At KAABOO Del Mar, on Sept. 16, I sat down for a very quick pre-set chat with the alt-pop band LANY. We discussed music, creation and their ultimate goals.
The three musicians sit down on the press lounge couch, Less Priest (guitar and keys) on the left, Paul Klein (lead vocals and guitar) in the middle and Jake Goss (drums) on the right. Less leans back into the furniture, Paul leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, and Jake crosses one In-n-Out sock-clad foot over his leg.
KCR: You guys mix, write and record all of your own music right?
PK: Yes.
KCR: So, do you have any tips for new, beginner artists?
PK: Just use what you have.
JG: When we’re starting a song we kind of explore any idea. And then, we figure out what works and what doesn’t work. So, we kind of go for it at the beginning and just try stuff out to see if it sticks. We don’t hold back.
PK: I think if you have a ton of stuff it’s hard to – it can get kind of confusing. If you have, you know, 20 synthesizers it can be like, “Ah, what do I do?”. You know? We really start with one synth – a microKorg – and we add a bass synth, I guess.
LP: Some people use a lot of layers to create one cool sound they like, but we just kind of fish around until we find the one.
PK: Yeah.
JG: One sound.
KCR: And you’ve played tons of venues and tons of shows. Do you have a dream venue?
PK: Yeah, I mean the Hollywood Bowl would be amazing. I’ve never even been, I’ve just seen photos.
JG: Same.
LP: Yeah same.
JG: MSG.
PK: Yeah, Madison Square Garden too.
JG: Where’s that?
(dead silence, then everyone laughs)
PK: That was so good! You kept a really straight face. I was going to be like, “Can I talk to you outside? It’s actually New York. You know this.”
(everyone laughs)
KCR: Do you guys have an ultimate goal for your music?
PK: Well, we want to be the biggest band in the world. But, I guess like, to never go backwards and to never run out of ideas is the long-game goal. You know?
LP: We want to be huge.
JG: Yeah we hope our music lasts forever.
KCR: I’ve seen a lot of comparisons of you, Paul, to Matt Healy from the 1975, in terms of your style and your performance. So, if you had to pick one person to replace you in the band who would it be?
JG: Mine would be Ronnie Vannucci, The Killers’ drummer. He’s a legend.
PK: I’m trying to think. I’m irreplaceable man, that’s whats up.
LP: I’d probably say The Edge.
(everyone oohhs)
PK: The Edge! That’s nice. Yeah, I don’t know.
LP: Who’s your favorite front man.
PK: Yeah I don’t know. I can’t think of anyone.
KCR: Who’s on your playlist?
PK: Frank Ocean, a lot. Kevin Garrett, a lot the last two days. So good. Tom Misch. I guess I’m speaking for all of us.
LP: The Killers.
JG: A lot of London Grammar.
Check out more of LANY here, or catch them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Their debut, self titled album is out now! Get it on iTunes, or listen on Spotify or SoundCloud.
Photo by aLIVE Coverage.