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Watford based Lower Than Atlantis are set for great things. Their latest album is on the brink of release and has gained the four-piece some impressive press as well suitably impressive fans, including Radio 1’s award winning DJ, Zane Lowe. I recently managed to grill bassist Dec Hart on the new album World Record in particular, as well as talking about his musical inspirations, touring and oh, drawing the male reproductive organ. Read on my friends, read on.
AltSounds: Your second album, World Record is set for release in April. The cover art is simple but intriguing. Is there a story behind the imagery?
Dec: We were trying to come up with ideas for something that could kind of sum up the band or give people an idea of what we're about. We spend the majority of our time on tour and if I were to dig into my pockets on tour you'd most likely find all the crap in the picture in there!
AltSounds: Fair Enough! You have recently asked fans to help you create the video for your new single “Deadliest Catch” which sounds like a brilliant idea, if not an exciting day-time Sky 1 fishing series. Have you had many (fishy-style) entries? Any stand-outs so far?
Dec: Right now we’re in America so we haven't had much time to see all of them but what I've seen is looking good!
The finished "Deadliest Catch" Video:
YouTube - Lower Than Atlantis - "The Deadliest Catch" Sumerian Records
AltSounds: How was the creative process for the album this time around, any easier? Or did you feel the dreaded 2nd album pressure?
Dec: We basically wrote the majority of the album in Mikes' (Duce) kitchen with an electric drum kit and practice amps. That gave us the skeleton of the record, then we demo'd the whole record in a day in Scotland at our friend Nick Scholey’s studio on an off day on tour before we recorded the finished product. We actually went back to Nick’s a few months later to record the b-sides for the record.
AltSounds: There are twelve tracks on World Record. Which one(s) mean the most to you and why?
Dec: My favourite track on the record is titled 'Up In Smoke'. I just think it's a well structured song with a catchy chorus. To me that makes a good memorable song. Another one of my favourites isn't actually on the record it's a b-side ha!
AltSounds: You have already toured with some top UK bands but who would you still love to tour with?
Dec: Blink-182, Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro. Then we'll be happy!
AltSounds: Did you always know you wanted to be in a band, or did you have other ambitions/careers in sight?
Dec: Since I first picked up a guitar when I was 10 years old and learnt "Smells Like Teen Spirit" I knew what I wanted to do. I never really had the attention span or passion for anything else in school, so I guess I'm pretty lucky this band is starting to work out!
AltSounds: So what band or singer would you say had the most influence on you growing up?
Dec: I started off playing guitar so it would have to be the classic of Nirvana being the first band that I discovered by myself. I remember when I was really young my dad played me loads of Oasis. So I guess he was partially responsible for getting me into music.
AltSounds: Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe recently described your single “Beech Like The Tree” as the Hottest Record In The World. That’s quite a statement! But what has been the biggest “we’ve made it” moment for you guys so far?
That's definitely one of them! I guess the fact that I'm writing this from America counts as one too! If someone came to me when I was 15 and told me by the time I was 21 I would be touring America I would have not believed them. Anyone in a band would probably agree that for the most part you are kind of in a bubble, where it's hard to gauge the success or failure you might be having. We are always trying to progress as a band, thinking six months down the line so we are constantly prepared for what's next. At the end of the day we are still 4 guys in a van, sleeping in it and living off a fiver or a tenner a day! Once I'm riding in a Bentley, then we've made it!
YouTube - LOWER THAN ATLANTIS - BEECH LIKE THE TREE (Official Video)
AltSounds: The Guardian newspaper recently featured an article about how apparently “rock is dead”. What are your opinions on the state of today’s rock music?
Dec: It's tough getting people to smaller tours at the moment but I just like playing and being on tour so I'm happy! The guy that wrote the article can eat my shit.
AltSounds: Here here. So have you guys got plans to be at this year’s summer festivals?
Dec: At the moment I have no clue which ones we will be playing at but it's still early days. Festival season is one of my favourite times of the year. Hopefully we get to play Sonisphere and Hevy again as I feel they were some of our best shows (performance and crowd reaction wise) of 2010.
AltSounds: How do you guys mentally/physically prepare for a tour? Any weird meditations or sacrifices to the rock gods for good luck?
Dec: Erm... I don't know about sacrifices but the day before tour is usually very hectic, remembering all the things I should have sorted weeks ago! I usually make sure I have a really good home cooked meal and a good sleep because I know I'm not going to get either of those for a while!
AltSounds: Following the theme of the new album, Essex is home to the world record holder for Jaffa Cake eating; eight in a minute! If you reckon you had a shot at breaking a world record, what would it be for?
Dec: Beer drinking
AltSounds: Ha! Nice. With some big come-backs set for this year like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blink 182, is there anyone in particular you are really psyched about hearing?
Dec: Definitely Blink. I've never seen them before and I managed to get hold of a ticket to see them later in the year.
AltSounds: Ok so your mouths have been taped shut (just go with it), you have to draw a picture to describe Lower Than Atlantis. What do you draw?
Dec: 4 massive dicks with hairy ballbags!
AltSounds: Ok then...Well finally, Atlantis is a legendary island so if you had to take ONE movie, ONE song and ONE book to keep you entertained on a deserted island, what would they be and why?
Dec: The movie I'd take would be Step Brothers because I can watch that over and over and never get bored. I think everyone in the band can recite the film line for line all the way through! Book would be ‘Our Band Could Save Your Life' because I've had it for a year now and I keep putting it down and not finishing it, so maybe being stuck there would give me an incentive. And a song by Kool and The Gang to keep up the morale. Oh and Wilson from Castaway will be there.
AltSounds: Ha! Thanks Dec.
To pre-order 'World Record' visit here.
AltSounds: Your second album, World Record is set for release in April. The cover art is simple but intriguing. Is there a story behind the imagery?
Dec: We were trying to come up with ideas for something that could kind of sum up the band or give people an idea of what we're about. We spend the majority of our time on tour and if I were to dig into my pockets on tour you'd most likely find all the crap in the picture in there!
AltSounds: Fair Enough! You have recently asked fans to help you create the video for your new single “Deadliest Catch” which sounds like a brilliant idea, if not an exciting day-time Sky 1 fishing series. Have you had many (fishy-style) entries? Any stand-outs so far?
Dec: Right now we’re in America so we haven't had much time to see all of them but what I've seen is looking good!
The finished "Deadliest Catch" Video:
YouTube - Lower Than Atlantis - "The Deadliest Catch" Sumerian Records
AltSounds: How was the creative process for the album this time around, any easier? Or did you feel the dreaded 2nd album pressure?
Dec: We basically wrote the majority of the album in Mikes' (Duce) kitchen with an electric drum kit and practice amps. That gave us the skeleton of the record, then we demo'd the whole record in a day in Scotland at our friend Nick Scholey’s studio on an off day on tour before we recorded the finished product. We actually went back to Nick’s a few months later to record the b-sides for the record.
AltSounds: There are twelve tracks on World Record. Which one(s) mean the most to you and why?
Dec: My favourite track on the record is titled 'Up In Smoke'. I just think it's a well structured song with a catchy chorus. To me that makes a good memorable song. Another one of my favourites isn't actually on the record it's a b-side ha!
AltSounds: You have already toured with some top UK bands but who would you still love to tour with?
Dec: Blink-182, Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro. Then we'll be happy!
AltSounds: Did you always know you wanted to be in a band, or did you have other ambitions/careers in sight?
Dec: Since I first picked up a guitar when I was 10 years old and learnt "Smells Like Teen Spirit" I knew what I wanted to do. I never really had the attention span or passion for anything else in school, so I guess I'm pretty lucky this band is starting to work out!
AltSounds: So what band or singer would you say had the most influence on you growing up?
Dec: I started off playing guitar so it would have to be the classic of Nirvana being the first band that I discovered by myself. I remember when I was really young my dad played me loads of Oasis. So I guess he was partially responsible for getting me into music.
AltSounds: Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe recently described your single “Beech Like The Tree” as the Hottest Record In The World. That’s quite a statement! But what has been the biggest “we’ve made it” moment for you guys so far?
That's definitely one of them! I guess the fact that I'm writing this from America counts as one too! If someone came to me when I was 15 and told me by the time I was 21 I would be touring America I would have not believed them. Anyone in a band would probably agree that for the most part you are kind of in a bubble, where it's hard to gauge the success or failure you might be having. We are always trying to progress as a band, thinking six months down the line so we are constantly prepared for what's next. At the end of the day we are still 4 guys in a van, sleeping in it and living off a fiver or a tenner a day! Once I'm riding in a Bentley, then we've made it!
YouTube - LOWER THAN ATLANTIS - BEECH LIKE THE TREE (Official Video)
AltSounds: The Guardian newspaper recently featured an article about how apparently “rock is dead”. What are your opinions on the state of today’s rock music?
Dec: It's tough getting people to smaller tours at the moment but I just like playing and being on tour so I'm happy! The guy that wrote the article can eat my shit.
AltSounds: Here here. So have you guys got plans to be at this year’s summer festivals?
Dec: At the moment I have no clue which ones we will be playing at but it's still early days. Festival season is one of my favourite times of the year. Hopefully we get to play Sonisphere and Hevy again as I feel they were some of our best shows (performance and crowd reaction wise) of 2010.
AltSounds: How do you guys mentally/physically prepare for a tour? Any weird meditations or sacrifices to the rock gods for good luck?
Dec: Erm... I don't know about sacrifices but the day before tour is usually very hectic, remembering all the things I should have sorted weeks ago! I usually make sure I have a really good home cooked meal and a good sleep because I know I'm not going to get either of those for a while!
AltSounds: Following the theme of the new album, Essex is home to the world record holder for Jaffa Cake eating; eight in a minute! If you reckon you had a shot at breaking a world record, what would it be for?
Dec: Beer drinking
AltSounds: Ha! Nice. With some big come-backs set for this year like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blink 182, is there anyone in particular you are really psyched about hearing?
Dec: Definitely Blink. I've never seen them before and I managed to get hold of a ticket to see them later in the year.
AltSounds: Ok so your mouths have been taped shut (just go with it), you have to draw a picture to describe Lower Than Atlantis. What do you draw?
Dec: 4 massive dicks with hairy ballbags!
AltSounds: Ok then...Well finally, Atlantis is a legendary island so if you had to take ONE movie, ONE song and ONE book to keep you entertained on a deserted island, what would they be and why?
Dec: The movie I'd take would be Step Brothers because I can watch that over and over and never get bored. I think everyone in the band can recite the film line for line all the way through! Book would be ‘Our Band Could Save Your Life' because I've had it for a year now and I keep putting it down and not finishing it, so maybe being stuck there would give me an incentive. And a song by Kool and The Gang to keep up the morale. Oh and Wilson from Castaway will be there.
AltSounds: Ha! Thanks Dec.
To pre-order 'World Record' visit here.
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