Meet Lex Rader of ABOUT THE NOISE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lex Rader.

Lex, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For sure! I’m the bassist and lead singer of ABOUT THE NOISE, a three-piece psychedelic punk band here in LA. Kristopher (guitar) and I wrote all the songs on our EP, which was recorded on a tiny budget, with our own gear, and in the garage. We operate as a DIY multimedia collective, so you’ll likely find us cutting stencils, building and painting props for our next music video, or in the garage experimenting with new sounds.

Our debut EP Timeless Fun is available for streaming and download on our Bandcamp, the music video for our first single Strange Hold is on our YouTube channel, and we’ll be playing shows all throughout the summer! Check our Instagram for the latest.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being DIY means never feeling afraid to be uncomfortable, cold, and tired. When we recorded the EP, the garage had zero insulation and we were there from sunup to well past sundown in the dead of winter. So it’s three musicians freezing their asses off, taking turns sitting in the chair closest to the space heater, trying to nail takes on a strict timeline. Projects are frequently finished at 4 a.m. and all-nighters are the norm with deadlines at play. We have an awesome time doing all of it and, if anything, our biggest problem is too many ideas, too many projects, and not enough hands.

Unanswerable questions always arise, so we figure it out as we go and aren’t deterred by not knowing precisely how everything will turn out in advance. The worst that can happen is we don’t get what we already don’t have. Simply put, trying, failing, and learning is infinitely better than the lulled safety of never trying at all.

ABOUT THE NOISE – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
ABOUT THE NOISE absolutely has a minimalist style. No backing tracks or loops are used during our performances and everything you hear is created on the spot with analog equipment. Experimentation, and using gear the way it’s not “meant” to be used, is something we’ll never get tired of doing. And, in terms of output, it’s vital that we scale projects to fit what we can make happen. We’re constantly looking for creative ways to repurpose items we already have in our homes, or economize our choice in tools.

Being a three-piece is also an important aspect of our style, and we love developing new ways to make the biggest sound with the least amount of people. Each live show has its own element of improvisation, which helps keep it fresh. Playing the same song the same way over and over can quickly become stale — and if you’re feeling it, chances are your audience is feeling it, too. We keep our songs short and to the point, though it’s likely you’ll encounter an impromptu pedal soundscape as Kristopher and I try to one-up each other at conjuring spooky sounds. You never know what might spark the source of your next single.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
4/20 2019: ABOUT THE NOISE Timeless Fun EP release day! And the subsequent house party we threw that night to celebrate. We wanted to play an event that captured the spirit of the band, so we knew it was up to us to produce and organize it ourselves. We ran setup and sound for each act, and Robert de Leon contributed phenomenal lighting. The lineup was an eclectic mix of artists, including hardcore newgaze band Forget Your Friends and a jazz fusion quartet headed up by music producer Ry Raines. We played all the songs off our record plus some secret yet-to-be-released tracks, and the energy from the crowd was pure magic! We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aboutthenoise.bandcamp.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutthenoise/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboutthenoise/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutthenoise
• Other: https://youtu.be/Fl6PPeMHqH8

Image Credit:
Mariah Johnson, Angel Abonza, Kristopher Thiele, Ry Raines, Todd Webb, Lex Rader

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