LOTUS – Free Swim

By starrymag | October 19, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) It’s not easy to describe, but that’s what makes it interesting. Generally instrumental. Often dance-oriented, funky, psychedelic. We try to write melodies that get stuck in your head and become a part of your life.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Talking Heads, Brian Eno, Herbie Hancock, Todd Terje, Kraftwerk, Underworld, The Orb, Miles Davis, Aphex Twin

 

Q) Tell us the story behind writing “Catacombs.”

A) The name is derived from the Paris catacombs. The track is influenced by French house music that often works with disco and rock edits. Looping short, catchy riffs and manipulating them with filters is powerful.

 

Q) Why did you decide to name the album Free Swim?

A) I think it reflects a vibe of the music. It feels summery, open, natural, weightless.

 

Q) You also recently shot a music video for “Bjorn Gets A Haircut,” another track off of Free Swim. How did you develop the concept for the video?

A) We shot video of all the songs while we were recording in the studio. So, the concept, in general, was more documentary than music video. But, when I started editing the videos, I wanted to bring in a hint of the live light show. I used the same software I’ve developed for generating animation live, in real time at the shows, using drum triggers and midi controllers feeding data into song-specific programs. I captured live takes of the generated video output and edited it back in with the studio footage.

 

Q) What was one of your favorite songs to play on Free Swim?

A) Maybe “Turtlehead,” but that is a bit like picking a favorite child; I like all the tracks.

 

Q) What do you hope fans will take away from the album?

A) I hope it makes people dance, gives them energy, becomes a soundtrack for their lives (even if that is a life lived mostly at home at the moment).

 

Q)   Do you have any routines or go-tos during the songwriting process and, if so, what are they?

A) Luke and I both treat songwriting as a process that requires work. Hours need to be put in to discover, sculpt and refine the best ideas we can come up with. I try to get my busywork out the way in the morning and then start into creative work. I make a cup of pour-over coffee in the afternoon, usually around two or three o’clock, and that propels me into the evening.

 

Q) Luke and Jesse have done quite a bit of the producing for studio albums. What are the benefits of getting to produce from within the band rather than bringing in someone from outside?

A) Every choice is ultimately part of the writing process. The notes, tempo, beat are just the beginning. After that, it is how will the recording process work? What limits will we set on ourselves? How will we approach the mix? How will the songs be sequenced? Those are all important choices that I want to make instead of ceding that responsibility to someone else. The other big benefit is time. An outside producer can only put in so much time. I can put in as much time as I think is necessary to finish the project.

 

Q) With such an extensive discography, is there any talk of a potential Greatest Hits album?

A) No. That feels a little tacky to me. I’ve seen groups do it in ways that don’t feel over commercialized. But I have this, perhaps antiquated, attachment to the idea of an album as a complete, stand-alone piece of art. Chopping those up and combining them could feel like a cheap collage.

 

Q) LOTUS is best known for being an electronic jam band. In your opinion, what is one of the greatest misconceptions about electronic music overall?

A) I think the two biggest criticisms of electronic music are that is repetitive and robotic. Both of these can be features if done right. They can be tools that serve the music in a way that makes it easier to take listeners to a place that feels like a trance and time seems to move at a different rate. Sure, there can be music that is robotic and fails, but I don’t inherently view the adjectives repetitive or robotic as pejorative.

 

Q) Your concert setups and themed shows are quite elaborate! One notable show is when each of the band members dressed up as rock stars who died at 27. While fans miss seeing you perform, what do you miss most about live shows during this time?

A) It almost seems trite, but simply having something to work towards. We write music with the intention of playing it live. When you take away live performance, it feels like playing a game without knowing what the rules are.

 

Q) Who are you currently listening to?

A) At this exact moment, Daniel Avery. I don’t know how I missed his albums before this week. Other albums from this year I enjoyed are Chicano Batman – Invisible People, Caribou – Suddenly, Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your music?

A) Thanks to everyone who bought the album already. Listen to the experts, stay healthy out there and hopefully we can return to safe live shows in the not-too-distant future.

 

 

 

 

All Questions Answered By Jesse Miller (bass, modular synth)