THE LUNAR LAUGH
The Lunar Laugh is an Alternative Pop Rock band based in Oklahoma City. At the group’s core is the singer/songwriter duo of Connor Anderson and Jared Lekites. Drawing inspiration from the classic pop masterworks of the 60’s and 70’s, as well as notable contemporary artists such as Beck and Brandon Flowers, The Lunar Laugh released their debut album, Apollo, in May 2015 following a successful crowdfunding campaign.
The Lunar Laugh are currently back in the studio recording the followup to their critically praised debut. More information regarding the new album will be available by summer 2016.
What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?
Jared: Coming up with new and interesting ideas for each part. For example, recording the drums and vocals for “Beds on Fire” in an empty racquetball court for a natural reverb/echo effect or clapping while standing on top of a bass amplifier with Graham Colton to create party sound effects for “Apollo”.
Connor: I didn’t officially join until later in the recording sessions, but for the album we’re recording now I got to throw down on some electric piano. Also, having my friend Sarah Feist come sing some background vocals on a couple of songs was a highlight for me.
If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?
Jared: Anything I’ve written is good for a small glimpse into my innermost thoughts and such. I don’t think just one song will do it. I’m not that easy to pin down.
Connor: It’s hard to pick just one, but ‘Rivers and Roads’ by The Head and the Heart has been in my head a lot lately. Also, they’re performance of the song when I saw them a couple years ago was simply incredible.
The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?
Jared: Being independent, it’s all very much home grown for our music. That means we make decisions usually made by 15 people in a boardroom. The upside of that is we get more control and more satisfaction out of the final product than we might have if we were more “industry-based”. We are still pretty underground, I think. With things like Spotify and Pandora it’s becoming a bit more easier for people to hear us without having to actually buy our music, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Connor: Pretty much what Jared said, it’s nice having a home-grown feel to our music. It makes it more personal.
Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet?
Jared: Probably not me.
Connor: Some people might know him already, but Cody Fry is crazy talented. Look him up.
She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mix tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?
Jared:
1. Bitch – The Rolling Stones
2. The Bitch Is Back – Elton John
3. Cold Hard Bitch – Jet
4. Go Away – Elvis Costello
5. Don’t Bother Me – The Beatles
If she can see past the charming sarcasm, she is a keeper.
Connor:
I Like You – Ben Rector
Tell Her About It – Billy Joel (hopefully she gets the hint at this point)
Forget Me Not – The Civil Wars
Stay Young, Go Dancing – Death Cab for Cutie
Sweetness – Jimmy Eat World
Nice band name, is there a story behind it?
Jared: Graham Colton who co-produced Apollo suggested that I think up a band name for the project instead of putting it out as a solo artist, which that album pretty much started life as.
The name itself is a phrase from the psychedelic concept album, Cosmic Sounds – the Zodiac. I believe the track the name appears in is titled “The cancer Moon”. Before I started working on the album, I had heard that track and really liked the phrase as a possible future band name.
At the time, I had no idea that the studio we were working in was actually named Lunar Manor. So happy coincidence.
What’s up for the next couple of months?
Jared: A handful of good shows and more recording for our 2nd album which is about halfway completed.
Connor: Writing, recording and performing. Good times ahead.
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