J Mascis has nothing better to do

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis says the band’s more than 40-year longevity comes down to having “nothing better to do”, and to not overthinking their work. The original line-up is still recording and touring, relying on a relaxed approach that lets songs take shape quickly.

For the new album, *There Near*, Mascis brought prepared demos and the band began recording before bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Patrick Murphy had fully learnt their parts. He also favours practical choices in his equipment and keeps his Fender designs straightforward, prioritising the guitar neck and frets. Reflecting on criticism of an AI-made video for his solo song “Old Friends”, he called AI in music a slippery slope, while saying people must learn to deal with its presence.