Sounds Under Radio Interview: SXSW 2010

Sounds Under Radio are an Austin-based alternative pop/rock band. They distributed their highly successful first album, 'Cinematica,' independently in 2009. Their song 'Portrait of a Summer Thief' was featured on the 'Spider-Man 3' soundtrack. After a brief stint with Sony/Epic records, Sounds Under Radio continue to embrace their independence for the time being. They'll perform at SXSW '10 as they await the release of their new album 'My Communist Heart.' We spoke with Lang Freeman.

How would you describe your sound in your own words?

Kind of an Americanized version of Brit Rock. It has large anthem elements but also with intimate and personal moments. It's cinematic music in a centered pop medium. Lately we've attempted to test our limitations and redefine what boundaries we'd previously had.

How did your band form?

I moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas at Austin. I then started playing with Bradley Oliver (bass, keyboard). The rest of the guys we met through the scene more or less organically.

What are your musical influences?

The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Who, Nirvana, Radiohead, Sigur Rós. We're consumers as much as creators; we tend to like a lot of things and that influences our sound.

How did you come up with your band name?

The name was an attempt to reflect what we thought was our desired sound, which is a kind of a rock/pop with a more intellectual flavor that's also genuine and sincere. We wanted a name that kind of described the foundation of our music in a way.

What's your biggest vice?

Indecision, which is reflective of our new record. The conflict aspect of indecision.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Katy Perry.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I don't know if i can actually talk about that. Well, about a year ago when we were in Louisiana, we left the venue and had a very crazy drunken evening sort of situation with the folks we were staying with. The husband ended up disappearing all night, I spent an hour talking on the phone with the cops discussing this, everyone was wasted, at one point we got locked out of the house we were staying in, nobody had any keys, and the people who had the keys weren't there. So we kind of broke in through the window, one guy made it through the doggy door, then finally the husband shows up at 7AM still drunk. Everything was fine at that point, but we still really have no idea what happened to these people. It was crazy. That was in Monroe, La., at what used to be the Blue Monkey Tavern.

What kind of people would you recommend listening to your music?

The audience ranges from indie snobs to metal kids, Death Cab for Cutie to Nirvana fans. Really just anybody who enjoys a good song or melody. Our main goal has been to write great songs.

What works or accomplishments is the band most proud of?

Independently releasing our first record. For a time we got picked up by the label (Epic), things got mixed up with some inter-label politics. Fortunately we were able to get our record back, and we released it independently. I think we're the only independent band with a song on the 'Spider-Man 3' soundtrack.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

At one point we thought kind of jokingly -- wouldn't it be awesome if we convinced everybody that I was dating Kirsten Dunst. That obviously didn't happen. I still have never even met her.

When and how did your musical career technically start?

I had been playing in bands since high school. When i moved to Austin, it really convinced me that i could actually do it after I finished college. Then the band conveniently came together in this very collaborative way.

What key moment made you feel that the band had really 'made it'?

I think that when you walk into a room for a venue in your hometown, and there's a line out the door that you can't really account for and you have people you don't even know who are singing along to all your songs. That's when you really feel that you've made it.

What's your latest music related accomplishment?

The new album, our second. It will mean that we didn't just quit after the first record. It will mean that we overcame something to keep the band alive in this way. It's called 'My Communist Heart' and should release around Mar. 30th. By September we hope to release 'My Capitalist Mind.' The two sort of go together and play off each other.

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