Muzz

Drawing from the deep camaraderie among its participants alongside their shared affinity for the organic resonance of traditional rock, Muzz comprises Interpol's Paul Banks, Matt Barrick who formerly played drums in the Walkmen, and producer Josh Kaufman. Their self-titled 2020 release updated that longstanding appreciation for older sonic textures with a contemporary outlook.

The ensemble's origins run extensive and closely linked. Banks and Kaufman first met during high school in Spain before each moved on his own to New York City during the height of its rock resurgence in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Banks rose to prominence with Interpol, while Kaufman established himself as a skilled producer, multi-instrumentalist, and participant in the folk outfit Bonny Light Horseman. Along the way both connected with Barrick, who had earned recognition as one of the city's standout drummers through his work with Jonathan Fire*Eater and the Walkmen.

In due course the associates lent support to one another's efforts. Kaufman appeared on Banks' initial solo material issued under the Julian Plenti name, which led to the 2009 album Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper. Barrick handled drums for Anything But Words, the 2016 debut from the Banks & Steelz project with RZA. He also joined numerous sessions produced by Kaufman, and the pair both contributed to The World at Night, Walter Martin's 2020 solo album as a fellow Walkmen veteran.

Around 2015 the three began shaping the songs that would become Muzz. Taking their name from Kaufman's description of the richness and character found in classic recordings, Barrick, Kaufman, and Banks developed tracks guided by their common regard for Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young whenever their calendars aligned. The sessions occurred at several sites, including Silent Partner studio in Philadelphia belonging to Banks and Barrick, plus Woodstock, New York's Isokon studio with co-producer Dan Goodwin. Muzz appeared in June 2020.