It’s been a hell of a year for Incan Abraham. The experimental psych-poppers have been winning hearts around the globe, including Spin’s, which premiered the quartet’s video for “Springhouse,” late last month.

To continue garnering buzz, the Los Angeles-based outfit recently released its fourth EP to date (first on vinyl) and plans on dropping its debut full-length by next summer. Amidst the chaos and excitement of a new release, Incan Abraham’s vocalist Teddy Cafaro was kind enough to chat with me about Springhouse, the band’s dream of finding its inner “Incan-ness” with a prolonged trip to Peru, and what made Incan Abe’s “Best of 2012” list.

Katrina Nattress: You just released your newest EP, Springhouse. How does it feel to have another EP under your belt?

Teddy Cafaro: We’ve released a handful of EPs on our own, but this is our first vinyl. It’s the first time we can go to the record store and look ourselves up, and that feels pretty cool.

KN: Your music is beautiful, carefully orchestrated textured indie rock that others have compared to Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective. Do you agree with these comparisons?

TC: Yes and no. There was definitely a time when we were listening to those records a lot, and I think that manifested itself in some of the initial framework for the band, like how we have two lead singers, for example. But there are a lot of bands that we listen to with much greater frequency and awe.

KN: What would you say are your largest influences?

TC: We all listen to really different music, so if you put all of our influences in a room together, they probably wouldn’t get along. Everything from Peter Gabriel to Squarepusher to King Sunny Ade.

KN: With so much happening in each song, it’s hard to imagine how they initially take shape. Talk to me about your writing/recording process.

TC: Traditionally, it’ll start with an idea on the keys or an electronic beat from Giuls, and then we’ll just start stacking. A compelling melody is usually the first criterion, and once we get that, we can begin to flesh out the rhythm and decide where we think it should go and what kind of song we think it should be.

KN: This release marks your fourth EP to date. What made you decide to release this many EPs before releasing a full-length?

TC: The EPs have come about because we’re usually eager to share what we’ve been working on. We really enjoy the recording process so if we have enough material to warrant a release, we’ll often just go for it. As much as we’re excited for a full-length, the EPs have acted as convenient screenshots of where we are in a given chapter of the band and what themes we’re thinking about.

KN: When can we expect a full-length?

TC: Midyear

KN: It’s been quite the year for you guys. You’ve been receiving some great press, including a video premiere on Spin! How does this feel?

TC: It’s always nice hearing from someone who thinks we’re on the right track.

KN: You currently live in Los Angeles, a city that’s writhing with music. How do you feel this has influenced your music (if at all)?

TC: We grew up here and a lot of our friends play music, so sometimes LA feels like a college-town for bands. We’ll go to a handful of local shows in a given week and they’re all influential in their own way. The good shows just make us want to write more and practice more.

KN: Do you ever find it difficult playing music in a city that’s so saturated?

TC: The fact that LA has so many (good) bands has attracted a lot of attention from other parts of the country/world, especially recently, and I think that only breeds more success and opens doors for everyone. Also, other musicians often make for the best fans!

KN: Have you ever thought about relocating?

TC: There’s a fantasy circulating within the band of taking a prolonged trip to Peru to discover our true Incan-ness, but I suspect that our upcoming plans are keeping us in LA/US for the time being. Plus, I don’t know what the music scene in Peru is like.

KN: The year is almost over and the “Best Of” lists are beginning to emerge. What’s on your list?

TC: Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange was definitely rocking our world earlier in the year. Tame Impala’s Lonerism has been giving me pause about everything recently. Also, the Need Electric EP from Daniel Avery gets us banging our heads and fingers on desks pretty hard.

KN: What can we expect from Incan Abraham in 2013?

TC: Hopefully a lot that we don’t know about yet. But things that can be counted on include a new music video for our song ‘Panama Dry’ in January, a west coast tour in February, and the first Incan full-length by summer. That, and drone strikes!

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