There is tons of sex in music today but The Lovemakers are trying to put the sexy back into the scene. The band is made up Scott Ayers, Lisa Light, Josh Kilbourne and Jason Proctor. Their latest album is Times of Romance.
Check out the official site for The Lovemakers
Daniel Robert Epstein: Whats going on today?
Jason Proctor: Were a little bit hungover after playing Denton, Texas last night. Later were off to Phoenix for a show tomorrow night.
DRE: What are you guys doing for the New Year?
JP: Were playing at the Mezzanine in San Francisco with Every Move A Picture and She Wants Revenge.
DRE: You dont want to spend New Years Eve doing something else?
JP: We played on New Years the last couple of years and its great. We go to a party with a lot of our friends so its a pretty good New Year. At least it takes care of figuring out what the hell to do on New Years.
DRE: Thats true. I hate New Years.
JP: The decision has been made for me for the past couple of years.
DRE: What inspired Times of Romance?
JP: It was a combination of the decaying relationship between Scott and Lisa and all our influences pulling everybody in different directions.
DRE: Its really funny because usually when the relationship between two band members decays, thats the end of the band.
JP: Yes, but in this case it hasnt been timed so expertly. That would have been in our case but the fact that we were almost on the verge of being signed and going to record the album. So breaking up the band at that point would have been a crying shame.
DRE: Its happened to quite a few upcoming bands, thats for sure.
JP: Yeah, it took care of another favorite I liked called Holy Hydraulics a few months ago too.
DRE: How are Scott and Lisa getting along now?
JP: Its great. Were back to way weve always been. Of course we have a drummer along now as well so that expands things a little bit. I think personally and socially together were stronger than weve ever been.
DRE: Thats wild. Were you ever the odd man out?
JP: No, I was strictly the provost watching as everything developed.
DRE: What is the writing process with the band?
JP: It is like a like a Pi diagram if you look at it from the outside. Scott writes most of the music and Lisa writes most of the lyrics but there is a chaotic process by which the gel of a song is converted into something somebody else is allowed to hear. One of the reasons a song sounds so different is because they all have different gestation processes and that kind of thing. In the process of going through somebodys song is we thrash it and then start again. Theres no process really.
DRE: What cuts did you work on?
JP: I start things from time to time, the song Gonna Find is mine and a few of the songs are mine that are coming up. But most of the time Im hacking away at other peoples stuff or writing drum programs.
DRE: Does the music become personal for you in that process?
JP: Yeah, Im attached to it. I dont want to change other peoples stuff but there are times when you have to change the song. Sometimes after its arranged you think its amazing but then we decide it doesnt fit in the song. I think you learn that you shouldnt really get attached to things that much especially writing pop music.
DRE: Why is that?
JP: Because you can get hung up on things. I got hung up on one track of mine for about nine months and I couldnt do anything else. It was paralyzing. I felt I had to get that one right. I should have learned to carry on because at the end of the day were not making high art here. Were making stuff thats supposed to be enjoyed rather than something you wrestle over.
DRE: Would the rest of the band agree?
JP: I dont know. Scott was always telling me never to get hung up on a particular song but if you asked him that question I dont know if thats what he would say.
DRE: Are you the more straightforward one and thats why you do the press?
JP: Oh no we have a lot of press to do today. Were just switching off. I dont know why Lisa wanted me to do the SuicideGirls interview. Well maybe I do, can you get me a date with Mary?
DRE: Do you know her?
JP: I dont know here personally but I do through a friend of a friend and a few other people who come to shows all the time.
DRE: Oh, youre closer to her than I ever will be.
JP: Pull some strings for me.
DRE: It sounds like you know a lot about SuicideGirls.
JP: Ive been a member for a while. I drop in every now and again but to be honest I dont get involved in forums, Im just there for the pictures.
DRE: Are those the kind of girls youre into?
JP: I dont really have a particular type but I like flavor.
DRE: How much of the album is done with computer now?
JP: We write using computers exclusively. The things that sound like guitars on the album are guitars. The things that sound like keyboard are keyboards and all the backing tracks are done with samples. The computers never used extensively throughout the process of the album.
DRE: Who produced the album?
JP: It was a community thing. To start with, we had The Transcenders which are the three guys who are phantom writers for Black Eyed Peas and we produced the first album with those guys. We sat around and discussed things then we had Cliff Neroll come in and play with things. Wed all mesh our ideas around and stuff like that.
DRE: Are you trying to put the sexy back into sex, drugs and rock and roll?
JP: Well it wouldnt do any harm. If you come to the live show theres a fair amount of sex in there.
DRE: I read that some audience members described it as a pink Ferrari driving through a mountain of cocaine.
JP: That was a guy from a fantastic band called Grand Buffet which is a hip-hop band based in Pittsburgh who we love very much. Onstage were all about fun and were all about blown up copies of our own personality.
DRE: So theres no actual cocaine on stage.
JP: Thats only because we cant afford it. As soon as we can afford it, well have the Ferrari and the coke on stage.
DRE: I read you used to play role playing games?
JP: We all did, actually we just needed large amounts of beer.
DRE: Which role-playing games?
JP: Well my favorite game has always been RuneQuest.
DRE: Do you still play?
JP: Not really. The band is our role playing now.
DRE: Do you still have a day job?
JP: We all do but its something we can go back to when were not touring. I try to fit in a bit of engineering work when Im not touring and when I need money, which is usually all the time. Were in this awkward spot right now where we dont have the time to do our day jobs really but we need the money just to do the band.
DRE: When are you guys going to break out of that?
JP: Generally what we have been doing is recycling money from shows into tour funding so that we dont go to the label as much. Were hoping we could make a profit from shows so that will keep us going for a little while.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official site for The Lovemakers
Daniel Robert Epstein: Whats going on today?
Jason Proctor: Were a little bit hungover after playing Denton, Texas last night. Later were off to Phoenix for a show tomorrow night.
DRE: What are you guys doing for the New Year?
JP: Were playing at the Mezzanine in San Francisco with Every Move A Picture and She Wants Revenge.
DRE: You dont want to spend New Years Eve doing something else?
JP: We played on New Years the last couple of years and its great. We go to a party with a lot of our friends so its a pretty good New Year. At least it takes care of figuring out what the hell to do on New Years.
DRE: Thats true. I hate New Years.
JP: The decision has been made for me for the past couple of years.
DRE: What inspired Times of Romance?
JP: It was a combination of the decaying relationship between Scott and Lisa and all our influences pulling everybody in different directions.
DRE: Its really funny because usually when the relationship between two band members decays, thats the end of the band.
JP: Yes, but in this case it hasnt been timed so expertly. That would have been in our case but the fact that we were almost on the verge of being signed and going to record the album. So breaking up the band at that point would have been a crying shame.
DRE: Its happened to quite a few upcoming bands, thats for sure.
JP: Yeah, it took care of another favorite I liked called Holy Hydraulics a few months ago too.
DRE: How are Scott and Lisa getting along now?
JP: Its great. Were back to way weve always been. Of course we have a drummer along now as well so that expands things a little bit. I think personally and socially together were stronger than weve ever been.
DRE: Thats wild. Were you ever the odd man out?
JP: No, I was strictly the provost watching as everything developed.
DRE: What is the writing process with the band?
JP: It is like a like a Pi diagram if you look at it from the outside. Scott writes most of the music and Lisa writes most of the lyrics but there is a chaotic process by which the gel of a song is converted into something somebody else is allowed to hear. One of the reasons a song sounds so different is because they all have different gestation processes and that kind of thing. In the process of going through somebodys song is we thrash it and then start again. Theres no process really.
DRE: What cuts did you work on?
JP: I start things from time to time, the song Gonna Find is mine and a few of the songs are mine that are coming up. But most of the time Im hacking away at other peoples stuff or writing drum programs.
DRE: Does the music become personal for you in that process?
JP: Yeah, Im attached to it. I dont want to change other peoples stuff but there are times when you have to change the song. Sometimes after its arranged you think its amazing but then we decide it doesnt fit in the song. I think you learn that you shouldnt really get attached to things that much especially writing pop music.
DRE: Why is that?
JP: Because you can get hung up on things. I got hung up on one track of mine for about nine months and I couldnt do anything else. It was paralyzing. I felt I had to get that one right. I should have learned to carry on because at the end of the day were not making high art here. Were making stuff thats supposed to be enjoyed rather than something you wrestle over.
DRE: Would the rest of the band agree?
JP: I dont know. Scott was always telling me never to get hung up on a particular song but if you asked him that question I dont know if thats what he would say.
DRE: Are you the more straightforward one and thats why you do the press?
JP: Oh no we have a lot of press to do today. Were just switching off. I dont know why Lisa wanted me to do the SuicideGirls interview. Well maybe I do, can you get me a date with Mary?
DRE: Do you know her?
JP: I dont know here personally but I do through a friend of a friend and a few other people who come to shows all the time.
DRE: Oh, youre closer to her than I ever will be.
JP: Pull some strings for me.
DRE: It sounds like you know a lot about SuicideGirls.
JP: Ive been a member for a while. I drop in every now and again but to be honest I dont get involved in forums, Im just there for the pictures.
DRE: Are those the kind of girls youre into?
JP: I dont really have a particular type but I like flavor.
DRE: How much of the album is done with computer now?
JP: We write using computers exclusively. The things that sound like guitars on the album are guitars. The things that sound like keyboard are keyboards and all the backing tracks are done with samples. The computers never used extensively throughout the process of the album.
DRE: Who produced the album?
JP: It was a community thing. To start with, we had The Transcenders which are the three guys who are phantom writers for Black Eyed Peas and we produced the first album with those guys. We sat around and discussed things then we had Cliff Neroll come in and play with things. Wed all mesh our ideas around and stuff like that.
DRE: Are you trying to put the sexy back into sex, drugs and rock and roll?
JP: Well it wouldnt do any harm. If you come to the live show theres a fair amount of sex in there.
DRE: I read that some audience members described it as a pink Ferrari driving through a mountain of cocaine.
JP: That was a guy from a fantastic band called Grand Buffet which is a hip-hop band based in Pittsburgh who we love very much. Onstage were all about fun and were all about blown up copies of our own personality.
DRE: So theres no actual cocaine on stage.
JP: Thats only because we cant afford it. As soon as we can afford it, well have the Ferrari and the coke on stage.
DRE: I read you used to play role playing games?
JP: We all did, actually we just needed large amounts of beer.
DRE: Which role-playing games?
JP: Well my favorite game has always been RuneQuest.
DRE: Do you still play?
JP: Not really. The band is our role playing now.
DRE: Do you still have a day job?
JP: We all do but its something we can go back to when were not touring. I try to fit in a bit of engineering work when Im not touring and when I need money, which is usually all the time. Were in this awkward spot right now where we dont have the time to do our day jobs really but we need the money just to do the band.
DRE: When are you guys going to break out of that?
JP: Generally what we have been doing is recycling money from shows into tour funding so that we dont go to the label as much. Were hoping we could make a profit from shows so that will keep us going for a little while.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
actually, I first learned about this band through SG, and now I've been to um...well over 40 shows. I lost count.