Brooklyn-based duo Blue Pilot (songwriter Eric Steininger-Frost and producer Chris Worden) deliver a hauntingly introspective new single, “Anyu!,” a psychedelic exploration of melancholy and triumph. Inspired by the throes of a quarter-life crisis, the song reflects on the exhausting sense of permanence that comes with being “in-between.” With an uncanny blend of acoustic and electronic elements, “Anyu!” captures the disorienting yet hopeful journey of emerging from a phase of uncertainty and longing.
The track’s title, “Anyu!,” is a nod to a friend who seems to have it all together—offering a symbolic contrast to the chaos at the song’s core. The duo embraces their unique approach, fusing years of evolving influences into a sound unlike anything else.
What can you share with readers about your new project?
Right now, we’re focused on releasing back-to-back singles every month—this is the third one so far. We’re not sure anyone else has combined their influences quite like this, and that’s what excites us the most.
How does this release compare with your past projects?
This single shares a similar mood and instrumentation with our first record, probably because we’ve been working on it for a long time. It also leans more into rock influences than usual, which was a fun challenge. The guitars and electric bass play a big role in shaping that sound.
What about this single makes you most proud?
There’s a delicate balance between acoustic and electronic drums that we worked hard to perfect. Plus, there’s a kind of dialogue happening between two versions of Eric’s voice—one more robotic, one more natural. That contrast ended up being a great way to emphasize the feeling of being pulled in two directions.
Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
The goal of these singles is to build momentum for this project. We’re confident in our sound and proud of what we’re creating, so we want more people to hear it. And there’s plenty more we’re excited to share soon!
What inspires you to create music? What keeps you going?
We’re inspired by the emotions we feel listening to our favorite records and the ever-evolving landscape of popular music. A big motivator is what I mentioned earlier—we believe we’ve crafted something special with this band’s sound. We want to keep pushing it forward and reaching more listeners.
If you could collaborate with anyone—dead or alive, famous or unknown—who would it be and why?
George Washington, hands down. We just want to sample his wooden teeth.
What was the last song you listened to? Any all-time favorite bands or artists?
The last song we listened to was Perfect Way by Scritti Politti. As for all-time favorites, that’s tough, but lately, we’ve both been listening to a lot of Little Dragon and A.G. Cook.
Where’s the best place to find you and stay connected?
Instagram is our main hub! Follow us at @blueplt.
Anything you’d like to share before we sign off?
We’d love to hear what people think about how this song compares to our last two releases, Pharmacy! and Dripping!—they have a lot of sonic variation, but there’s definitely a narrative thread running through them.
