Ahead of gigs in Shanghai and Beijing, we spoke to Alan Palomo, the man behind Neon Indian and VEGA, about his acclaimed new album VEGA Intl. Night School.
Congratulations on your new record, VEGA Intl. Night School. It’s a really infectious record and it’s been getting great early reviews. Could you explain the album title?
It’s a celebration of the merger. I initially started writing a VEGA record and too many production components from Neon Indian were beginning to spill over and vice versa. At some point I just felt like they didn’t warrant separate monikers anymore and that it would be less creatively stifling if I just fused them into one concept. I essentially granted myself carte blanche to make whatever came to mind. My incorporation of it into the title was a celebration of how Neon Indian cannibalized its dancier sibling.
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Four years ago when you began thinking of your next record, could you have imagined making a record that sounded like this?
At its conception, I knew I wanted to write a collage record. What that specifically meant was more open to interpretation. I love J Dilla’s Donuts, The Avalanche’s Since I Left You, Negativland’s Helter Stupid, etc. Though I don’t think I quite landed at that, there was some semblance of that initial proposed continuity in the finished cut.
As part of the making of the record, you went on a week-long cruise to work with Jorge while he maintained his house band duties. What was that time like and what songs were your brother playing that would get the crowd really hyped?
The house band’s repertoire was pretty stringently programmed. A near hour long medley of ABBA hits and Gap band standards. My best description of the place would be to say that it’s like being trapped in a giant mall for a week. The food was curated by Guy Fieri and they give you funny money to gamble with in order to then exchange it for actual bills. I had seasickness much of the time, which you apparently cure with copious amounts of tequila, so the sessions in the cabin were pretty loose and all over the place.
You traveled from New York to Atlanta to Austin working on this album. Any fun road stories you can share in making the album?
Well, the morning I left for Atlanta was kind of insane. My neighbor was helping me carry equipment down the stairs when I suddenly slipped and cracked my head on the metal end of a rack case. I had to get nine stitches across my eyebrow, which now sort of look like clefts that resemble an exclamation mark. They gave me Percocet and sent me home. When I got back I still had to break all the ice on my stoop with a hammer to be able to safely bring it down and while I was out there chipping it off, the medication had some adverse effect and I projectile vomited on the coldest day in New York City since the 1970s. Once we packed everything up I finally managed to get on the road only to drive straight into a day long snow storm. I finally showed up in Atlanta with gauze all over my face like, “Yo, lets make a record.”
No VPN? Watch Neon Indian live on The Daytrotter Sessions on Youku.
Did you have a good time in making this record?
It was mostly great times, although in the obvious span of four years, you’re gonna have some bad days. I remember being really stressed about some of the older ideas I was having a hard time completing when my friend told me, "I know you’re stressed but once it's all done you’re gonna miss it.” That really stuck with me. I told myself to focus on the joys of toiling at your trade and was able to finish with a record I loved.
How do you plan on recreating it in a live setting?
As far as interpreting it live, I kind of let the band do that for me. The only parameters I set are what synths, guitars, and pedal chains they’ll use but once it's all set up I feel like I try to curate a group of musician friends who are going to SUPRISE me with their take on the song.
No VPN? Watch the video on QQ Video.
You will be performing in China just a few weeks after the album’s release in America. Why have you decided to come over so soon?
It just sort of worked out that way. My band's been around since 2009 and we’ve never had the opportunity to travel across Asia. That's really exciting.
What are you hoping to see and do while in China?
I plan on staring extensively at the futuristic skylines and eating as much Sichuan food as possible.
Your early music was associated with “chillwave.” How do you feel about that term?
I feel indifferent about it now. I guess there’s worse things to be than a chillwave patsy.
> Beijing: Nov 19, 9pm, RMB120-150. Yugong Yishan, tickets. See event listing.
> Shanghai: Nov 20, 9pm, RMB120-150. Q.S.W. Culture Center, tickets. See event listing.
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