Spaer shares new EP via VHS Records

Today, New York City’s Spaer, the solo project of Psymon Spine co-founder Peter Spears, is excited to share his new EP, Lessons and Nonsense, which arrives August 20, 2026 via Vinegar Hill Sound Records. Lessons & Nonsense is an EP that sweats the small stuff — finding entire worlds in overlooked corners of nature, relationships, and the mundane absurdity of everyday life. Sonically, it draws freely from psych rock, trip-hop, folk, and pop without feeling beholden to any of them, layering lush vocal harmonies over exploding drums, warped samples, and finger-picked acoustic guitar cutting through synth-heavy soundscapes. The songs span years of creative evolution, and throughout, Spaer holds beauty and brutality, humor and sincerity, hope and cynicism in the same open palm.

Speaking about the themes on his new EP, Peter shares, “I was bored with my regular lyrical content and started writing narrative songs about animals and inanimate objects. The songs took on a picture book-like quality, though much darker. Most of these songs were written during the pandemic, so there’s a throughline of imagination and storytelling to help with the monotony of everyday life. The stories became twisted, however, and some of the characters became evil or untrustworthy. It became more fun to write outside of my point of view at a time when I didn’t even really care about my own story.”

PRE-ORDER LESSONS AND NONSENSE

“These Bugs” arrived earlier this month and served as the final preview of today’s release. As an ant infestation spread in Spears’ apartment, he found inspiration for his rock opera. Featuring vocals from collaborator Katie Mertucci, the track assembles dreamy melodies, fuzzy textures, and a flashy guitar solo for a true epic. The closing track on Lessons and Nonsense, “These Bugs,” delivers a finale that is genuine and fitting for Spear’s newest collection of stirring songs.

“Vaguely Pleasant, the second single off Lessons & Nonsense, was written during an earlier chapter of his life. Spaer’s new track channels the psychological and emotional state following the euphoria of MDMA, diving into themes of thawed coldness, resolved anger, and seeing life in a new light. Layered with gentle guitars, soft percussion, and breathy vocals, the song feels liminal yet atmospheric, fully capturing the feeling of defrosting your outlook and coming back to yourself.

“The Express”, the first preview of Spaer’s new EP, arrived in June. Born from Spears' early days living in Bushwick, the track captures the gut-punch frustration of watching your train sail past without stopping. The song spent over a decade taking shape, arriving at a propulsive, hypnotic bassline that collides with layered harmonies and a second half that veers headlong into swirling, effects-drenched psychedelia.

LISTEN TO “THESE BUGS”

LISTEN TO “VAGUELY PLEASANT”

LISTEN TO “THE EXPRESS”

Spaer will celebrate the EP release tonight at The Sultan Room Rooftop with support from Patching and Chammeili. Tickets are available here.