10 Quick Ones with ALEX LEHNEIS of GLASS LUNGS – June 2018

According to a recent press release: “Glass Lungs are set to release their debut, Impermanence independently on June 29th.   The album was recorded alongside producers Mike Watts and Frank Mitaritonna (The Dear Hunter, Glassjaw, Hail The Sun). The album will be available for pre-order shortly! Glass Lungs is a band from Brooklyn, New York that blends indie and post-rock with celestial guitar sounds to create an atmospheric brand of “space wizardry.” What results is an attention to haunting vocal melodies, specialized guitar tones, and lush, ambient soundscapes.” We get guitarist Alex to discuss new music, influences, and more in our 10 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I think that the guitar tracks are complex, not necessarily each one but all three stacked on top of one another. The three guitarists are never playing the same thing at the same time, so as you listen through more and more you’ll start to pick up on those little things you may have missed that bring new layers to the music.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My dad got me into music early on, he had hundreds of CD’s. One day he took me with him to buy CD’s and asked what I wanted. I picked Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, and Marilyn Manson. That same year he bought me a drum kit but I played bass in my first band and later ended up settling into guitar.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Now or in the beginning? Now I’d say I’ve been digging DIIV, From Indian Lakes (their earlier albums), La Dispute, HRVRD (The Inevitable and I), and Pianos Become the Teeth (Keep You). Back when I was becoming a musician and forming a style, it would be Hot Water Music, Grade, Small Brown Bike, The Movielife, and Midtown.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

As a guitarist, I’d probably want a guitar player. I’d have to say Mario Camarena and Erick Hansel from CHON just because I wish I could play like that. But if it were like a singer/songwriter collaboration, I’d go with Robert Smith of The Cure. I feel like they influenced so many of my favorite bands!

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

I’d say something like “aggressive ambient lullabies.” I think that makes a lot of sense if you’ve listened to us — sounds totally crazy if you haven’t, though.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Recording, there is nothing better than listening back to something you created. Although the recording process is the most stressful thing in the world for me and I’m the worst person in the world to be around during it.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Andy and I are definitely the food guys! We’re always ready to go grab something to eat and are pretty bad influences on the rest of the band. To be honest none of us are big drinkers; Nick doesn’t even drink at all. While in the studio we randomly busted out acoustic guitars and it was probably the closest the band has ever been, a real bonding experience, I feel.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

If I weren’t a musician I’d probably want to be a doctor of some sort, probably orthopedic or physiatry. I’m an orthotist/prosthetist now but I’d really like to be the patient’s doctor.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

I think immaturity played a huge part in the downfall of the earlier projects I was in — from everyone in the bands back then, not just myself. Your band is your band and you have to deal with the personalities of each member, and it’s hard. Managing your band mates is like having to manage multiple girlfriends; you have to foster a relationship with each one and make decisions that will always piss someone off at times. But we have to be direct in those situations. The previous touring bands I was in had a lot of petty arguments and a lot of members were kicked out or constantly rotating. When you lose members you lose part of the dynamic that makes the band’s relationship what it is and you’ll also be losing a part of your sound. The only reasons to kick out a member should be a drug problem or a lack of commitment, as long as nothing else reflects badly on your brand. Each member needs to understand this, accept it, and feel the same way. There’s maturity in that and it comes from all of us.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin! It’s a band my dad got me into and one of the most creative bands in history. They were way before their time.

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Category: Interviews