Credit: Missy Maggi
Faulkner is a four member bi-coastal rock group that came together in 2013. Last year they released their debut EP Revanchist and right now they’re gearing up for the album drop this fall. While the guys were in town for a show recently at the Rex Theater, I caught up with frontman Lucas Asher for a few questions after their sound check.
Credit: Missy Maggi
So what have you guys been working on?
We just got off our single with Royce da 5’9″, Eminem’s collaborator.
Yes, I’ve heard it! How did that happen?
Cool, yeah, we just reached out and connected through mutual friends – we just finished recording w/ RZA and so it’s all like a small circle.
Does the album have an overall theme?
Revenge. Very aggressive, a little bit dark — and then we open up and explore more areas on the LP. We’ll have more singles that are uptempo and more danceable, a little bit more of a fun record.
You just performed your new song “Hot Streak” at the Troubadour, right?
Yeah, we premiered it there. Tonight will be the second time we’ve ever played it live.
Really? That’s amazing! So special…
Who else would you love to work with in the future?
We like Kanye West, so he would be up there. We like The Weeknd a lot. Our music style is like a mix of The Clash and The Weeknd. We always lean towards urban collaborations. If we didn’t though, it would probably be Muse.
If you could sit under a table and listen to any two people talk, who would it be?
Nikola Tesla and…let’s see, who else…it’d be like, Bob Dylan.
That’s a nice pair, I wonder what that conversation would be like?! (laughs).
Yeah. (laughs).
What music have you been listening to?
A lot of new music. A lot of cool, new music. I’m really into house and electronic but I’m all over the place.
What platform do you use to listen to music?
I’m on all of them. Anything on demand, I don’t really like the Pandora type where it tells you what to listen to. I’m still mostly on YouTube, actually.
Yeah? Do you make your own playlists and stuff?
Yeah, follow me. (laughs).
What song do you remember most from your childhood or what makes you feel nostalgic?
I grew up on Queen, so I’m a huge Queen fan.
What else can you add for fans?
We have our first video, it’s called “Revolutionary” — it was shot in Hawaii and we’re shooting another music video in Morocco coming up. “Hot Streak” will be our next single.
At this point, the employees were getting prepped for the crowd and the band needed to finish a few last things, too. I graciously thanked Lucas and gave the guys my own version of a swag bag for their tour bus — it included a 6 pack of local Pittsburgh beers and a family size bag of potato chips. (Who wouldn’t want that swag? Duh.)
Credit: Missy Maggi
Obviously, we stuck around for the show. This was their first time playing in Pittsburgh and they were touring with Atlas Genius. The set killed it, with the guys playing fan faves, “Revolutionary” and “These Kids Nowadays.” And indeed they kept their word by giving us the experience of their newest track, “Hot Streak,” which was definitely my favorite AND maybe a new favorite of the band’s, too. “It’s always a lot of fun playing new songs at our shows,” expressed the band’s bass player, Dimitri Farougias.
The guys will be playing a couple shows later this month in California with The Kickback, so if you’re around, definitely check them out and go say “hi”!
August 24 – Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, CA
August 26 – Soda Bar, San Diego, CA
August 29 – Resident, Los Angeles, CA
Check out a couple of the band’s videos below:
This track will appear on the new album:
Musically Amusing 