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Son Lux is a band that doesn’t live comfortably in any genre. Their sound is massive, anthemic, but it’s also strangely intimate. The rhythms are incredibly complex, and it’s shot through with these bright details of sound. The project started in Ryan Lott’s brain in Cleveland, and then it grew by two–guitarist Rafiq Bhatia and drummer Ian Chang. They’re all composers and producers and improvisers. I think it’s fair to say they’re all wicked smart.I interviewed Ryan Lott just two days before he went out on tour for their new album, Brighter Wounds. We had a really interesting conversation about where music comes from, and how he makes it. Or where he finds it…
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Image of Ryan by Zenith Richards
Band image by Lisa Wassmann
Thank you for this wonderful metaphorical window into an amazing mind. Erica’s questions, and Ryan Lott’s answers, sparkle with brilliance and life and mystery and comedy.
This is a brilliant interview, full of genius. A very worthy counterpart to the amazing music of Son Lux. How did you do it? Did you both record your own ends while talking over the phone? “Are you scolding me?”!!! “A junk pile of cascading windows 98 windows.” Sounds like crazily symphonic.
Do you know of Nico Mulhy? (I have an indirect connection to him, if necessary) He is a brilliant young Vermont composer, who btw, did a remix of a Son Lux tune several years ago.
Erica, you’ve outdone yourself, again.
The music was quite alluring and interesting. I think of Queen or even the Beatles, both of whom could draw on a great deal of musical knowledge to create with. Mr Lott does edge close to that juxtaposition of mystery and the familiar that he is striving for. It’s tantalizing music. He seems to be onto something. As far as explaining what he does…well, he’s not ready to be a teacher yet.
Cool!