Interview: Lockett Pundt of Lotus Plaza/Deerhunter
September 21st, 2009 by Chad Radford in Music news
Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt is making his live solo debut this Tues. night when Lotus Plaza opens for the Books at Eyedrum.
Chad Radford: Tell me about how the Lotus Plaza album, The Floodlight Collective came together and what you had in mind as you going in to it?
Lockett Pundt: I didn’t really have a whole lot in mind when I sat down to write the songs on the album. I have a hard time getting things done when I have something specific in mind in regards to song writing. Most of them were just a simple idea that sort of blossomed into a song. They all sort of have their own environment. I would go into a song with a guitar loop or drum track and it would either take off, or nothing would come of it. I think the only song in which I had a very clear view of how I wanted it to sound was “Antoine.” I had a Joe Meek sample that I played at a few different speeds creating this crazy out of phase percussive thing and I heard the song from the beginning. Other than that, I just had fun writing songs and had enough to put together an album.
Did you write the songs on the album on your own or was it a group effort that involved anyone else?
I did everything myself. Brad [Cox] plays drums on “Different Mirrors.” He thought it might sound better adding drums over the drum loop in the song and he added it on the first take. I thought it sounded great.
How did you approach it differently from a Deerhunter record?
I write a lot more lyrics myself, which I don’t do all that much in Deerhunter. I tend to write more personal I suppose. I never really try to write a song either way, I think it just sort of happens that one is a better Deerhunter song than one I would use personally. In my songs, I definitely like the parts and instrumentation to remain as how they are, but with songs that are introduced to Deerhunter, I like the guys to write their own parts or do them how they would. That’s the main difference in the approach to me.
All Music says The Flood Light Collective takes its nam after one of your first bands.
It was a band that me Brad and our mutual friend Wes played in during high school. It wasn’t anything serious really, just sort of jam on stuff and have fun. It is a fond memory to name a album to. It was one of the first musical experiences that I shared with other people. It seemed to fit as a title to me.
Is there one piece of music out there – an album, or maybe just a song – that has resonated with you over the years; something that you think of as influence to your whole approach as a musician?
One of my favorite songs ever is “Prairie Rose” by Roxy Music. I listened to them a lot growing up since my mom was a massive fan. The song gives me goosebumps when I hear it. I think it’s a perfect pop song. I think another one would have to be “Sunrain” by Ash Ra Tempel. I guess these both are what I consider to be a Holy Grail of song writing. It’s hard to say that any one thing is a massive influence on what I do, but these are definitely on my mind a lot.
Is this the first time that you’ve made a live appearance with Lotus Plaza?
Yea it is. I’m pretty nervous.
What’s the line-up and instrumentation going to be for this show?
It will be just me and a guitar, a sampler and a loop pedal. Pretty simple for the most part. I would like to have a whole band play some new stuff someday, but I have been out of town for three months and haven’t had much time to get together a set including other people. I kind of want to do something a little different anyways. Something more ambient and loose in nature.
Will there be more Lotus Plaza releases in the foreseeable future?
I hope so. now that I’m back home again, I’m really looking forward to messing around with music for fun. When I get back from a Deerhunter tour and have a week or so downtime before we leave again, I generally leave my guitar in it’s case until it’s time to leave again. We have a little time off from touring now, so I’m hoping to relax and do it more for enjoyment. That’s about the only way I can write songs I like. I can’t force it.
Lotus Plaza “Red Oak Way” mp3
Lotus Plaza plays Eyedrum Tues., Sept. 22 with the Books. $13-$15. 9 p.m. 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 8. 404-522-0655.
(Photo courtesy Kranky Records)
September 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
your favorite atlanta band sucks.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Wesley, you hang out at Halo. That kind of says it all.
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
actually, i don’t make a habit of hanging at halo but i’m not AFRAID to go there.
the fact that u r says a lot about u.
and yes, deerhunter still sucks.
as does your name. couldn’t u come up with a better fake name? no one believes your mom is that stupid.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Wesley R. Nicholas shops at Ikea, does pilates, watches Entourage, hangs out at the Graveyard, plays kickball, and listens to Peaches and She Wants Revenge.
Keep that in mind when he offers his opinion on things.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
hey nameless troll.
i don’t actually watch entourage!
and the r is for ryan, in case u want to complete the full stalking scenario and show up at my house.
until then, your favorite altanta band still sucks ;)
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
though i suppose i should be flattered that u think about yours truly so much that u felt the need to cyber talk me at midnight and then post about me on a blog.
ummm, thanks?
i won’t start worrying about the implications of your interest until u start posting pics of what my bedroom window looks like.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
She wants revenge suck and Peaches both suck.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
not really a huge fan of either but i’d take both over deerhunter in a heartbeat.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
and for the record, edgewood sucks if u aren’t a panhandler or car thief.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
We cant all live in lily white areas of town. And what sucks about Edgewood?, if you are not a pussy you can walk to the EAV, Little 5 or Cabbagetown. The best of all three without the price. I didnt like Deerhunter for a while either. But lenny’s did a all you can drink free highlife night and i came around in my drunkeness. Then the Microcastle came out and i have been sold ever since.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:12 pm
lol, so much for assumptions.
i live on moreland avenue, across from the edgewood shopping center. if reynoldstown is lily white then i’ll buy u a pbr at the next deerhunter show.
but that ain’t happenin.
and the only thing that sucks about edgewood is the crime.
i worked in a small shop near edgewood and boulevard last year.
in 6 months the business was broken into and robbed repeatedly, there were several car break-ins, and a coworker was robbed at gunpoint walking to work.
BUT AT LEAST EDGEWOOD ISN’T LILY WHITE!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Might want to change that slogan of yours to “Your favorite atlanta band sucks, but my taste in music is worse.”
September 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
lol. good one, but will it fit on a t-shirt?
and like i said above, i’m not actually a huge fan of peaches or she wants revenge, but i know they both sound better than deerhunter.
and not just because deerhunter seems to attract hipster losers like yourself, but just because they suck.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Its the same fucking neighborhood essentialy. Edgewood and Reynoldstown border on each other. I live in between Reynoldstown and Kirkwood. So forgive my assumptions but when someone shits on the area, you certainly would not expect for them to live 3 blocks away. As far as Deerhunter goes, everyone has different taste but if you can not find something to like off of Microcastle you are either just being a contrarian or are a moron wtih terrible taste. Assuming (there i go with those assumptions again) these other bands people on here are claiming you as a fan and your usual comments, i would say its a little of both.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
fine, fine. i don’t like to beef with the neighbors – apology accepted.