In Conversation With #204 - Launder
After nearly three years and sixty demos - Launder has finally released his debut album ‘Happening’, which sees the Los Angeles based musician pairing up with the likes of DIIV, Day Wave, and Soko.
The project developed out of casual sessions with friends Jackson Phillips (Day Wave), Soko, and Zachary Cole Smith (DIIV) – the resulting set sprawls across a double LP release; it's a considered beast of a debut. Through its thirteen songs, Happening is timeless, grappling with something bigger than just melody, the cathartic and the tender, indebted to indie rock greats while informed by modern and prudent self-reflection.
He took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Launder - how are you? So your album is out now, how does It feel to have it out there in the world?
Feels amazing to let it go off into the universe. Glad people can finally here what I have been working on for all these years. It’s a big relief but there’s still more work to be done, looking forward to playing some more shows and would like to get to the uk/ eu for a tour.
It is called ‘Happening’ - what is the meaning behind that?
Just a word that caught my ear after being thrown around in the studio. There’s no grandiose meaning behind it, I just like how it felt with this record.
Where was it recorded? Are there any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
New Monkey Studio in Van Nuys, Ca. I really enjoyed the place, it was Elliott Smiths studio before he passed and they still had his board/ mics/ and some outboard gear around. All the vocals were recorded in his Neumann u-48. I’m a huge Elliott fan but just ended up there by chance. Greg and everyone that worked there were cool and they just gave Sonny and i the keys for a few weeks so we went in every day and turned it into home.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
I don’t really think I’m terms of themes. I just start writing and try to settle into whatever emotion the song brings me and keep the song cohesive, I really indulged in just building the intensity throughout each song. My main influence was just making a record I was proud of.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so and why?
No I just wanted the lyrics to fit into place with whatever was happening underneath them. I don’t want them to jump out at you on this record. They aren’t very attention seeking lyrics but I think they all just serve the songs and bring me back to where I was when I wrote them.
Now the album is out there - what next for you?
Hopefully just touring and start recording some new material. Just trying to keep moving foward with the project and keep things fresh.
