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

THINGS WE’D FIND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR: I drive a van, thank you very much. And you’d probably find all of my drum gear back there.

HARDEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB: Is playing in a band a job? I don’t feel like I have a job.

FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO A NEW CITY: Eat and drink as much as possible.

WHAT WORD DO YOU OVERUSE IN CONVERSATION?: ummmm

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TV SHOW: Does Cops count? They play that pretty late most nights.

DRINK OF CHOICE: Heineken. Heineken?!?!? Fuck that shit. PABST BLUE RIIBBBBOOONNN. (RIP Dennis Hopper)

BEST ALBUM TO PLAY AFTER A BREAK-UP AND YOU’RE HOLDING A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND SOMETHING SHARP: The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are

INDULGENCE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP: That sweet sweet tobacco

WORDS TO LIVE BY: Legalize it.