Ingalls says he wanted to convey “a little more detached pain” in his vocal part to contrast both the sunnier instrumental and the “cool and calm” feel of the original. Spaceface also treats us to a video clip of the cover, complete with papier-mâché heads of themselves — ones the band made out of vegan recipes and Ingalls’ old credit card bills — accompanied by an adorable golden retriever.

We caught up with Ingalls via email to ask him all about the cover choice, as well as their upcoming “feely and fun” studio album — influenced by acts like Michael Nau, Cobra Man and Pearl & The Oysters — due out next spring. Here’s what he had to say.

Congrats on the new release! What made you guys decide to cover The Verve?

I usually like to pick a song for us to cover before each tour just to keep things fresh and fun. Plus, it seems like a nice giving move for the audience — just in case you don’t know us or any of the music, maybe we’ll whip out an interesting version of a song you DO know. This song popped up while I was going through some emotional stuff, and while I’ve always held it near and dear as one of those big anthems from my youth, this time it actually made me cry for the first time. Pretty soon, I was playing it almost any time I was driving alone, and I’d cry. This went on for a bit just before we were about to hit the road, so I made a drum loop, slapped together a quick demo, and brought it to practice as a pitch for us to learn and play on tour. 

Did you have to jump through any legal hoops given how that song’s publishing rights had been owned by the Rolling Stones for so many years? Have any convos with Richard Ashcroft been sparked because of the single?

Haha, no, I have not had the pleasure of talking to Rich or the Stones. I think I scrolled past an article once that said the Rolling Stones finally gave the rights to Rich? But I can’t be certain. Personally, I wouldn’t even know where to start with all that. I think the only reason I had the confidence to assert that we could record and release this properly is because we are working with the babes at Mothland. So big thanks to them.

What’s your favourite Verve song that ISN’T Bittersweet Symphony? Because they were quite a psychedelic band to start with.

Yes!! Rini [Marina Aguerre of Dream Crease] and I talk about this a good bit. When I pitched this, we talked a little, wondering if it’s lame to pick such a big song, or if we should do a deeper cut. But the lyrics were just hitting me for this one. Anyway, that record is full of first time feelings for me, but dang, it’d be between “Catching The Butterfly” and this hidden track after “Come On” that’s a weird drifty instrumental that could be on [Deerhunter’s] Weird Era Cont. I don’t know what it was called, though.

Your next album is due out in spring 2025. How much differently did you approach making your next album compared to previous ones?

Very. We almost never went in with a full song — usually just a hook, verse and chorus maybe. So lots of writing on the spot and not questioning where it’s going. Just going with the flow. This is also the first time Eric [Martin] has been able to be part of the process from start to finish. Usually, we’ll record a demo or some idea, and then I go in with a producer and we make that come to life or do some other spin on it.  

For this record, I tried to relinquish some of my control freak tendencies and follow a little more in step with what [the producer] wanted to do. I wrote and sang plenty, but I tried to go into these sessions with the mindset that I wanted to help facilitate making the record my writing partner wants to make. He likes to let a tune breathe a little more, and I think you can really feel that lack of sonic clutter in this one. Or maybe not and he’s just as ADHD as I am. It’s just a different flow.

What are your plans for the remainder of 2024, as well as for 2025?

We have a couple of shows this year, but it’s mostly making the art and music videos. We’re trying to hand-make all of our art for this one. The single art for [the Verve cover] is actually a photo my partner took of Eric and I holding up a glass table top I found on the side of the road that we dripped the band name onto. We’ll be re-working music and visuals for the live set, as well as putting together a new live set. Then booking shows for 2025 and writing/recording more for the next batch! There are a lot of weddings and birthdays in between now and then. So just general life stuff and learning how to use clay or embroidery or whatever for the next stuff y’all will see us doing!