Purity Ring On Their New Album, ‘Another Eternity’

When Purity Ring’s Ungirthed first appeared on the internet in 2011, few knew the duo’s dark-synths-meet-hip-hop sound was heralding a trend that would soon find its way into the mainstream (see: Beyoncé’s eponymous 2014 album and Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood”). With this month’s another eternity, Megan James and Corin Roddick continue to prove that they’re galaxies beyond the rest of us. NYLON caught up with the wildly talented duo to talk about the new album, as well as James’ mad seamstress skills.

It's been a long time since Shrines came out. How did you start working on this album? 

Corin Roddick: We were touring like crazy after we put out Shrines. We toured for almost a year solid so it was hard to focus and get started on a new album.

Megan James: We hadn’t written together for over a year so it was tough to get things moving again, but once the feeling came together, we started moving along at a nice pace.

Was there a specific sound you were working toward?

CR: On our previous record, we worked in a smaller box—we tried to stretch out the aesthetic over more songs to make it really unified and consistent. On this one, we went into each individual song, trying to give it more of its own personality.

What’s the inspiration behind the album’s name?

MJ: Shrines was a lot about being in a cave and being enclosed in something. This record is a lot about the universe and space. It represents Purity Ring in its entirety, in the sky, opened up, and taller. It’s a progression.

another eternity also marks the first time the two of you were physically making music together. Because up until now, you've always lived and worked at different cities, right? 

CR: Being in each other's presence while coming up with lyrics (ed. note James), and producing music (ed. note Roddick) made a big difference. The process of it was entirely different when you’re actually in a room with the other person and putting things together piece by piece. Previously I would make a full track and then send that to Megan, and she would put a bunch of lyrics on top of it.This time around, each element was very much thought out as what the whole would be.

Megan, you design the clothes that you and Corin wear onstage and in your music videos. How did that start?

MJ: My mom sews a lot so I’ve always been around the idea that I could make things if I wanted them. She taught me when I was 12, and I’ve always made clothes that I wanted to exist ever since. I make a lot of clothes for Corin. Clothing is a nice thing to give someone if you can.