Papercuts

Papercuts is the project centred on Jason Quever, a multi-instrumentalist and producer from California whose work draws on indie pop, indie folk, folk, baroque pop, noise and shoegaze. Based in West Coast soft pop, the project uses echoing guitars, layered arrangements and a subdued vocal style.

Origins and early work

Quever grows up in a commune in Humboldt County, California, and later travels alone up and down the West Coast after the early deaths of both parents before settling in San Francisco. His recording career begins with piano parts for Cass McCombs’ 2002 album Not the Way, working from a friend’s apartment while the friend is away. He then collaborates with acts including Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, the Skygreen Leopards and Vetiver while starting Papercuts.

Albums and releases

The first Papercuts album, Mockingbird, appears in 2004. Can’t Go Back follows in 2007 and is released on Gnomonsong, the label run by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic of Vetiver. At this stage, Papercuts recordings are mainly solo Quever projects made at his self-built Pan American home studio.

You Can Have What You Want arrives in 2009 and expands the sound with contributions from Alex Scally of Beach House, who plays bass, keyboards and percussion and also helps with string arrangements and engineering. The next album, Fading Parade, is made with members of Quever’s live band — keyboardist David Enos, drummer Graham Hill and bassist Frankie Koeller — plus producer Thom Monahan. It is the first Papercuts album recorded partly outside Pan American, with sessions also taking place at the Hangar in Sacramento. Sub Pop releases the album in 2011.

Life Among the Savages is released in 2014 on Easy Sound in the United States and Memphis Industries in the United Kingdom. Quever records it at Pan American with occasional guests including Graham Hill and a small string section.

Parallel Universe Blues follows in 2018 on Slumberland Records. It is recorded at Palmetto Studios in Los Angeles with minimal outside help and shifts toward a shoegaze-oriented sound. In 2021, Papercuts issues the five-song EP Baxter’s Bliss on Slumberland. It includes covers of Galaxie 500 and Leonard Cohen, alongside three new songs shaped by the uncertainty of life during COVID times.

Collaborations and production work

Quever also works extensively as a producer and collaborator. His studio credits include work with Luna and Beach House, and he produces albums for Donovan Quinn, Dean Wareham, Eux Autres, the Mantles, Sugar Candy Mountain and Dark Tea. During periods when Papercuts is less active, he focuses on this behind-the-scenes work.

Locations and recording spaces

Papercuts begins in San Francisco, with early recordings made at Pan American, Quever’s home studio. He later moves to Los Angeles and dismantles the studio. The project’s recording history includes sessions at the Hangar in Sacramento and Palmetto Studios in Los Angeles.