The Pseudo Dates - Songwriting and Influences

Songwriting and Influences

"We write songs. That’s what we do. Songs that encapsulate the feeling you get when you think, 'What am I supposed to do now?'" reads the band description given to Portland State University's KPSU ahead of their northwestern tour. Their songs generally touch on love, romance, and failed or fleeting romance, as hinted by the band's name. Their description further reads, "We have songs about walking home alone late at night, orange skies, tired footwear, feeling like a tv show that should be canceled, and purple umbrellas—among a vast array of other mundane/extraordinary things". The band also said it believes in the International Pop Underground Convention.

When it comes to songwriting Allegra said many of her songs come from events in her life "but then they can evolve into something else that's not just about the factual event; it can become more conceptual". Brasil said the song "Tambourines and Toasters" is broad, but stems from a long-ago experience, and that the other songs he penned on their EP "are about giving up and panic attacks".

Brasil said part of the band's attitude and reasoning behind their debut EP title is a response to the cynicism that runs through the music industry:

"There's so much damned cynicism. Yeah, lots of things suck, and there's lots of problems, and I don't suggest you turn your back on those things. But there are plenty of bands that have contempt for their audiences, and they're dark and scary — all of that sort of depressing stuff. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just another angle for the whole thing."

Fate described the band's music as a lifesaver saying, "You know when your mouth is all dry after eating pretzels? We’re like the water the comes to rescue you".

The band lists some of its musical influences as The Zombies, The Velvet Underground, Donovan, The Television Personalities, The Breeders, Syd Barrett, Beachwood Sparks, The Minders, The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, The Olivia Tremor Control, The Dinnermints, Nirvana, Debussy, Frédéric Chopin, The Rondelles, Belle and Sebastian, Doo Crowder, The Kinks, Harry Nilson, Neil Young, Booker T. & the M.G.s, T. Rex, Gong, Elmore James, Tom Petty, Black Sabbath, Weezer, Blur, Bob Dylan, Vitamins, The Kissing Party, Christopher Moore, The Rolling Stones, The Apples in Stereo, Jefferson Airplane, Edgar Varese, John Prine, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Warlocks, The Strokes, The Casual Dots and The Monkees.