Psychedelic Swirl

[haiku url=”http://cdn.mobilerider.com/mobilerider/mobilestorefront/2416/media/file/38520/203444.mp3″ title=”Undertow”]

Warpaint, the LA four-piece—composed of guitarist Emily Kokal, guitarist Theresa Wayman, bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg and recent addition, drummer Stella Mozgawa—offers a gauzy, psychedelic swirl of its Rough Trade debut, The Fool. The album, which follows 2008’s Exquisite Corpse EP (mixed by former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante), transmits its power via delicate moods and boldly building constructions; it’s calming and tranquil one minute, oppressive and crushing the next—taking cues from Cat Power, Mazzy Star and at least a few bong-toasted excursions into outer space. Here, Lindberg completes our quick questionnaire, offering her thoughts Jefferson Starship and what movie always makes her cry.

Life + Times: What’s the first album you ever bought?
Jenny Lee Lindberg: It was a tape single—Soul II Soul’s “Keep on Moving.” I was 8.

L+T: What can you recall of your earliest musical memory?
JLL: Listening to Jefferson Starship’s “We Built This City” in a bar. I was being chased by two boys. I was with my father in a pub in Sparks, Nevada. I was feeling pretty hot at the age of 3—first memory of feeling desire as well!

L+T: What is the most beautiful sound you can think of?
JLL: I really love the sound of rain and the ocean, so I guess water.

L+T: How was working on your full-length different from when you put together your debut EP?
JLL: We had two month to record five songs with the EP, which was wonderful. We had around the same time to record 10 [for The Fool] and [drummer] Stella [Mozgawa] had just joined our band, three weeks prior to entering the studio. What I liked about recording the full-length was that we didn’t have time to lolly-daisy around. We had to commit to the moment, so there was no time to second guess or overanalyze, which is positive in my opinion—at least for this record. Sure, there are things we wanted to do but didn’t get the chance, but now we are just better prepared for the next release, or any project we put out in between.

L+T: What are three non-musical things that influenced your album?
JLL: Laughter, tears and movement—all three are very inspiring and create an excellent balance. It’s easy to create when these three things are present.

L+T: What movie always makes you cry?
JLL: Ghost, without a doubt every time.

L+T: What’s something people might not know about The Fool?
JLL: It was recorded in an old renovated women’s gym.

L+T: In the movie of Warpaint, who plays each band member?
JLL: We would all play ourselves, of course, because we all know how to be ourselves best. It might get crazy convoluted if it were any other way; feelings might get bruised. Ha!

L+T: What song do you wish you’d written?
JLL: “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, “Midnight” by Yaz and all of Philip Glass’ solo piano pieces. There’s probably about a zillion more; pretty much any song I love I wish I wrote.

L+T: What quality do you most admire in a song?
JLL: When it penetrates so deep, you can’t help but move and feel high—as if you know you are exactly where you need to be and what you need to be doing.

L+T: What’s the best part about being in a band without boys?
JL: How do you know we aren’t boys?

L+T: Complete this sentence: Living in LA means we can always…
JLL: Have plenty of options: be in traffic almost always, eat really good food, run into 40 of your friends a day, sweat, take your time and never leave.

L+T: It’s a rock & roll dinner party. You can invite three rock stars, alive or dead. Who do you invite?
JLL: Marvin Gaye, Jah Wobble, George Harrison

L+T: What’s the last lie you told?
JLL: Somewhere on this page.

L+T: Tell me a secret.
JLL: I’m 45 years old.

(Warpaint)