American pop-rock band LANY are currently in Australia on tour.
After completing dates in Perth and Adelaide at the weekend, the band are headed east with shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this week.Fresh from their biggest shows to date in Mexico, and with work continuing (in-between touring commitments) on their next studio album with Mike Crossey (1975, Twenty One Pilots), songwriter, lyricist and producer Paul Klein sits down for a quick chat.
G'day Paul; trust you're well. The photos from your recent Mexican tour look like the stuff of dreams; it must be liberating in a sense to be able to get back to your normal routines of travelling the globe to play music to fans?
Definitely! We've been looking forward to a world tour since basically when we ended the last one, which was three years ago.
The charity work you did while in Mexico with The House handing out shoes to unprivileged children; does that kind of experience keep you guys in check especially when you live a globetrotting lifestyle?
I'm here today because people throughout my life, along the way, were generous with their time and attention and resources.
So, it's always been so important to me that I find a way to give back in the same way. All we ever wanna do in LANY is make people's lives just a little bit better with our music. It's amazing to find other ways we can help people and communities in a practical sense as well.
You dropped an audio snippet of 'Out Of My League' recently; can we expect that to be the next LANY single?
That song will definitely be on the album, but we haven't chosen singles yet!
The next LANY studio album; any news you can share on that front (creative direction, themes being explored)?
We've just started making it about four weeks ago. I spent January through March writing.
I wrote 27 songs and we're still going through them and deciding which songs will make the album. But, so far, it's the most 'band' we've ever sounded and felt. We're in love with it.
When it comes to writing new material does that happen more sporadically as inspiration strikes or does the group make a concerted effort to write constantly even if nothing comes from those sessions?
I am constantly taking notes and writing down ideas as they come to me.
We move in seasons. There's a season for tour, a season for writing, and a season for recording. I find that my life as a songwriter is much easier if I'm diligent to take notes during the offseason aka during tour.
The recent departure of Les Priest; it seems there was a lot of goodwill present; is it a bittersweet moment when an integral piece of the group decides to focus on their own creative path?
It's bittersweet of course! We wouldn't be here today without his help. But LANY is so much bigger than the three of us. And I believe with all my entire heart and soul that our best days are yet to come.
The band are about to depart for their biggest tour (venue wise) of Australia yet; given the dearth of live performances because of the pandemic, have you approached the live show any differently?
Mechanically, the show will be similar. We'll play a wide array of songs from our catalogue, and we'll play them very well.
Emotionally, I think everything will be heightened! We never took playing live for granted, but we certainly will never ever after these last two horrific years.
Not many people get to experience staring out a live crowd numbered in their (tens of) thousands – can you encapsulate that feeling at all into words?
It's absolutely surreal and sometimes surprisingly numbing. It's hard to explain. Most of the time, it doesn't even register that these people are here to see my band. I often feel like I'm just part of the crowd, haha.
You have Bjear coming along as main support act; for those new to his music why should they come along a little earlier to catch her set as well?
Bjear has a beautiful sound and really impressive live! I think a lot of people will leave as new fans of him.
What's an urban myth or two you've heard about Australia that you hope is true?
I need to brush up on my urban myth education and reading because nothing comes to mind! But Aussies have a reputation for being some of the friendliest people on the planet, and I'd have to agree.
An hour before the band is due on stage, where can we find each member usually?
We'll be in the dressing room for sure. I'll probably have been there even an hour before. I still like to feel the hum and energy of the room.
The whole experience is quite sacred for me. Very spiritual. And then about ten minutes before going on stage we wet our hair and say a prayer and then go rip the f...ing stage in half!
When you're off tour, what does relaxation look like for you guys?
I went on my first ever vacation in October of 2020. I went to Maui and it was absolutely incredible. I haven't had a real vacation since lol.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us?
Unfortunately, I can't cook. I hate that I can't cook too. But I'll make sure to get you the best takeout you've ever had in your life.
Do you have any phobias?
I'm absolutely scared to death of birds. They're so unpredictable and I just don't trust them.
Last show you binge-watched?
I watched all of 'Righteous Gemstones' on the plane over here. I also love any TV show with Gordon Ramsay. He's my number one celebrity crush.
LANY 2022 Tour Dates
Wed 25 May - Hordern Pavilion (Sydney)Fri 27 May - Margaret Court Arena (Melbourne)
Sun 29 May - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)
