Strange Lot, formed in 2014, is a psych-rock band that has garnered a lot of attention within the Austin music scene, harboring a moody, atmospheric sound. Following their recent Levitation performance, I discussed the band's evolution and exciting future with frontman Dominic Mena. Read the interview below.
Mattea: To start things off, how did Strange Lot form? Where did it all begin?
Dominic: A long time ago, like 10 years ago, I was playing bass in a band with the drummer, Tim, who's with me now, and that broke up. I was just always recording in my bedroom, just doing demos, and I showed them to him, and that's when it started. He was down, and it's just been me and him ever since, with other players but he and I started it essentially.
I know that you've been a part of the Austin psych-rock scene for a while, but I was reading that your origins are in Arizona.
Yeah, yeah. We moved here in 2019, so just before the pandemic. We had a record all good to go. We released it on February 29th, leap day, and then the next week, COVID hit.
That’s crazy – like we had no clue what was about to happen.
I was wondering how that move to Austin affected your music. How is the psych-rock scene different in Arizona? Or is there a psych-rock scene? What’s the atmosphere like there?
I was gonna say, what psych rock scene in Arizona? Just kidding. I mean, that was the reason for the move, mostly for me … to be with more bands and more venues and connect. In Phoenix, it's a good music scene, but it's nothing compared to what it is in Austin … after we played our first show, we got approached by Moss Music Records, a local record label here, and they put out that album for us. And, yeah, just connecting with other bands, playing Levitation, South by Southwest. It's been great. We love it.
What was South by Southwest like?
It's great. We love South By. I mean, the first year we played, I'm pretty sure it was 15 shows in one week. One day we played, I think five shows in one day. South By is always a really busy time for us. But we love it. It's it's just the energy. You can feel it in the air.
Were they at different locations in Austin?
Yeah!
What’s your favorite venue in Austin?
Are you trying to get me in trouble? No, we love them all. I mean, for different reasons. Hotel Vegas is a staple for us because it's the go-to Friday, Saturday night type of show. We played Stubbs for the first time two weeks ago, and that was incredible, hoping to do that again … Stubbs is huge, it’s a legend. Chess Club is cool, too, for intimate, small shows. Cheer Ups is amazing.
If someone had never heard your music before, where would be the ideal setting to do so? I know we’ve been talking about Arizona and Austin, but it can be anywhere.
Is it more like a setting or a place?
Just whatever comes to mind.
If you were to listen to us for the first time, it would be good to find the coziest place you can think of, a couch, a blanket, doesn't matter. Put on some noise-canceling headphones, and just start a record. For me, it's very much “listening music” in the sense of like, I record it and produce it. So I'm putting a lot of time into the sounds and how they are in the soundscapes.
Your music is so electric and atmospheric– what inspires you when you compose a song?
I love that question! Everything. I mean, people ask me all the time what I'm listening to, and I think more often than not, they're surprised to hear it's Elliot Smith or Kendrick Lamar or, you know, there are some staples like Radiohead or Grizzly Bear. But it's everything. I love all music and I just love writing songs and putting them together so anything can jump in there.
What does the process of composing songs look like for you?
Honestly, I write a lot of songs. When I go on runs, I'll just get an idea for a song, and then from there, I latch on to what's the song structure going to be, and then the drums. By the time I get home, I'm like, now I just got to record it all. But I'll just write full songs in my head when I'm going on the roads.
And memorize them?
Yes!
That’s fascinating. What does your songwriting process look like? What inspires the lyrics?
Usually what I'm feeling. It's very stream of consciousness, so a lot of things come out just as I'm listening to the song and have a microphone. For this last record that we just did, what's interesting is, let's say there's 15 songs on the record. 12 out of the 15 were all written in one night, so the lyrics you hear, the melody you hear, was all from that exact night. So it just comes in the moment.
I’ve been listening to MindStatE lately, and a song that I love particularly is the final track, “Read Your Mind.” The lyrics are so poetic, and I love how the guitar like, looms into a crescendo and then gets quieter and quieter in the end. What was the process of creating that song like?
I’m trying to think back because it was a while ago … every song is different, so I’m just trying to bring myself back to that headspace. I think for that one, it was trying to give a sentiment or a feeling – like a personal message about how in relationships, even if you're trying to please somebody, it's almost nearly impossible to do it all the time because you can't read their mind. Someone can have expectations and not tell you, or … you can't always meet them. And I was just trying to put that feeling – because it can happen to anybody – in that song. So, yeah, I'm glad it resonates.
MindStatE in general is such a strong piece of work overall. How would you say your music has evolved over time, and since then?
I really love these questions, by the way, I appreciate them! It's definitely evolved towards crafting more and more. This latest album that I just worked on with Alex Moss from The Black Angels – he produced it. He and I really worked towards crafting melodies and making sure what’s there needs to be there. If you listen to Strange Lot linearly, you'll see that it's just gotten more refined, trying to be clearer … [it’s also about] not settling. For this newest record, I try to write only what feels and sounds good. In the past, I would just be like, it's fine enough, you know, they'll get it. But just refine them.
You’ve performed live a lot lately, including Levitation Fest on Halloween. What was that experience like?
Amazing. That was the highlight; we had been touring with Boogerins up until that point, and that was the show we were just priming up for. It was incredible. Everyone's super nice at Stubbs. Levitation is just a powerhouse team, and to open for Boogerins, Black Angels and Madhu Mokhtar was just phenomenal.
You’ve had a lot of impressive tour experiences, having opened for The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and more. What has been your most memorable experience on tour?
All of them … just being able to share the stage and be in front of people and play with just such great acts, to me – that is the best part. So I can't just single out one show. Any of those experiences … I’m grateful for them.
This definitely varies by musician, so I was wondering, do you prefer being on tour or being in the studio?
I think my instinct is to say, in the studio, just because I have my bed, I have a shower, I'm not stuck in a van with 10 other people … Touring is great; I love seeing new cities and new venues, but where I thrive, I think is creating and being in the headspace to just put sounds together.
You’ve been crafting your new album for a bit now, which has put you in the studio a lot. What has that process been like?
It was long in the best way possible. Pretty much for an entire year, we went to Space ATX, which is a really great practice space and studio in South Austin. It was just a lot of going back and forth and sharing ideas and recording with him, and it was great. I'll never forget it.
Do you have any idea of when the album will be released? What time frame?
I want to say next year. We're planning a lot for next year, so it's going to be the big one for that.
Exciting! I'm anticipating it. Is there anything else you're looking forward to with your music, like any other projects coming up?
Just everything next year. Looking forward to South By again, we're planning another tour, which we'll be announcing soon, the [music] videos, and hopefully releasing that record next year.
How’s making music videos been?
My girlfriend Stelina Stampley is her own professional, prominent photographer here in Austin, and she and I partner together, and we do all the music videos ourselves. Sometimes we work with other people and collaborate, but for the most part, we edit them. She's a visionary in her own right, so I give a lot of credit to her for the videos.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about Strange Lot?
My favorite color is red. I’m just kidding! I’ll say that the next record is going to be the most clear representation of what my vision has been musically. It'll be the best representation so far, just with Alex's help, Jim Eno’s help on mixing, and me just trying to search for what I really want to do and sound like as Strange Lot.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.