Matt Drenik, aka Battleme, describes his music as slacker pop. Nowhere in his catalog is this as fully explored as on 2015’s Habitual Love Songs, his third full length. Written as a retreat, it was made in Drenik’s basement after touring his big guitar rock record Future Runs Magnetic. It had melodies and ballads, piano-based odes to love recorded on an iPhone before being fleshed out. His brother Jason Drenik (Hairy Patt Band) co-produced it, and they referenced the sounds of Roxy Music, David Bowie and Jim Carroll to create infections psychedelic pop. Quirky, wry and clever, Battleme talked to Myspace about what he likes most about himself (“my beard”), how he discovered music (“listening to the radio”), weed (“as a freshman in high school and smelling it on the kid in the front seat”) and how he makes his music.

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Homebase: Portland, OR

Why is your album called Habitual Love Songs?

It's a collection of hypnotic love songs about a slew of heroes and losers I've surrounded myself with.... I love them all.

Talk about the first time you realized music and pot went well together and how that experience changed you.

Being 14, smoking a joint and listening to Dark Side of the Moon was about as cool and cliche as a 14-year-old kid could get, as well as mind blowing.

Who are your musical heroes?

Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Ian Hunter, Jonathan Richman, Jerry Bear Garcia.. Because they are good writers and have a sense of delivery that is unrivaled.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Cut off a lock of their hair and sent it to me in the mail with a poem about cutting it off.

What's your songwriting process like?

I mainly sit around and hum songs into my phone.. If something sticks I'm quick to flesh it out as a demo. If something doesn't stick, I hit delete.

If you were a hashtag what would you be?

#hashtaggersareforlovers

Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?

One of my ex-lovers used to troll Myspace for comments after shows, and one time she freaked out and tried to drive my car into a lake. Luckily I stopped her.