The Shrubs Deliver A Triumphant, Exhilarating Level Up Performance With The Explosive “Let Us In”
- STAFF
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
By: Staff
We got together with The Shrubs for an exciting interview to delve into the stories and happenings behind the making of this and learn more about the artist in "The Cage" Music Blog and we are excited to share it with you!
Begin Interview:
Cage Riot: Hello The Shrubs, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. Miguel and Sophie, first please tell us more about the two of you. After spending the better part of a decade together, how has that creative partnership influenced who you are as artists, and what was the moment you realized The Shrubs needed to become a band?
A. Originally, The Shrubs was just myself, (Miguel), then my brother and a friend from high school joined, then Sophie last actually! It is always difficult to say what influence someone is having on you in real time, but I do know that Sophie’s vocal abilities have given me a lot of freedom in constructing vocal melodies that she can pull off!
Q. The opening attack of “Let Us In” was one of the moments that immediately won us over. That slow, restrained entry followed by the sudden explosiveness was incredible, and when the vocal presentation arrives, the whole song levels up in a major way. The piano, robust drums, and driving guitars create something genuinely exhilarating. After reading about the song’s connection to mental instability, it made us pause and hear the track with even more weight. Can you dig deeper into the background behind “Let Us In,” its influence, and what made you want to create it?
A. Well, I personally kinda have to write either about myself or a topic that feels somewhat substantial. On the other hand, I have a distaste for “preachy” music etc. So I try to keep a lot of the lyrics dancing around the actual topic in a way. It is a pretty heavy topic and one in particular that has had some profound influence on my own life..I think we have come a long way with helping people with certain mental illnesses and there is a level of acceptance there, but we still have a very long way to go..
Q. What is the indie music scene like in Houston in 2026, and how has that environment influenced you both as people and as creators?
A. Houston does have a few nice venues to play, but we aren’t really active in the indie scene here, or really even a known entity here at all I would I guess. Based on what I can see on the back end of different streaming platforms, we have more of a following in other countries, Like Mexico, Brazil and a few European countries like Greece and France. I personally have a love/hate relationship with Houston, so I think that duality probably does inform the lyrics to a certain degree.
Q. Signing with Blossom Records must have felt euphoric. Having a professional outfit recognize and appreciate your value is something most artists hope for. How did that opportunity come together?
A. I don’t remember how, but I kinda stumbled onto them online somewhere. I had just written and recorded a song about my dog, “Run, Run, Uma” and it seemed to be the first one that people didn’t just immediately try to turn off or talk over when I was showing it to them! That bolstered my confidence enough to try to send it around to see if anyone would be interested, so I sent them a copy of it. It was kinda old fashioned in that regard, the modern version of sending a demo tape around to labels etc..
Q. The 40 to 50 year old reel-to-reel machine is an amazing choice for your creative process. The textures and warmth really shine, and the human-powered feel of the recording comes through beautifully. How did you arrive at that equipment choice, and what does it add for you as creators?
A. I actually have a few different models! I got them because I’m a bit of an analog audio nerd and reel to reels are pretty much as good as you can get in the analog realm. I mean the best would be an actual 2” Studer or Otari machine, but essentially a reel to reel is just a scaled down version of those. It isn’t the easiest medium to use, I really see why people who grew up using tape to record dove into digital as soon as they could afford a Pentium PC and Protools, but there is a certain dimensional quality tape has that I just don’t hear or maybe more importantly, feel when I record straight into a PC. There is also the added benefit of it occasionally “messing up” in a way that is sonically pleasing!
Q. Now that “Let Us In” has been released into the world, has the way it hits or resonates changed for either of you? What were the most difficult and most satisfying parts of bringing this song to life?
A. I think I was surprised at just how many people seem to be into the way it was recorded, and how I kinda showcased its imperfections, audio wise. That was intentional, I felt it really fit in with the subject, I just didn’t expect others to dig that part of it as much I do! The hardest part was probably working on the mix. It took about 3-5 weeks I think of tweaking things here and there in minute increments until it finally sounded like I wanted it to!
Q. Miguel and Sophie, after someone hears “Let Us In” and reads this interview, what do you each hope they take away from it, and what do you hope they remember most about The Shrubs?
A. I hope that they not only like it, but decide to check out some of our other singles and albums! Next, I would hope that they might get curious about trying some of the different old school audio formats that are out there, I think people would be surprised at just how amazing some of them sound.
Q. If you had just one sentence to pull someone into “Let Us In,” what would you say to make them want to press play?
A. I would tell them just give it a chance, you won’t regret it! Lol. Seriously tho, I would think that even if it isn’t the type of musical genre that people normally enjoy, on a technical level there is so much happening, I think most music lovers would have an appreciation for it.
Q. What is the most preferred next step for The Shrubs? Are you looking toward live events and touring opportunities, or are you focused more on continuing to create and release music right now?
A. We are currently writing and recording a full album! We are shooting for an end of the year or early spring release date.
The Shrubs, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared The Shrubs’ exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
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