An interview with trauma ray
Uriel Avila of the Texas shoegazers discusses the band's darker new EP, 'Carnival', adding more metal to their sound, the importance of Slowdive, and how karaoke is "a way of life."
I don’t know what band would win the award for “heaviest shoegaze band on Earth,” but I would likely give my vote to trauma ray. I’m sure I could think of another band in the genre that is tecnhically heavier, but no one seems to do it better right now than these Forth Worth, TX natives.
Formed by vocalist/guitarist Uriel Avila and guitarist Jonathan Perez in 2018, trauma ray (the name is taken from the German word träumerei, which translates as “a dream state”) have quickly ascended to the top of shoegaze’s current gen with their “loud-quiet-loud” dynamic. Taking cues from the heavier end of Hum and Deftones, and the dreamlike aesthetic of Slowdive and Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins (think “Soma” or “Mayonaise”), trauma ray have achieved the perfect balance between the two ends of the spectrum.
From the outset they were steadily releasing EPs on small indies like Dreamy Life and Flesh and Bone, which culminated in their debut full-length, 2024’s Chameleon, for Dais Records. That release saw them confront their feelings of dread and malaise through soft, benevolent vocals and devastatingly mighty riffs, earning them tours supporting heavyweights like Touché Amoré, Panchiko, Loathe and Deafheaven.
Now, just ahead of a co-headlining North American tour with fellow shoegazers Glixen, trauma ray have dropped a new EP called Carnival, a more collective effort involving the full band (guitarist Coleman Pruitt, bassist Darren Baun, and drummer Nicholas Bobotas) that is even darker, heavier and more formidable than everything that came before it.
Can I get a quick summary of how trauma ray formed?
Uriel Avila: I was in another band where Darren filled in and always would tell him, “When I start my band, I need you to play bass.” When Jonathan and I started having some solid ideas for the first EP I told Darren his time had come. We tried out another drummer before Nick responded to a Facebook musician’s group. After that it was smooth sailing. Coleman was actually at the first show, just as a supporter since he was Nick’s roommate in college.
What other names did you consider for your band?
I honestly could not tell you what other names we had lined up. All of them must have been much worse than trauma ray.
trauma ray’s music is on the heavier end of shoegaze. What influenced the band to channel that heaviness in the music, as opposed to the more delicate, dreamy side of shoegaze?
I honestly find it kinda boring. Not that it isn’t lush and beautiful, but I personally get bored up there playing the droney, soft stuff. I like to move and feel my amp and I think that goes for everyone else in the band. We do have some soft stuff, but I think we like to tastefully sprinkle it in here and there so we aren’t just abrasive and in your face 24/7. We all like heavy music and have been touring with more energetic and heavy bands recently, so it kinda makes sense to keep dipping our toes into that.
What would you say are the band’s influences?
I like to take a lot from video games if I can. Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, a plethora of Capcom games. Music and imagery that are all so sick. The Matrix is a huge reason we went green. Also ‘90s music, classic shoegaze, some modern shoegaze. The list is honestly endless and whatever we pull out of the memory banks.
How did you discover shoegaze?
I had a friend at work that showed me Nothing and Whirr in 2016, I think. After I binged their discography at the time, I started doing my own research. I fell in love with Slowdive. They were coming to Fort Worth for Fortress Fest and after seeing them there it changed my life. I wanted to sonically capture something close to the feeling I felt when I saw that performance. Still do.
What is your favourite shoegaze band?
Slowdive, without hesitation.
I read that the members of trauma ray are big into karaoke and even met at a karaoke bar over mutual love for Slowdive? What are your karaoke songs of choice? Have you ever heard of any trauma ray songs being available to sing?
Karaoke is a way of life. I met Darren first when he’d regularly come in to sing at Cave’s in Arlington where I was helping host. I met Jonathan at the Boiled Owl when I was playing Slowdive as I set up. Pretty funny shit. I used to sing a lot of Elton John. One of my fav Darren performances is “Stacy’s Mom.” Nick crushes Creed. Recently I have enjoyed singing “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House. Incredible track. I have a pretty massive list thinking about it. Never seen a TR song, but the day it happens I’ll give it a go.
Having spoken to a bunch of bands that get classified as shoegaze, it feels like there is a community amongst them, even when they’re in different countries. Why do you think shoegaze has grown to become a community as much as it is a type of music?
I think mainly because it’s become kind of a blanket statement to describe a lot of music now. With that, it helps more people feel unified under the term. I think that’s good and bad for many reasons, but overall good for the genre as a whole. It helps people find and resonate with more music and that’s the overall goal.
I know Texas has quite a big shoegaze scene, with bands like your own, Glare, Glia, Kraus, Narrow Head, Fawn, and Ringo Deathstarr, to name a few. What is the music scene like in Fort Worth? Is there a big distinction between the Fort Worth and Dallas scene?
It’s growing. DFW as a whole is in a positive state of unity and support recently. It’s really good to see. The only distiction is that Dallas has so many venues and Fort Worth has so little. Which is why we all go to Rubber Gloves in Denton.
What is another band from Fort Worth that fans of trauma ray should know about?
Ozone, Empty Shell Casing, and Spurred.
How did having Coleman, Nicholas and Darren contribute more to the songwriting this time add to the experience?
The guys have always contributed a good bit to the songs, but this time was different because we didn’t have Jonathan in the room for the majority of writing. He’s got a bit more of a pop focused ear and I think without him being there it led us to writing the darker stuff very naturally. It was a fun challenge that I think ended up working in our favour.
What are most of your lyrics about?
Things I struggle with or have struggled with in the past.
That riff in “Hannibal” immediately reminded me of Helmet, which is rad. But I’m curious if that song had any connection to the Thomas Harris novels?
Definitely Helmet fans. Shoutout Guitar Hero for introducing me.
I’m not that methodical when it comes to naming our songs. I’m not a literature buff. I wanted to tie the songs together for the Carnival theme and found out about this 1800s circus elephant called Old Hannibal. Figured it would be a fun double meaning thing by lyrically talking about dissection and then visually using the elephant for the music video.
“Funhouse” feels like trauma ray at both your heaviest and slowest. I used to listen to a lot of doom metal, and that song really pushes the low-end-hugging, down-tuned guitars of that scene. What was the inspiration behind that track?
Coleman had this riff that ended up being the intro and bassline that he’d play a lot faster and while we were writing over the summer I thought it would be cool to really slow it down. I wanted like a Bell Witch/Sleep section for the intro and then calm it down to this creepy kinda True Widow driving vibe, obviously with our own twists. That’s honestly my favourite track on the EP.
I wrote an article years ago, where I explored how shoegaze was a big influence on stuff like doom and black metal. Do you see an intersection between those genres much now?
I think that’s a cool perspective. I definitely feel like that’s more prominent in the genre now than ever before. Watching Deafheaven all last year really unlocked some things for us I think with how they could go from crazy blast beat droning into really musical calm sections that felt cohesive. When we first started, it was for sure more ‘90s and OG gaze influence. I think now we’re having more fun adding things from metal genres into what we already enjoy doing.
What would you say is the biggest difference between Chameleon and Carnival?
Carnival is 100% more moody and has a darker overall vibe. We did a little bit of that in Chameleon, but fully commited to having a much sadder writing process for this EP. We internalize a lot of what goes on in the world and try to express it the only way we know how. We’ve just gotten better at the cohesiveness of writing together in general. Our influences have aligned way more at this point.
What is the story behind that creepy looking amusement park on the cover of Carnival?
We were finishing up our tour last year with Touché Amoré in Brighton, England and Nick went for a stroll along the pier that was maybe a 10-15 minute walk away. I don’t know if it was abandoned or if it’s just not open during the winter months, but I’m glad he went at night. It’s an eerie little picture. He had been taking a lot of photos out there and that was one of the favourites we chose from when we were looking for the album artwork.
Taking in mind the album covers, the video for “Hannibal,” the darker lyric themes, the band’s logo/typeface and overall aesthetic, are horror flicks an influence at all?
Yeah, we are fans of the horror aspect. It’s just fun and over the top. Musically, I think The Thing is a masterpiece. Twin Peaks is also another one that’s big for us. I could listen those scores forever.
The band has toured with an array of bands, from Loathe to Panchiko, Touché Amoré and Deafheaven. What do you look for in a touring partner?
Good attitude and good music. It’s all any of us can ask for. All of the bands mentioned have been the best to share the road with and we’d join them in the future anytime/anywhere.
Up next you have this co-headlining tour with Glixen, which includes Her New Knife and Knifeplay (first half), and Money and Keep (second half) on select dates. It’s a pretty wild quadruple bill. How did that all come together?
I’ve known Esteban [Santana] since the very first TR tour and we’ve maintained that friendship since then. When he and Aislinn [Ritchie] started Glixen, I knew they’d go far. We’ve always talked about going on tour together and it just makes sense right now to do it before things get busier. Love everyone in that camp. We made a list of bands we thought would be sick to tour with and it ended up working out. I’m very excited to see everyone on this tour.
What album is played most when the band is hanging out together or on tour?
Tough one. Probably have to go withYou’d Prefer An Astronaut by Hum.
What is your food of choice while recording?
Chips and sodas. Anything greasy and bad for the vocals.
What TV show or film does the band watch together?
I don’t really watch a lot of TV. I think the guys like True Detective, Twin Peaks, and 90 Day Fiancé, or something.
What is an activity the band does together outside of music?
Eating good food.
What is the hardest part of being a band?
The time away from home.
What is the best part of being a band?
Travelling the world.
If you had to pick only one subgenre listed on your Bandcamp page to describe your music which would it be?
Alternative rock.
What is your favourite venue to play and why?
Saturn in Birmingham, AL. Video game-focused, good coffee, and a loft upstairs for the bands to stay in after they play. Insane.
What is your favourite record shop in the world?
Not a record buff, but Docs Records in Fort Worth.
What is your favourite band of the 1990s?
Weezer, but mainly Blue and Pinkerton era.