When we got word that Silversun Pickups would be premiering their new video, “Little Lover’s So Polite,” next week, we just had to get singer Brian Aubert on the phone to find out more. And indeed we did. He told us that the bare-bones video, which was directed by Joaquin Phoenix, features the band on the back of a pickup truck speeding through downtown L.A. in the middle of the night. Here’s what he had to say about the video, working with Joaquin and when the band will be releasing a new album.  

Buzzworthy: How did you and Joaquin Phoenix team up?

Brian Aubert: I wish there was an exciting story, but there isn’t. He’s just starting to become a video director and he’s also a fan of music and he swims in pretty independent worlds. So, somehow or another, he heard that there was a video being made.

BW: So he came to you?

BA: Yeah, pretty much … according to me and him. But I’m sure there were some handshakes and stuff going on behind us.

BW: What was it like working with him?

BA: The timing was amazing — we were in between tours and he was in between movies. We really liked the experience ’cause it was so crazy. We were crazy. And he was so mental. [Laughs.] We kinda wanted the video to be a little bit surreal, so he decided there was going to be no effects, no nothing. However it was shot was gonna be how it was. We shot it in downtown L.A., so when it looks like the city is spinning behind us we’re really on the back of some crazy truck that was doing that. It was crazy. 

BW: Is Joaquin a down-to-earth guy?

BA: Yes, yes, yes, yes. I always say that he’s crazy and mental, but I mean it in a very positive way. He’s very excited. He was just so into it, sometimes he’d just shout things. He was really, really focused.

BW: Have you guys gone into the studio to record your next album yet?

BA: Well, into our rehearsal space. We’re probably not going to go into the studio to record anything until the summer. There’s some stuff written, though. Hopefully, if all goes well, we’ll record in the summer and have a record out by fall.

BW: What’s your goal for the next album?

BA: Awful! [Laughs.] We can’t think about it too much. There’s a safety to being left of center. All that’s happened, we never thought about radio or any of that stuff. I’m amazed, really, that stuff like that ever happened. There’s no equation for how that works — the whole business/success side of things. All we can do is do what we did before and make music that we like. We’ve learned a lot over the past couple of years. Now we’re ready to put our heads back in the sand and shut everything out and start working again.

For now, the interview ends here. But don’t think that’s all we talked to Brian about … we’ve got way more from him, but we’re saving it till the video premieres so we don’t spoil the surprise. So check back on Monday to see “Little Lover’s So Polite” and read more of what he had to say.