Photo /Rich Woods
Of all the rising bands in New York City, Quarters (formerly Quarters of Change) probably takes the crown. Now operating as a trio—Benjamin Roter, Jasper Gee Harris, and Attila Anrather—the band is more present and focused than ever. They spent years solidifying their alternative roots with tours alongside Two Door Cinema Club and Joywave, only to return to NYC and completely reinvent their sound. With the release of their recent single pack, “STAR/PLUMMET,” frontman Ben Roter opens up about their creative process, the start of a new album cycle, and why this might be their strongest work yet.
You look, feel, and sound different than you ever have before. Is this Quarters anew?
Absolutely. This isn’t a reinvention just for the sake of it—it’s a version of the band that’s fully aligned, maybe for the first time ever. We’ve been through a lot, creatively and personally, and we’ve come out the other side sharper and more intentional. We’re more hands-on, more self-directed, and more willing to take risks. If the earlier eras helped us identify our potential, then this one lets us step into it. It’s Quarters without the training wheels.
Your first two singles seem to push and pull, and your artwork is split in half. What’s the significance of this dichotomy?
The split is the point. This whole album cycle embodies the tension between who we were and who we’re becoming. There are two halves because, up until now, we were living in two emotional worlds at once. Sonically, one song leans into chaos and the other into control. Visually, the artwork mirrors that fracture. Growth usually comes from the collision, not the calm.
This project has been over a year in the making. Let’s talk about the record-making process. Where did the songs start, and where did they finish?
The songs started in various hotel rooms as we toured the world—crossing the entirety of North America and walking the streets of Vienna. They evolved between therapy sessions and during moments of extreme conflict and fighting. We finally finished them back in Bushwick, in the comfort and safety of our home studio.
Quarters is synonymous with NYC. You’ve headlined some of the biggest rooms the city has to offer, and your insignia is plastered all over the streets and sidewalks. Put us on to some new acts that might be following in your footsteps.
Paper Lady, Trophy Wife, and Misuser. The first two will be joining us on our 2026 headline tour.
All signs point to Quarters in 2026. What highlight can we look forward to next year?
2026 is the year everything lands. The new album is just the beginning. We’re planning our biggest headline shows yet, expanding the world around the music with visuals, and taking the project to places it’s never gone. If the last few years were about surviving, next year is about owning our space. We have a momentum we’ve never felt before, and we intend to push it as far as it will go.
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