Kevin Bronson on November 6th, 2015

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From the moment singer-songwriter Scott Goldbaum graduated his solo project Wise Cub into a full band that included drummer Mike Musselman, violist/keyboardist Molly Rogers and bassist Nick Chamian, Forebear have brought a singular sophistication to the Los Angeles indie scene.

First with last November’s self-titled EP and now with the follow-up, “Cody,” the quartet leaves you on tenterhooks with their tender vocal harmonies, shifting time signatures and elegiac lyrics. It is best not to fret over whether Forebear is a folk, rock or pop band, especially when Rogers’ mournful viola kicks in, but to follow them through their labyrinths toward their cinematic climaxes.

The new EP, out this weekend, was made with producer Scott Gordon (Alanis Morissette, Ringo Starr). Below, you can stream all four songs. In addition, we caught up with the foursome prior to their EP release show Saturday at El Cid to talk about “Cody” (and, as it turns out, shed a tear).

||| Stream: “Cody”

The conversation:

Who is the “People’s Champ?” And does the EP have a particular namesake?

Scott Goldbaum: The People’s Champ is the person who is able to confront the effects of severe loss without cowering from reality. Someone who shows up to work every day, feeling the void that borders complete emptiness, but manages to see through the recovery without attempting to actively escape the world that no longer contains that “constant” who once characterized life as they knew. One never knows who they will be a role model for but the opportunity is afforded to anyone who’s experienced loss or some form of pain. If you can triumph through life altering loss you’re a champion of the people, in my book.

The EP happens to be named after our beloved producer’s dog, Cody Gordon, who was regularly there with us through the months we spent making this EP come to life. A day after we completed mixing, completely unforeseen by his family and everyone who came to know and love that amazing yellow lab, Cody passed away. We named and dedicated this record to Cody and all the warmth he brought to the studio and to the lives of everyone who entered it.

Am I wrong in interpreting “Home Tomb” as a song about a thorny relationship with some complicated dynamics? Is it simply about yielding?

Scott Goldbaum: It’s about yielding. Specifically, to a hard decision that involved pursuing a connection with someone at the expense of disownment from others. It’s a love song between those two people who declare their bond and vehemently express their feelings to the ones who persecuted them for being together. The concept behind pairing the words “Home” and “Tomb” together stems from my experience wherein which the most important components of my life have emerged through the hardest of times.

Judging from the intricacy of what you’re doing — the time signatures, arrangements, etc. — I suspect there might be a lot of give-and-take during the creative process. How does that work?

Mike Musselman: There is definitely a give-and-take when it comes to finding the point to every song and each section within any particular song. I try to impress my bandmates and a drummer named Laura Kelsey every chance I get. So, it’s walking a line between impressing bandmates and staying honest to the song’s essence.

You’ve said working with Scott Gordon is an absolute delight. He obviously knows his business, considering the people with whom he’s worked. But how much does he have to rein you guys in? Or does he at all?

Molly Rogers: Scott has been with us since the very beginning and has been a huge piece of the puzzle in helping us evolve into the band we are today. I wouldn’t say he reined us in so much as he has let us have fun in testing the boundaries of where we want our music to go.

Who would direct and/or star in the art film for which your music would be the soundtrack? Or what would the plot entail?

Nick Chamian: Cameron Diaz writes, directs and stars in a shot-for-shot remake of the popular early-’90s kids’ television series, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”

Postscript: What’s next after this EP?

Nick Chamian: We are currently working on a new full-length album of music with our friend and producer Eric Lilavois that will be coming out the beginning of next year.

||| Previously: “Eon,” “People’s Champ,” “North Korea and the Five Stages of Grief”

||| Live: Forebear headlines El Cid on Saturday night, supported by ISLES and David Divad.