Vega Interview: SXSW 2010

Vega is Alan Palomo's one man alternative electronic project. The Texas native, who was born in Monterey, Mexico, developed the concept and sound for Vega while attending college in Denton, TX. Later he moved to Austin, TX where he released a five song EP titled "Well Known Pleasures". Since then Palomo has relocated to Brooklyn, NY. Vega's sound is strongly influenced by Todd Rundgren, Yellow Magic Orchestra, and New Order. Palomo is also the driving force behind the experimental synth-powered project Neon Indian. Spinner recently spoke with Palomo about Vega and his plans to play Austin's SXSW.

How did you come up with the name Vega?

It was kind of a combination of things. I think immediately what sort of comes to mind is that it's a luminary star in the constellation Lyra. I think right around the conception [of Vega] I was really keying in on a lot of Carl Sagan space documentaries and the name just sort of caught on to me. And there's a few other various references like my favorite character in the game Street Fighter [laughs].

You spent most of your formative years in Texas, but you recently relocated to Brooklyn, NY. Are you experiencing any culture shock?

Oh yeah. It's pretty massive, but at the same time the pacing is out-of-control: I've done in this month what would have taken six months to coordinate in Texas. I'm finally starting to record the Vega record which I'm looking to have it finished by the end of May.

The EP "Well Known Pleasures" was strictly your project. When you record the album, are you planning to once again do everything?

For the album, I'm definitely looking to incorporate my bandmates into the recordings and eventually becoming more of a band effort. I've been doing live performances with Ronny Gierhart on guitar and Jason Faries on drums. They also play with me on the Neon Indian live stuff as well.

Who are your musical influences?

As far as Vega goes I would say Todd Rundgren. I think he's the perfect conglomeration of bizarre, innovative, spacey, modular synthesizer sounds and finding a way to put them in the context of these really pristine, sort of traditional, pop songs. He has songs like "I Saw the Light" and "Hello, It's Me" and he also has these 30-minute epics... I feel like if there's anybody I want to emulate it's Todd Rundgren, having that balance between the two. Aside from that I would say Yellow Magic Orchestra which is kind of like the Japanese Kraftwerk.

There will be inevitable comparisons between Vega's sound and that of New Order. What do you think of New Order?

I think they're amazing. In fact, I can say the pivotal moment that really got me into electronic music was in high school when I heard Bizarre Love Triangle -- for the first time really realizing who it was and associating a band name with it. After that I completely inhaled their whole catalog, especially Power, Corruption & Lies and Substance. It's so good that they have that crazy little dichotomy between them and Joy Division. It's amazing how you can sort of see the same set of characters jumping between sounds and doing it in a communal decision whereas I feel like a lot of other bands would have probably stuck with the same thing and maybe just changed the vocalist.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

On the cheesier side, 80s electro-funk jams like New Edition's "Cool It Now", stuff like that and the first Madonna record with singles like "Holiday" and "Lucky Star" and the kind of stuff on an FM station on a Saturday afternoon with their eighties jam playlist.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles. I love how inventive the production was behind the Beatles. When I think about the sort of things that appeal to me when I'm listening to music and even writing music -- listening to these cryptic sounds and trying to evaluate them is one of the most fun things for me when listening to Beatles' records.

Describe the sound of Vega in your own words.

Spacey evocations in the form of modular synth-pop.

Are you doing any Neon Indian shows in addition to the Vega showcases at SXSW?

I'm definitely playing both and it's interesting, because last year I was playing nothing but Vega stuff and I ended up playing nine shows and a DJ set and it was a really grueling schedule trying to get the name out there before we had any sort of notoriety. This year, I told myself I would just do four shows and play the ones that really matter and be able to enjoy myself. Then I realized I was playing with both Neon Indian and Vega and now I'm back to eight or nine shows again with the same scenario as last year.

You've played SXSW before. Help out some of the groups who haven't, tell me what's in your festival survival kit.

A trunkful of 5-hour energy drinks. I would also tell them to keep your car handy for naps in between showcases.

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

It was toward the end of our U.S. tour when we were dipping back into Texas. We played this show in a cafe in El Paso, TX, and all these kids crammed into this cafe with no stage. We were playing on the ground and I've never been given noogies and bear hugged consistently throughout the entire set. it was one of the most absurd, ridiculous, crowd-interactive shows I've ever played.

So, what's your biggest vice?

Probably sleep deprivation.

What do you want people to know about you that they don't?

Hmmm [pauses]... I can't reveal who is producing the Vega record just yet, but I can tell you they're extended members of the Fool's Gold extended family. [Internet rumors have been circulating that the producer will be either A-Trak, LA Riots, or Chromeo.]


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