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Thibault - Before we start this interview, can you tell us a few words about the band?

Robert Kolar: Yes, of course.  We are a rock & roll band based in Los Angeles with hints of psychedelic, pop, soul, and blues.  Our name is Lemon Sun.  The name came from a lucid dream in which a second sun appeared in our sky.  Lemon Sun was its name in the dream.  It seemed to signify a surreal change and an eerie but hopeful turn of events.

We have gone through some major member changes over the last year.  The current lineup of the band is:

Rob Kolar (me) – Vox, guitar

Felipe Ceballos – Drums

Patrick O’Connor – Guitar, vox

Mark Tagglianetti- Keys, trumpet, vox

Scott Halpern- Bass

Thibault – After two EPs? How did you proceed to compose and record your first album?

Robert Kolar: Some of the songs had been bouncing around for years as ideas and scratches on my tape recorder or in my head.  Others just sort-of appeared as we were working on it.

We had many sweaty rehearsals, working out arrangements with and without the producer, Dave Schiffman.  Dave had a lot of good ideas and helped us get focused on the themes and arrangements of the record.   He had worked with acts like Tom Petty & Johnny Cash and had engineered many Rick Rubin records, so we wanted to show him we were worth taking a chance on.   He had approached us and expressed his enthusiasm, which was very flattering.

We had several labels “talking the talk”, but no-one was ballsy enough to take a chance on a band that wasn’t a cookie cutter pop group, a snooty indie ‘band of the week’ or overproduced modern rock cheese.  We weren’t prepared to wait for some bum deal but we had basically no money to kick down for the recording.  Luckily Chris Knight (former bass player) was able to use his credit to take out a loan for the band. In order to make a great record, we felt, it was worth it to bite the bullet financially…  Even though we are still paying off our credit card debt much like the rest of America. =)

Thibault – What was the most exciting thing during the record for you?

Having an excuse to not go to work while we recorded it.

Thibault - When you finally completed the record of this first LP, what was your feeling?

Robert Kolar: I was a little concerned with the mix, at first, as I like a more raw sound.  I thought the drums sounded too pristine.  I also had hoped to get a little bit more psychedelic and reverb heavy with the production but everyone else fought against that so I was a bit outnumbered.  I learned to accept it and still love listening to the album today (maybe too much).   Our aim was to go for a sort of late 70’s Tom Petty quality to the drums and I think we did nail that.  I think the next record will sound a little more rugged but I am very pleased with Dave Schiffman’s work and the former band’s work on this record.    It’s a nice marriage of hi-fi and dirty organic sounds.   Sometimes I hear my voice and I cringe a little bit but at some point you just toss in the towel and enjoy it for what it is, instead of wasting your time criticizing it for what it isn’t.

Thibault – Who found the album title: “Run With The Faithless”? Does it mean a specific thing?

Robert Kolar: I came up with the title in regards to the 2nd track on the album.  To be honest, we couldn’t agree on a damn thing to call the album and none of us had any decent ideas.   Then one by one everyone left the band.  I was left alone.

I had always secretly wanted that for the title.  In retrospect, (laughing) it’s a very appropriate title considering everyone ‘jumped ship’.

That title just had a ring to it.   It sounded like a title to a novel or something important.  It’s a partially ‘tongue and cheek’ reference to the state of affairs in this country (and the world for that matter), concerning religion, central bank control, government, etc.   To put an image to it: I imagine all the people fed up with the mundane idiosyncrasies of society banding together and fleeing the scene in a mass exodus of sorts, hence “run with the faithless”.

Thibault – Who wrote the lyrics into the band? What importance do you attach to them? Have you some favorites themes to treat in your songs?

Robert Kolar: I write the lyrics but I often don’t know where they come from exactly.   Sometimes they are floating above my head.     Here are a few themes from the record;  But don’t let these deter from your own interpretations…

Congratulate Our Thievery – the banking system and the side of American culture that encourages people to fuck each other over and take what they can.  Capitalism I guess.   I aimed to be a little playful on this one by urging people to be ruthless thieves.

Run with The Faithless -  Religion.  Specifically people using religion to convince other people to do appalling shit.

Same Old Ground – Hope.  The idea of coming together and not being afraid to start over, because the way we are going about life on the grand scale is a little askew in my opinion.  Bringing back the ideals America was built on, I guess.

Fall For You – Love.  A bit of an asshole,  (me), realizing maybe he can fall for someone.

Dying Age – Taking a chance  with life.   Doing something significant with your choices before you die.

The Thrill – Sex.  Lust.  S&M.  Attraction

I tend to write about one of two subjects: social commentary & love.  My hope is that I can combine earnestness, vulnerability, a sense of humor, and some poetic observations with a little grit thrown in there.   I worry sometimes that a certain laissez-faire quality may get lost and I will be seen as taking myself too seriously but I guess that’s the chance you take as an artist.

Thibault – Your album is very efficient from the beginning to the end. We can listen all the songs randomly without miss something or lose a certain coherence. All the songs are very independent and each of them could be a potential hit. Do you agree?

Robert Kolar: I wont try to argue with you.  Hah. If labels and radio stations had your taste, the world would be an even better place for Lemon Sun. We were very lucky that the songs and themes tied themselves together quite naturally on the album.  In some ways it is a concept album that was never intended to be.   We were very fortunate with that.  You could say it was fluke.

Thibault – When I attentively pay attention to your music, it often reminds me lots of cool pop/rock songs produced in the sixties by a few bands like The Kinks or The Rolling Stones. Is the band influenced by this musical period?

Robert Kolar: Absolutely. Thrilled you picked up on that.  I adore the songwriting of the 60’s.  Even the bubble gum pop songs of that era had a particular quality to make them timeless.  There is a certain rawness, earthiness, and whimsy that makes it such an alluring period in “popular music”.  I particularly love Bob Dylan, The Kinks, The Zombies, Donovan, The Eclectric Prunes, The Stones w/ Brian Jones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Syd Barrett and of course The Beatles to name a few.

Thibault – Your music could clearly be defined as pop music, anyway for the basic structure of the songs and the insistent melodies. But your sound reveals various tones (British rock on “Congratulate Our Thievery”, soul,ect,…) and a dancing groove beyond comparison (“Wanna Have You”, “Edge Of Defeat”). What’s your secret? How your music could be so simple with so many sounds?

Robert Kolar: Secret?…ha!  I love this!  My ego is expanding.   No secret.  Luck maybe.  Or opinion…  some people think our band is a load of crock.  I just tell myself “they don’t get it”.

To be honest we dig all kinds of stuff from raunchy blues like Howlin’ Wolf, poetic folk of Leonard Cohen, soulful punk of The Clash, sultry glam like T. Rex, the robotic pop of early Squeeze, the self pity of The Cure, the cock rockness of AC DC, the artsiness of Spoon, the yearning soul of Otis Redding, yada yada.  We just try and meld it all together in some weird way.

Thibault – The album includes just two ballads: “Dying Age” and particularly the acoustic song “The Loner”. This one sounds like a sad song usually written by the folksingers? Is it a wink at the time when you wished to become a folksinger?

Robert Kolar: Haha. I used to play on the L train in NY for change or the occasional gift (laughing… a  very urban hip-hop looking guy gave me his ‘bling bling’ necklace once).  So I guess I started as a folk singer.  I could make a decent $10 an hr when I wasn’t arguing with other performers over where I could stand on the platform.

Those songs you mentioned, in particular, almost didn’t make the album.  I really had to fight to get them on there.  The band wanted more upbeat numbers and to be honest I think they didn’t like that they weren’t as involved in those tunes as many of the others.  It’s a shame when art or music becomes more about ownership and less about appreciation.

I have a deep love for folk music and have started working on a solo acoustic record.  It will include some Lemon Sun songs stripped down and some new tunes.

Thibault – Last question about “Run With The Faithless”. You know I love all the songs on the LP but “Same Old Ground” and “Did You Say” are probably my favorites. What’s your opinion?

Robert Kolar: Interesting…  yours are the same as our current drummer’s.  Who, by the way, is absolutely fantastic…  Along with the rest of the current lineup.  I can’t wait to start on the new record all together.

Its hard to give a favourite ‘cause it goes in waves.  Which ever ones I am not sick of, I can get down with.  At the moment maybe “Dying Age” & “Steal Us Away”.  “Same Old Ground” never seems to get old though, and it looks like we may shoot a video for that one so I’ll be hearing it ‘til my ears bleed.

Thibault – Since when do you begin the tour for this album?

Robert Kolar: We are doing lots of small tours on the West Coast.  We hope to be offered a supporting tour with a bigger act at some point.  Until then we are chugging  along on our next to nothing budget.   If you are a big band and read this interview…  Please…  take us on tour with you.

Thibault - How it’s going? Do you receive a healthy welcome from the audience?

Robert Kolar: Audiences are usually great to us.  Most of the times bands don’t want to play with us again ‘cause we steal the show, haha, does that sound too cocky?

Its just making sure no-one is too smashed, too angry or on mushrooms before we go onstage that can sometimes be an issue.

Thibault - Have you ever played in Europe ? If not, is it planned in the future ?

Robert Kolar: We have not.  But would absolutely love to.  Both my folks are European and some of our members have never been.  Its definitely a goal for us.

Thibault - I hope you’ll come see you in France …

Robert Kolar: Don’t worry you’ll be on ‘the list.’

And if you can hold a rhythm you can come up for Same Old Ground, sing the chorus and play shaker.

Thibault - Do you work on a new album ? Have you already written some songs ?

Robert Kolar: Yes.  I feel very inspired at the moment.  I can feel the new record coming on and it is extremely exciting.  It will be quite different from “Run with The Faithless” but will have a similar sense of pop composition.  We have been influenced more and more by the roots of rock & roll and also surf, Western, psychedelic, and blues so that will be a strong part of the sound.  I think these influences will be more apparent.  We also aim to go for a more live sounding record.  But honestly… who knows…  we will start going full force with it later this month.

Thibault – What can you say about it? Will it be in the same vein as Run With The Faithless? What do we have to expect?

Robert Kolar: Oh, ha.  Didn’t read this before I answered the last question.  It will also feature a completely different lineup so I think it is inevitable that the music will have a different colour.  Our new keyboard player plays trumpet so I anticipate some more horns and brass on numbers.

Thibault – Well, I would like to ask you some random things now. Are you ok ?

Robert Kolar: Am I ok?  Haha.  Nice.  I suppose so.  Despite going to court today, waiting 3 hrs and then having to post almost $1,200 bail for  running a red light (a charge I am pleading not guilty to), I am doing well.

If you are pursuing what you love and trusting your intuition, it’s not hard to have a decent outlook on things, I believe.

Thibault – What bands/music did you listen these days? Maybe you could give me some advices.

Robert Kolar: Damn… its still a lot of old stuff.  I am kind of a song guy too.  I love making mixes for people and find it hard to love a whole catalog of a band.  Especially when you have The Beatles to compare it to…   A few songs/artists I have been craving lately include…

Otis Redding = “Shake” & “Security”

The Growlers – “Soul of Coral” ,  “People Don’t Change Blues”

The Bees – “Who Knows What The Question Is”

MC5 – “Shakin’ Street”

T. Rex – Electric Warrior & The Slider LPs

Arthur Alexander – “Soldier of Love” and most of his other songs

More Bands/Artists…

Iggy Pop and Iggy & The Stooges – most of their stuff

Supergrass – They have at least a few great tracks on every record

Dr. Dog – good live too!

M. Ward

Devendra Banhart – great live

Eagles of Death Metal – fun shit

The Raveonettes – underrated

Howlin’ Wolf – a master.  A voice that can tear apart your soul

Wilco – great for a long drive

Os Mutantes

Tom Waits

Thibault – If you have to choose right now:

Robert Kolar:

- One artist:   NEW = Spoon or Wilco   – OLD =  T. Rex

- One album:   The Beatles – White Album / Bowie – Ziggy Stardust / Spoon – Kill The Moonlight

- One song:  NEW =  Dr. Dog “The Beach”  – OLD = Arthur Alexander “Soldier of Love”

- One of your songs:  NEW = there’s this new one with a bombastic rock & roll guitar riff.  Its as if 70’s Bruce Springsteen spent more time listening to T. Rex & Ziggy Stardust. – OLD = “The Devil Thinks…”

- One meal:   Southern BBQ (ribs, collared greens, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes)

- One drink:  Coconut milk or Maker’s Mark

- One sport: Paddle Tennis or Fuzbol

- One movie:   Two Lane Blacktop – by Monte Hellman

- One actor:   young Paul Newman

- One actress:  I kind of have a crush on Zoey Deshanel

- One artist to kill:  I think its always been Madonna

- One dream:  To fly – yeah maybe its cliche

- One country:  Japan or India

Thibault – When I contact you the first time, you said you love Jacques Dutronc. Why? Do you know (and listen) some other French artists?

Robert Kolar: Jacques Dutronc is a badass!  He has an irresistible swagger and attitude.  I only wish I knew what he was saying.  It is really his earliest recordings that get our blood going.  The ones that sound like The Stones after eating lots of escargot.  Ie.  “Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi”,  “Mini, Mini, Mini”, “On Nous Cache Tout, On Nous…”   etc.  The videos are equally genius or more so.     I’d love to know more French artists, other than that we like Air, Francois Hardy, and our drummer really likes Phoenix.   I think they are pretty a’ight.

Thibault - What are you doing when you aren’t in studios or on the roads to tour with the band?

Robert Kolar: We all have day jobs, and I work as a ‘Mad Scientist’ by day.  This means I do whacky science experiments for elementary school kids in LA.   I wear a big white lab coat.  My name is Professor Electric.  I have become quite famous in the elementary schools around Los Angeles (laughing).   I have also been very fortunate to get some acting work.  I am currently filming a film noir directed by Monte Hellman.  It should hopefully be in Cannes and maybe Sundance next year.  Cross fingers.  I play a supporting role.  I am a quirky, and slightly neurotic screenwriter.

The other members all have day jobs as well.  Patrick O’Connor (current guitar player) is off in NY at the moment singing  Pop standards (ala Sinatra, etc.) in a bar in Chinatown for a month.

Thibault - Bonus Question: The best artist of all time is born in your country. His name is Bob Dylan and he’s the guy I admire the most all over the world. Do you like it ?

Robert Kolar: He’s a total hack.

Thibault – Well, the interview is now finished. If you want to add anything else, go ahead:

Robert Kolar: Thanks so much.

Thibault - Thank you Rob.

http://www.lemonsun.org

http://www.myspace.com/lemonsun

Chronique de ‘Run With The Faithless’, sortie en 2009

par Thibault F.