By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) Your music is often described as alt-pop, but how would you describe your sound?
A) We think of it as pop music that doesn’t quite behave. It wants to be accessible, but it keeps second-guessing itself. Pop songs made by people who grew up loving weird records. There’s melody, but there’s also irony, tension and a little discomfort. We like things that are catchy, but not polite. But, specifically, on this record the sound combines Laptop’s synth-pop with some world music influences. The recording started in Valencia, Spain with some locals there then went to the Caribbean for overdubs then back to NYC for the old Laptop sheen.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Well, I’m from NYC, so I’ve always been influenced by the previous New York musicians from Lou Reed to Talking Heads and, of course, [David] Bowie (who is obviously not from there originally but lived a couple blocks away from me). But this album (coming in June called “On This Planet”) is specifically inspired by the music made at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas in the 1980s mostly – albums like Remain In Light.
Q) Jesse, your son Charlie has recently joined you. How did he come to be a part of LAPTOP?
A) Well, I kind of stopped doing Laptop full-time when I had Charlie. I had to get real, make some bucks, get a life. But, ironically, as soon as he was born my music life turned to him, playing him songs on the acoustic in the living room, making up weird tunes with him as he became three, four years old. So, it was inevitable. When he turned seventeen years old I was like, “Maybe we should record some of these crazy songs we’ve been working on all these years.” And, suddenly, Laptop was reborn and rebooted and Charlie was in.
Q) Your new song “Confused” was inspired by the unfortunate events of Jan. 6th. What about that day brought about this track?
A) Yeah, that’s a story and a half. “Confused” came right out of the shock of watching January 6 unfold on TV — but the really twisted part is that we’d been in D.C. two days earlier, visiting family, cluelessly being tourists, while staying at the hotel where the lead insurrectionists were actually meeting. We had no idea. But the city felt off — weirdly quiet, strange characters everywhere — like the ’70s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. MAGA evangelicals blowing Jewish shofars, that kind of bizarro-ness. Then, we went back to New York and life felt normal again for a moment. And then a day later we were watching the least normal thing I’ve ever seen unfold. The whole family was completely freaked out, especially Lulu. Once the song got going, it felt obvious she had to be part of it.”
Watch The Video for “Confused”
Q) “Confused” is a part on the upcoming album On This Planet. What are some themes you will be exploring on it?
A) Well, it’s interesting. Most of the songs on my prior Laptop dealt with relationships with people – mostly being mad at or hurt by people. But this album actually deals with some real deal shit: fascism, environment, authority, animal survival, consumption, big issues but always told with some irony and humor, I think. The next album I’m returning to yelling about mean people in my life.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I often do the music first. For example, when we recorded this album we laid down tracks for like seventy more songs, which I just mumbled over. So, there’s all these recordings that now need vocals and lyrics. And then at the same time, I have this massive document of lyric ideas. So, it all needs to be matched up like a math problem and then I’ll literally have six new albums.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) A very BIG hand. I produce everything myself. I’m often working the Protools and singling. It’s like I have five arms sometimes. Hitting play, jumping to the microphone. I love the production side of things. But I have this amazing No. 2 – a guy named Edward Douglas – who has been working with me since 1994 or so. He was working with Sonic Youth at the time and they recommended I work with him. And now we have this maniacal relationship and just pump out song and song together.
Q) What songs off this album are you looking forward to performing live?
A) I’ve enjoyed playing all of them. We’ve done initial shows in London and New York. But, recently, I played a big show in the Caribbean where we had done some of the overdubs with local musicians. So, for this show, I got to play with many of them and it was very moving and exciting. I really enjoyed playing some of the reggae influenced songs off the album like “Thirst” and “Xanadu,” which are singles to come soon.
Watch The Video for “Indie Hero”
Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this upcoming album On This Planet as a whole – either as a message or emotion?
A) I hope they enjoy hearing a fun, danceable record that is also weird and funny, that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Like Devo, we want to make people have fun, feel weird and question everything.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) Like I mentioned, playing in Nevis in the Caribbean was a high point. Playing in Japan with Richard Hell when I was nineteen years old was another milestone. And I love playing in the UK and Europe. NYC is fun but it’s home. I like to be away where I can reinvent.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) That’s funny. A few times I’ve gotten to play with some heroes like Richard Hell or Wreckless Eric when we covered “Whole Wide World” as Laptop. I guess Tom Waits would be the ultimate. I just covered his song for Christmas, which was a lifelong dream to do. Can I raise Lou Reed from the dead? That would be good, too.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Mostly listening to Laptop these days since we are finishing the last couple tracks for the album and planning the next one! Maybe one called “Accentuate the Positive” (which is a joke as I never do that).
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Tell your friends. We need more fans and supporters of our weird little pop experiment! But, also, stay tuned. There are some REALLY great tracks coming. “Xanadu” is coming in February, which is my first true duet for Valentines. “Squirrel-a-Bug” is a funny Charlie one, which we wrote when he was little. And the “Always Something” is a true banger just before the album release in June. Stay on this crazy ride with us!
Watch The Video for “Additional Animals”