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GroundSounds recently caught up with Mark Lombardo from indie ‘chillwave’ band Titanics. Check out the interview below along with their addicting new song “Low Frames”. Be sure to visit their website to stay updated with new music and shows!
For those not familiar with your music , can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you guys come together?
Titanics is a duo between Derek Rogers and me – we’ve been playing in bands together for about 9 years at this point. I started demoing some ambient songs late at night in a shed on my parents property during the summer of 2012, asked him to play guitar on the record and to create all the visuals (designs/posters etc) and we released our debut Soft Treasure in February 2013. What had originally started as an ambient/night-music project has now evolved into a full act.
What is it about synthesizers, electronic beats and warm pads that attracts you to them?
Originally, Titanics was an acoustic project. I was writing and recording very minimal lo-fi music on an acoustic guitar but because of the fact that I was using such poor form and using my thumb too much I ended up injuring my wrist and had to put the guitar down for a while. Unable to play guitar I resorted to my other love, ambient and rich music using beats, pianos and synthesizers – Titanics had been built.
What was it like growing up in Albany, New York?
Albany is powerful. We experience everything here from the humid summers to the dry and freezing winters. I spend a lot of my time wandering outside of the city in the woods exploring and reading. It’s a big place but unlike New York there’s a place in Albany to escape – and I need that.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians and bands that are just starting out?
Don’t ask opinions about your music to other songwriters and musicians – they’ll hate it. Either they’ll hate it because they don’t get it or they’ll be envious of it and hate it all the more. Just do what you want – it’s the best part about music, its freedom.
Can you tell us about your latest single ‘Low Frames’? What was it like working on this song how did it come together?
Derek and I rented a cabin in Maryland during the summer of 2012 – we wrote Low Frames there along with some others. Low Frames was the quickest song we put together for the album, he created the bass/snare beat, I threw the bassline on it, he added the guitar line and I scribbled down the two lyrics about someone I was thinking about that week. It came together very very fast.
Where do you draw inspiration?
Over time I’ve realized most of my lyrics are about wander, wonder and water. Three of the tracks on the album (Cars, Yoota and Table Bet) were inspired by photographs a good friend of mine Morgan Quay took, she’s a photographer living in Brooklyn and has become one of my favorite visual artists. I’ve always been a little obsessed with and inclined to pair images and sound. I also have an overwhelming obsession with The Twilight Zone and otherworldly themes that usually subconsciously comes out in my lyrics.
How are you guys preparing for the biggest festival in upstate New York, Pearlpalooza?
I’m hyped! It’s a pretty big deal in Albany – one of my favorite acts Portugal. The Man is headlining the festival along with some other great local acts as well. We’ll probably just end up treating it like any other show or we’ll get overwhelmed – maybe Derek will wear a tie or something though.
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Meeting some cosmic people while touring with some amazing artists.
What is currently in rotation on your preferred music listening device?
Ice Choir.
What’s next? What is Titanics currently working on?
Our ideas grow every day, since the ‘shed days’ of demoing songs in my parents shed it’s all grown very much. Right now we are demoing new material and solidifying some future tours. Derek and I have an apartment in Albany where we write/record/rehearse and focus on music all day, there’s merch and equipment everywhere: it’s Titanics headquarters. The best is yet to come – ship has left dock.
