NYC punk trio Le Bang today releases its new single and video “God Save The Party,” in which Lola Lancón and company answer the question, What would Marie Antoionette be like today?
Born and raised in Paris, Lancón is a visual artist and — she’s art director for McCann, working across L’Oréal’s brands — as well as the frontwoman of the group, who will celebrate the release of the song tonight at Relax Ridgewood. They’ll also open for San Diego alt rock/shoegaze group Blossom on Aug. 15 at The Broadway in Brooklyn.
Here’s what Lancón had to tell me about Marie, her Parsian sensibility blending with the New Yorkers in Le Bang and what to expect on their upcoming EP.
Are you a fan of Marie Antionette?
Not specifically. I think I’m more of a fan of her aesthetically than historically. She had a great hat collection.
What political or social relevance do you think she has today?
I think she’s become one of the most overused visual tropes. If you want to say someone’s rich, out of touch, or living in excess, you just throw them in a powdered wig with a slice of cake. We were more interested in asking what Marie Antoinette would look like today. She’d probably wear whatever is trendy like an Adidas track jacket and some Los Angeles Apparel socks.
Who is the modern-day Marie Antoinette?
I think she’s become more of a symbol than a person. The modern Marie Antoinette is anyone who mistakes exclusivity for culture. New York can be full of RSVP-only parties, guest lists and scenes that seem more interested in who’s there than why everyone’s there in the first place.
I understand you are working on an EP. Will “God Save The Party” be on it?
Yep!
How do you think the material on the forthcoming EP is similar to or different than the previous material Le Bang has released?
When we first started Le Bang, I think we had more of a Scott Pilgrim energy with some punk undertones. Over time we’ve become more comfortable experimenting and figuring out what we’re actually capable of. The upcoming EP will probably be the most varied collection of songs we’ve made so far. There’s pop, electro and rock, but it all still feels like Le Bang.
How did you meet the other members of the band? Why did you want to work together?
I met both of them through my first band with my ex. My bassist, Stavros Lari, had his own music project and came to our first show at Pianos on the Lower East Side. We barely knew each other, but we realized we’d gone to the same high school and immediately bonded over all the terrible teachers we had.
Not long after, I met my drummer, Billy Hay, who made me laugh so hard I was crying within about five minutes.
When I broke up with my ex, I dragged the two of them out for drinks so I could complain about him and tell them I wanted to start a newer, cooler, better band. I’d already mood-boarded the whole thing and come up with the name Le Bang. I asked if they wanted to join, they said yes, and we’ve been together ever since.
I think the reason it works is because we genuinely make each other laugh. They’re very talented musicians, but they’re also just two of my favorite people.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Growing up, I listened to a bit of everything because of my parents. Thanks to their divorce, I ended up with four different musical points of view.
My mom loved ’80s pop like Madonna, Elton John and George Michael. My dad played a lot of French rap like IAM and NTM. My stepdad was into ’90s and 2000s rock like the White Stripes and Nirvana, while my stepmom listened to a lot of bossa nova.
I think all of those genres stuck with me. They’re still some of my favorites, and I like to think you can hear little bits of all of them in Le Bang.
When did you start writing songs? What inspired you to do so?
I’d written bits and pieces before, but I really started when I randomly went a bit feral in my bedroom. I was making mood boards, playing my bass way too loud and annoying my roommates, covering my walls with sketches of Le Bang logos, song titles and drawings of robots and giant cats.
Around that time I’d just watched “Super” by James Gunn and became obsessed with its energy. I was also listening to a lot of Sexy Sushi, which made me want to write the simplest, catchiest electronic song I could.
So I did. “Metrocool” was the first song I ever wrote completely on my own in my room, and it was really the beginning of Le Bang.
Le Bang is often referred to as an “indie sleaze” band. Do you like being called that? What does that label mean to you?
I don’t really care what genre we’re associated with. Le Bang could fit into a bunch of different categories. Some songs lean more rock, some are more electronic, and others are basically pop songs. I think it’s up to the people listening to decide where we fit. I’m really just doing my thing.
Are there aspects of Le Bang that you think are particularly New York? Are there aspects of Le Bang that you think are particularly Parisian?
I think the way we play and perform is very New York. It’s fast, last-minute and a little chaotic. One loud bass pedal, someone’s always missing a pick, so we’re digging through our pockets or using a random piece of plastic we found on stage. There’s a real DIY attitude where you just make it work instead of overthinking it.
What’s Parisian about Le Bang is probably me. Since the boys are from New York, I think I bring that side of it. I like hiding little sexual innuendos between words, and I like lyrics that are blunt and repetitive. I’m also pretty unbothered, sarcastic and a little egocentric, but I’d like to think that’s part of my charm.
With your background in fashion and visual arts, I was wondering if you think of ideas for videos or other visual pieces early on in the process of songwriting?
I always think about the visuals while I’m writing. They happen at the same time. If a song doesn’t evoke anything visually for me, it’s probably a shitty song.
I need to be able to picture what I’m wearing, where I am and what I’m doing. I need to know who that character is. Every song has to build its own little world, otherwise I don’t really have any fun making it.
Who are some musicians (current or classic) who you think have done a great job of blending fashion or visual aspects of art into the presentation of their music?
I love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They’re one of my all time favorite bands. Karen O’s collaboration with fashion designer Christian Joy is probably one of my favorite examples of music and fashion coming together. They’ve been working together for years, and the outfits never feel separate from the music.
I also love Gorillaz, but for completely different reasons. I don’t think anyone has built a richer universe around a band. The characters, the artwork, the videos and the way the music constantly shifts genres all feel like they’re part of one world that’s always evolving.
You’ll be opening for Blossom in Brooklyn next month. Have you played with them before? If not, are you familiar with them?
No, we’ve never played with them before, so I’m really looking forward to it.
How would you describe your live show?
Loud, quick, mean and funny.
How have people reacted to your live show?
I’ve had a lot of people come up to me after shows and say, “Oh my god, I love your stage presence,” which is always funny because I’m mostly just yelling at people to dance and making fun of the boys in the band.
When did you start performing in public? Were you naturally confident on stage or were you nervous at first?
I started performing in public about five years ago with my first band, where I sang and played bass. I was so incredibly nervous. I would not move an inch, completely glued to the floor.
When I started Le Bang, I didn’t even have a bass to hide behind anymore. All I had was a mic. It really sucked for a while, but little by little I forced myself to move more, walk to different parts of the stage, and actually raise my arms.
It sounds dumb, but that shit’s hard.
What plans do you have for Le Bang for the rest of the year? Will you go on tour?
For the rest of the year, my main focus is honestly just putting out more music and more music videos. I really want to build a strong body of work and establish a clear identity for Le Bang.
If there’s anything else you’d like readers to know about the single or the band in general, please tell me!
Yes! We’re celebrating the release of “God Save the Party” with a release show on Friday, July 10, at Relax Ridgewood. During the day it’s a restaurant, and at night it turns into a DIY venue full of drunk twenty-year-olds.
We’ll be playing alongside Gavin Oswald, who mixed and mastered the single, and we’ll have DJs playing all night. If you’re around, come celebrate with us.
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