Homeshake's Peter Sagar battles tour bus loneliness with rock songs and yoga

Loneliness creeps into every corner: on the road between tour stops, in crowded spaces and even in the comfort of familiar routines. For Peter Sagar, the creative force behind Homeshake, these feelings are not just passing thoughts, but recurring themes woven throughout his latest records, ‘Horsie’ and ‘CD Wallet’.

“I’ve been anxious and depressed about almost everything my whole life, but I’ve learned to deal with it,” Sagar says while on tour, with stops at The Regent in Los Angeles on November 7. The Observatory North Park in San Diego on November 8 and The Observatory in Santa Ana on November 9.

“I even did yoga this morning and managed to get a jump rope, and I use it when we stop for gas on tour. It’s strange, but the little things keep me sane.”

As the world reopens post-pandemic, Sagar is still navigating the complexities of human connection – torn between returning to live performances and the sense of alienation that can linger afterwards. This time, however, there is a small but meaningful change that brings him comfort: in his mid-30s, he finally got his driver’s license.

“It’s strange,” Sagar reflects. “Touring is supposed to be liberating, but sometimes it just makes things more confusing. Still, I love being on the open road. I’m a late bloomer, but this is the first tour where I’m fully licensed. Although it often feels lonely, it is also something happy.”

The title track of “Horsie” depicts this duality, a sonic road trip that captures the euphoria of open highways while confronting the emptiness that can linger after the shows end.

These two records, ‘Horsie’ and ‘CD Wallet’, mark a new creative chapter for the Toronto, Canada-based musician. His decision to leave his previous label with Sinderlyn, known for releasing ‘In The Shower’ and ‘Fresh Air’, gave him the freedom to experiment, resulting in two completely different records. “Horsie,” which came in first, carries themes of fear, loneliness and the search for meaning, emotions heightened by the isolation of lockdown. In contrast, “CD Wallet” was a quick, spontaneous project that was completed in just two weeks. “It was the fastest thing I’ve ever done,” Sagar explains, reflecting on the thrill of making music without thinking too much about the process.

The release of “CD Wallet” allowed Sagar to revisit the music of “Horsie” from a new perspective. Some of those original songs will reappear on a deluxe version of the album, signaling his desire to evolve even with his most recent work.

“I wanted ‘Horsie; a road trip album,” he says. “With this record I wanted to expand my personal experiences into a broader context and hopefully that will resonate with listeners. Touring has been such a big part of my life that it feels second nature, but I had never really talked about it before. It just felt like something I had to do. I don’t intend to discuss these things deliberately, it’s more like they’re coming out because they have to.”

The return to the road evoked mixed feelings for Sagar. Although he has long been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, the experience of returning to tour after lockdown was unexpectedly unsettling. “Performing live again was something I was looking forward to, but it also brought a lot of fears. I always have this thought no matter where we go or where we perform, like ‘is anyone here?’ I still do it at every show.

It’s a surprising sentiment, considering his cult-like fanbase that has stuck with him since his debut record in 2014, emerging from the throes of the DIY bedroom pop scene that spawned artists like Cuco, Clairo, The Marías, Still Woozy and Frankie. Cosmos. Over the years, Sagar has moved from intimate venues to larger stages, performing at major festivals such as the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain.

In addition to the emotional hurdles, Homeshake’s music itself has undergone significant changes. Originally known for his mellow, pop guitar-based sound, Sagar’s work now embraces a more textural, synth-driven approach. His latest influences include artists like Four Tet and D’Angelo, whose early records inspired Sagar’s exploration of sonic layers. “I wanted to get away from the dry sound of computer music,” he says. “That’s why I used a Sonic EPS sampler and went back to basics, which was getting really good textures.”

Sagar’s creative evolution is closely intertwined with a core group of musicians he has worked with since 2014, the same year he left the indie star. Mac DeMarcos band to focus on Homeshake full-time. Although Homeshake is largely his personal project, Sagar relies on a consistent band for live performances and touring, allowing him to bring his vision to life on stage.

“I always knew I would pursue my own music,” Sagar reflects. “Since I was 12 or 13, I wasn’t into much other than music; it’s the world to me. I always knew I would find my way into making songs and find success with it. I knew I had to make it work, I had no choice.”

He goes on to explain that his time with DeMarco’s band – where he spent as much as eight months a year on the road for three consecutive years – was formative, but ultimately not sustainable. “It was great being in DeMarco’s band, but I got to a point where I didn’t have room for everything. I don’t regret it, and he’s still a good friend. I learned so much during that time about how I wanted to handle my own profession.”

Keeping the same band for over a decade comes with its own challenges, especially since the members live in different cities. Yet Sagar emphasizes the importance of a healthy dynamic on tour. “Touring is not just about the music,” he explains. “It’s about being able to navigate through life together and understanding each other’s emotions along the way.”

Despite the ups and downs, Sagar remains grounded in his creative journey. “The biggest change over the years has been managing expectations,” he admits. “When everything is going well, it’s easy to get lost in the pressure. But ultimately I make music because I have to: it’s something I have to do.”

Homeshake’s current tour has given Sagar an opportunity to reconnect with audiences in a new way. While the challenges of adapting new material for live shows remain, Sagar finds joy in playing louder, more energetic rock songs on stage. “I look forward to every day on the road. I’m just grateful that people are still listening.