Silversun Pickups Lead Singer Brian Aubert - Interview

Brian Aubert is the lead singer for Silversun Pickups, the huge alternative band that tours the world, but started in the artistic Los Angeles neighborhood of Silverlake. There is startlingly little information about Brian available online, but he speaks to Ana Kasparian about the origins of Silversun Pickups, band members, touching and personal lyrics he's written, his voice, his love of What the Flick, and much more. What was it like when the Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign co-opted Silversun Pickups' "Panic Switch" without the band's permission? Have Brian and the band become more political from that point? What went into the new single, "Cannibal?"
Brian Aubert and Ana Kasparian discuss all this and more, here on TYT Interviews!
Follow Brian on Twitter:

[@coolerjtv]

I specifically looked up this video to hear his speaking voice.

[@TheMacClayne]

me two X'-D

[@stoneeh]

Same.

[@weirdoguy6800]

same xdd

[@lasernikixcex]

Same

[@denistuohy2535]

I think everyone did

[@djohnson2499]

I still remember the first time I heard Silversun Pickups. I was like "damn, that chick has a great voice"

[@JrJrJrJrphD]

Same😂 That was a weird day for me

[@OneAndOnlyStormy]

Best female rock vocalist

[@blue-tb2fd]

I remember the tenth time I heard them. I still thought it was a woman!

[@MrStacy1974]

I thought they were Smashing Pumpkins.

[@Azraelmaximilian]

I can tell that Ana's been waiting She's been waiting for this moment all her life

[@nullvid]

I dunno. Brian is looking a bit uncomfortable. Maybe the times not quite right

[@gammafighter]

+Azraelmaximilian But it's not quite right.

[@ansonbryant6067]

+Azraelmaximilian I see what you're saying. Even the chairs look intimately rearranged

[@mr.jr.9554]

lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@seattletyler]

Azraelmaximilian and I mean...SUCH a babe

[@mura0]

Brian is super cool. I served the entire band last night at the restaurant I work and they were awesome cats. I wish all the guest were like them. Got myself a ticket for their show tonight.

[@saoirseandreapatriciacrowl506]

+Eric Mura You're so lucky to have met the guys!! They seem really cool people and is really great you could meet them.

[@homasfbgd4619]

web.facebook.com/AngryFunny1/

[@againthewiz]

How was the show? :)

[@mura0]

@@againthewiz awesome

[@nozrep]

12 years of listening to this band and i finally confirmed to myself that he is indeed 100% a man with a super unique and amazing voice!!!!!!!

[@penske_material]

I just discovered this band lasr year and they've become my favorite band

[@mr.jr.9554]

I saw Brian at Target today!!! He's so cool!!!

[@HeedAndSucceed]

This guy's music is amazing.

[@raymondsaucedo8084]

How does his voice sound so different when he sings?? That's crazy! Love this band

[@homasfbgd4619]

web.facebook.com/AngryFunny1/

[@steve5160]

Low testosterone

[@robertdecker146]

I've always felt that way when it comes to British vocalists. How they typically sound So Americanized when they're singing Rock Songs. They apparently can't pull it off when attempting Country Music though. I listened to this particular radio show feature back in the 1990's, which was documenting this peculiar phenomenon.

[@Floppa-oz1kp]

@@steve5160 someone’s projecting

[@jrsytchannel2022]

his pedal/effect choices are top notch

[@alainbelso]

Brian seems like a cool, down to earth guy. The type of guy you can have a beer with and just chill. Enjoying the interview.

[@squirtzenneger1878]

Whenever i listen to a band and the frontman has this distinct voice. I try to search and listen to their music and you get attached to it. Why does all this vocalist with a unique voice create such great music? This dude's the best example.

[@steveculbert4039]

"Lazy Eye" is one of the best songs of the past 20 years.

[@dallascowboys75006]

Two of my favorite people -- never imagined their paths would cross in this way -- but very glad it did, and a great interview Anna!!!

[@daniellopezeverest]

First song I ever heard from this band was Panic switch I fell in love with a vocalist voice lol then found out it was a guy still he has an awesome singing voice my new favorite song is Last Dance where he and Nikki Singh awesome! :-) thank you for sharing! :-)

[@Cguy7]

I can't believe my FAVORITE singer from my FAVORITE BAND on my FAVORITE KZbin channel is within the same fucking room. #holyshit

[@simonlillard7961]

One of the coolest rock vocalists I’ve ever heard. And there are many.

[@stevefromchicago]

I actually really enjoyed the honesty in this interview.

[@GreetTheSacredCow]

This interviewer is on point. She doesn't care about being hated. Love it. Go, chick.

[@steveculbert4039]

I was a writer in LA and NY for years. What REALLY sucks about the world of entertainment is that if you don't directly announce that you hate Trump and straight white men, your career turns to nothing immediately. If you're a Christian, forget it. This woman is typical in her insistence that Brian state that he is "blue." He had better.

[@FreedomLovin]

Noticed this too. Loved the way he handled it.

[@steverz91]

wtf this is awesome idk how this hasn't been recommended to me until now

[@skrimpdaddy]

this is 10 years ago and there is conversation of best of or last album and then comes the Covid break and they put out an awesome album that came out of that break and dang they are just as fresh as day one !!!

[@CCDaDon15]

Oh man. I remember when they played here in Chicago in 2012 there was this drunk bastard yelling "FUCK MITT ROMNEY" every 2 minutes standing right next to me. I actually have video of it on my channel. I never expected Brian to get interviewed here. Pleasant surprise.

[@seattletyler]

CCDaDon15 fantastic! wish I could have shook the guy's hand!!

[@SockPuppet80]

- It was just baffling. - What was that *like*? - ...Still baffling.

[@15georgest]

That's funny because the first time I heard Lazy Eye, I thought it was a girl lead singer.

[@DreamsOfMorpheus]

Discovered this band through Spotify, I had no idea the lead singer was on TYT Interviews.

[@theguitarczar]

he said something that should hit all performers between the eyes when he spoke about how one should approach live shows....i like this guy

[@siddhant717]

I fucking hate The Young Turks, but I love Brian Aubert.

[@hornyconvict]

TYT sucks but Ana is nice to look at

[@Mauri.El.Creador]

The magic of not knowing everything sometimes. I remember my dad falling in love with Swoon, because he thought the lead singer was a girl. That, and in his imagination, the entire bad had a much darker, gothic getup. Sometimes I think that's a lot more powerful than seeing the artists like this.

[@kwesibruno]

You guys seem like long lost friends. Great interview. Still getting to know this band outside of a few singles.

[@Calla_Cott]

No lazy eyes in the house for this...great interview Ana!

[@GetsGlad]

First heard these guys on Live 105 years ago. One of my all time favorites. Love their sound.great interview!

[@MyBottletree]

+Syn Glads liar, the band doesn't even exist 105 years.

[@Kyyp3r]

+Syn Glads wow you're a long time fan

[@Angel-HC]

+Syn Glads I loved the Live 105 shout out. That's how I discovered them, too, 5 years ago. They stay true and still play their new and old songs on 105.3. Don't know if I would have discovered them if I didn't live in the Bay Area.

[@peytonshaw8326]

+Alex Rosetti Are you a dumbass..?

[@seattletyler]

aggregious. I saw them 106 years ago

[@kriq07]

He's brilliant. Every song I have heard by Silversun is good-to-great.

[@somniatic]

haha! i, too, get excited when Ben FINALLY watches the movie. i totally loved this interview.

[@TsukiNoTragedy]

lol I did think that Brian Aubert's vocals were those of a woman at first. XD My friend and I saw them at Emo's in ATX, and they were awesome.

[@lifetimesupplyofstaples8514]

Pikul and Carnvas are both masterpieces!! Brian should be extremely proud.

[@neaituppi7306]

I did think the singer was a girl until a few months ago I found out who the band was.

[@neaituppi7306]

Then again, I thought Ana Kasparian was a girl also. Until I saw TYT, and them all laughing about Tom being upset when John's son died.

[@genewest7690]

one of my favorite bands! Great interview Ana

[@Centrifuze]

Brian's so incredibly talented at getting lost in conversation, and answering 12 different questions while not answering the one question that was actually asked of him. xD

[@Radioactive2321]

Admit it Anna, you know nothing about SSPU and just wanted a sweet soundbyte about the Romney campaign playing "Panic Switch", which Brian didn't really seem to care about.

[@deejay5292]

Was on a plane to vegas, reading a magazine. came across a article about them, nikki was mentioned n she played bass!!! Im in

[@yvranx]

Awesome band, picked them up on Letterman of all places. More music interviews, please!

[@catgrenade12]

Yes, more music interviews! Honestly, TYT already has so many spin-off channels, and music is such a ubiquitously loved topic- if there are people that work at TYT who are actively interested in keeping up with new music, it would be a worthwhile business venture. I'd definitely watch.

[@alejandrocastellanos7139]

ben afrin But how do you even "keep up with new music"? I'm not being glib, I'm genuinely asking.

[@yvranx]

Alejandro Castellanos I am subscribed the KEXP channel here on KZbin. A lot of my kind of music, but also a lot of very different music.

[@alejandrocastellanos7139]

yvranx You mean parsing through different showcase channels?

[@catgrenade12]

Alejandro Castellanos That's easy. Just read music magazines, pitchfork- we have the goddamn internet at our disposal. Anyone can look up new artists. It's extremely easy. I do it and I'm not even making a show- just do it for recreation. Oh, you can watch Anthony Fantano review new albums if you type in 'needle drop' into youtube. He's a great reviewer...so basically, you just have to use the internet.

[@ComradeScrungus]

The music got progressively darker. Swoon was a very dark record.

[@GreetTheSacredCow]

Joey Estacado Can you elaborate on this? I don't mean to challenge you, I'm just fascinated by this band.

[@transcendallnegativeenergy2876]

GreetTheSacredCow Their music is hard to describe. The first album, Carnavas, definitely had "darker" songs like Future Foe Scenarios, Rusted Wheel, etc. But there were "lighter" songs like Lazy eye of course. Swoon is their masterpiece in my opinion. Definitely darker. Neck of the Woods, their 3rd album, is just as innovative and awesome, but structurally it's style is more varied (mixing electronic, rock and shoegaze). Anyways, this band rules and I've seen em 4 times (twice in the earlier Carnavas years, and twice in the NOTW years, unfortunately never got around to see them on the Swoon tour.)

[@ComradeScrungus]

GreetTheSacredCow Thematicly most of the lyrics are about stalking, obsession, self loathing.

[@roberte4656]

Unique, creative, and beautiful.

[@gzrh1]

just watched the post game show omg this is now extra hilarious

[@clarkfeeley1959]

Okay, am I the only one in the world that notices the readily apparent rug burn on her knees?

[@DemonicCollusion]

I enjoyed this interview, it was fun. lol

[@cloudstrife0142002]

so wait... ur telling me....that michael sure is the lead singer of the silversun pickups!?!?

[@21656303]

love and hate this interview. the political conversation seemed so forced by the interviewer that it was awkward. everything else was awesome.

[@papatinflores4018]

Gift it to sound like that amazing voice truly amazing

[@jasonlieberman9840]

"It's the internet, you can fucking say whatever you want!"

[@artby2wenty]

Love Silversun but its hella unfortunate its on this channel. Interviewer is terrible, he deserves better.

[@nyonelove7617]

"Don't Cenk it up." That is awesome. He must actually be a fan because Cenk hasn't done WTF! in forever. And he always Cenk'd up movie scores!

[@mchgroove007]

this dud is the shit, talent is given to him to overflowing

[@carly1821]

It's so weird seeing him and his normal voice when all I've heard was his singing voice I would never expect him to look or talk like this 😂

[@cornpopsandacid]

Awesome!

[@grobertson9]

Is that really what Lazy Eye's about? Not having your shit together?

[@cloudstrife0142002]

Ana, I love you, but I just noticed something about you. When you have something to say, you open your mouth to respond asap, but you do wait until you find an opportunity. It's hard to see on TYT regular b/c the camera switches so much.

[@byrdiekiley-ferriola9432]

and she smiles like a fucking weather girl the entire interview

[@NaturallyFrenchele]

Ana looks hot, but you can tell Brian Auburt is a musician its pretty obvious he's not reading current events he's not into politics lol Anna you went hard core their I can tell he was a little intimidating. over all chill interview, cool guy.

[@2ndSTG]

I was excited to watch this until i realized TYT ..... :(

[@jaimetrevino4650]

2ndSTG explain yourself young man

[@judfawcett]

Yeah fuck TYT

[@TheMacClayne]

Whaaaaat ? How can people think this is a girl singing ? I don't get it

[@themaypole]

I think being a WTF! fan means you have to get used to weekly disappointment >

[@koagogo7432]

good job anna

[@belogio]

2:07: "my girlfriend at the time...and her boyfriend at the time..." Yo is nobody else gunna talk about this non-monogamy shit??

[@RayvstheWorld]

I think he's referring to Nikki's boyfriend at the time, lol. just said it out of order.

[@deadgirl3860]

When I created Brian, I used almost pure matching dna to christine. (heloise lessitier)

[@LetsTalkResidentEvil]

So...are they breaking up? I sure hope not. He made it sound like this was their last run with the label and the band :/

[@steveculbert4039]

I honestly love Silversun Pickups! But this interview is typically uninteresting to me. Very few artists speak sensibly in an interview. It's tough.

[@fernandof.2225]

"I can swear? probe it to me" ... hilarious f#&k is Ana's favorite word :)

[@neaituppi7306]

And because he sounds a lot like Lindsey Buckingham, singing.

[@sylviauriona6624]

its the moon the sun and the sky

[@Ambitious_Ink_Biz]

she's a shapeshifter. it's apparent

[@RB3Vids]

Ana

[@theguitarczar]

awwww

[@MrCt40]

She comes across as too surfacey / superficial with her interviewing style . Not a fan of her - comes Across as very full of herself The singer deserves better than this

[@gammafighter]

That's hilarious.

[@katoskinningit9428]

The first time I heard panic room I thought Nikki was the singer, lol

[@lifeisclimbing]

Is that how you pronounce Ibiza?

[@Radioactive2321]

It's pronounced "pie-kull" not "pickle", Anna. You call yourself a fan?

[@Cynicayke]

Rick and Morty would be proud...

[@Ready2FreakingPlow]

Brian has the same mannerism as Will Ferrell as that bearded "lovah" on SNL who always takes his shirt off.

[@Skottink]

No this video showed the complaints that he can't stop talking

[@GeorgeDeLaRosa182]

always thought it was a woman singing in silversun

[@JakeHussDrums]

25:45 wait... what?

[@djbrosht]

the girl is like...ridiculously hot lol ;)

[@JrJrJrJrphD]

Interviewer or Brian?

[@rileyridgway7362]

Pichael

[@jaimetrevino4650]

Riley Ridgway Michael & Pichael

[@killme892]

he sounds like a girl in lazy eye

[@danpats1]

Their last album was not as good....

[@danpats1]

Good lord why don't you interrupt her a few more times....

[@Ifckwthvro]

couple of couples is the worst band name ive ever heard silversun pickups is one of the most beatiful band names ive ever heard

[@marsvolta1690]

pickle ? wtffffff

[@steveculbert4039]

Why use f--- like every other coarse person in the world?

[@veerchasm1]

TYT, Invest in a limiter or check your gain stages, you keep clipping

[@RRVIDSRA]

I think he's fine with the state of the world because he surrounds himself with liberal types. he doesn't have to deal with conservatives..cool interivew though I like that band

[@seattletyler]

RRVIDSRA yuck. politics are like floaters in the toilet, that don't want to flush. Cya bitch

[@kr-sq3gf]

I lost all my money in a Ponzi scheme Charlie I'm broke!

[@seattletyler]

such a babe

[@seanthienpont3093]

He doesn't seem so bright

[@dosiaman]

poormans smashing pumpkins

[@seattletyler]

dosiaman OR...pumpkins minus the ego(bear)

[@Ironydealer137]

Pumpkins with tonal variety and superior musicianship

[@Lemmonsinspace]

Ryan lucas but the songs still rock so who cares hehe

[@trucuriousity]

@@Ironydealer137 lmao no. Vs. billy and Jimmy? You are either deaf or completely ignorant of music.

[@trucuriousity]

@@seattletyler pumpkins minus the ego, minus the lyricism, minus the musicianship, minus the stage presence, minus the controversy. The vanilla pumpkins. Missionary style pumpkins lol.

[@OlieDoubleO]

God damn this guy is awkward.

[@alejandrocastellanos7139]

Hence why he is a musician. Good for him.

[@raboratory]

I don't see/feel that at all.. He's intelligent, eloquent, kind, honest & himself. A breath of fresh air tbh.

[@OlieDoubleO]

raboratory He's obviously awkward in this interview, the only way you couldn't see that is if you had a very low emotional intelligence and i love how calling him awkward somehow means i'm implying he's not intelligent, eloquent, kind or honest? The two can both be true simultaneously, get a grip.

[@shawnmd]

Olie O I don't find that he's that awkward either, he's natural rather than having some overly hyped and fake emotion. If that is being awkward...... He does cover his mouth a lot though.

[@PulmonaryArchery288]

He isn't awkward, he is authentic. You feel he is awkward only because not many people are authentic in the way he is.

[@kingeatking]

Shame that one of my favourite bands has a lefty lead singer 😔

[@goodbonezz1289]

Yup. Most of them are. Unfortunately.

[@deviateedits]

imagine disliking someone because of their political opinion lmao

[@salame462]

I love SSPU but I hope they are not political or liberal by doing an interview with these clowns. I'll still like their music but why?

[@patrickhenry9238]

always thought a girl was the lead singer of silver sun pickups lol.

[@joshjegel6550]

Dude this is a perfect example of women being fake