(Lovelorn preferred to answer their questions together, as a collective whole, therefore the use of the word “they” will follow their quotes.)
Anna and Patrick Troxell know what it’s like to lose. The husband-and-wife team formed the rhythmic core of Creepoid, a highly touted, heavy psychedelic band that called it a day in 2018. After the dissolution of that band, it took the two a little soul searching before they decided to continue making music.
“There was a period after Creepoid ended where we weren’t sure if we ever wanted to be in a band together again. We took some time to negotiate how we could do that again, but make it more enjoyable for both of us. We learned a lot from being in Creepoid, but at times, it made our relationship take a back seat to the band,” they say.
“When we started making music again, it was important for us to remember the relationship always had to come first. The process of writing together has always been very organic, so that came back really easily. It took about six months to feel like we could really pursue another project.”
Though from the ashes of Creepoid,came Lovelorn, a synth-punk duo that allows them to fully be themselves and is a total departure from their previous band.
“We did want to do something different. It felt like a moot point to just start another band that sounded exactly like Creepoid,” they say. “We were both interested in pushing ourselves and exploring other influences. We both had written songs while in Creepoid that didn’t feel like “Creepoid” songs so we already had some arsenal to pull from.”
This interest in exploring new sounds is in full focus on their debut album What’s Yr Damage, which drops August 6 on 6131. It’s a synth driven corker of an album, for which the two have come up with an interesting way to describe their new music: drug pop.
“We aim to write pop music, but our version. It’s music that people can dance to, but also spend a night listening to alone in the dark,” they say.
And their definitely going to keep their new band a two person operation for its duration.
“Actually we weren’t always a duo. When we first started exploring Lovelorn, we had a third member who played guitar. When we decided to part ways with that person, the intention was to find a replacement. However, we played a few shows as a two piece, and realized that we actually liked the focus being on drum and bass. People started dancing, which was always the goal,” they say.
“Moreover, keeping it just the two of us (who are on the same page via touring and making the band a priority) made things much simpler logistically. We are definitely open to having guest appearances, both live and on recordings, but the heart of Lovelorn will always just be the two of us.”
They enjoy the freedom it entails.
“It became clearer as we explored Lovelorn that we wanted to take advantage of being able to have control over the way we would shape the band. We both absolutely loved being in Creepoid. It was a really special experience to be able to make music with your best friends, who pushed you and challenged you but also supported and loved you,” they say “But, no matter what, when you play with four people there are going to be compromises, not just in the music but in how you manage the collective career. It has been fun to be able to explore ideas that we’ve had for a long time, and execute them exactly as we envisioned them.”
This new found creative control reveal itself while composing music for What’s Yr Damage, in that they decided to go with the flow and see where their muse took them, not necessarily have a plan, but going with their gut feelings.
“I wouldn’t say we plan any element of the music super intentionally. Usually someone starts with one element (bass line, drum beat, sample, etc) and it grows from there pretty naturally. I think that the focus on “hooks” came more in the mixing process, where we tried to arrange everything in a way that would really resonate with people,” they say.
In addition, the actual recording of this album took on a life of its own.
“It was an epic recording process, filled with some amazing highs and devastating lows. It took way too long, due to many unplanned curveballs, which was super frustrating,” they say. “We rewrote the entire album after losing the third member, which was fun but challenging. We recorded the bulk of it in New York with the wild and inspiring Don Devore, literally studio hopping for specific gear that we wanted to use for certain parts of songs. Then we mixed in LA, an absolutely crazy week that is a story for another day. We ended up finally wrapping it up at Gradwell Studio in NJ with the super talented Matt Weber. There were times we wondered if it would ever get done, because we kept hitting roadblocks. So, it feels absolutely amazing to have it finally be here,” they finish.
From the dissolution of one band, comes the rise of another one. Lovelorn reveals a new side to the Troxells musical partnership, one that allows them to explore any ideas they want to explore without compromise. They are totally committed to each other and this band.
“Long Live Lovelorn,” they finish.
Buy the album here.
