Lizzie

How did Lovataraxx start, and what inspired you to form the project?

Lovataraxx

Lovataraxx started in Brooklyn during some vacations. I wanted to form an Electronic / New Wave band with Hélène. It would be influenced by collectives such as General Idea or unclassifiable bands like Severed Heads. I had a list of names and we both agreed on Lovataraxx, which is a portmanteau word, and a polysemous name. We were crossing the Williamsburg bridge which is grey and pink, so I was like : “Let’s start a band that would convey a range of different emotions. On the one hand, some dark , gloomy feelings linked with grey and black colors. On the other hand, some brighter and uplifting affects, linked with pink and purple colors.

Lizzie

Why did you decide to mix darkwave, minimal synth, and post-punk in your sound?

Lovataraxx

We didn’t really decide consciously to mix Darkwave, minimal synth and Post-Punk in our music. It came by accident. We were just really into synthesizers and grooveboxes. The post-punk influences come definitely from the bass and chorus effect. Concerning Minimal, we’re listening a lot of bands from then and now, so it was natural to go in that direction.

Lizzie

Is there a key moment in your career that you consider a “turning point”?

Lovataraxx

There are several turning points in our career. I would say, the first time we went on tour in USA. We discovered a lot of great artists there and came back regularly for touring in US. One other turning point could be having a vjay and a sound guy. They’re definitely members of Lovataraxx. Another key moment is our meeting with our label Cold Transmission

Lizzie

What is your typical composition process: do you start with the music or the lyrics?

Lovataraxx

We don’t have a typical process to write music. This is more about impression in our head, melodies and atmospheres that stay in loop in the head and need to be expressed. Some songs also come from improvisation when we’re practising. Most of the time, the music comes first and then the lyrics.

Lizzie

How has your recent European tour been, and which cities or festivals have stood out the most?

Lovataraxx

Concerning touring: we’re touring a lot. We’re making around 50 shows every year. For this summer, we’re planning to perform in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and also back in Guatemala, Brazil and Mexico. We can’t, as we just had great experiences in those countries!
Also, recently, the Ombra, and the WGT were great festivals were we had a lot of fun. Our recent show in London was also a blast, and the whole UK tour actually, because it was our first time there and we didn’t know what to expect!

Lizzie

You will be performing in Madrid soon at Dark Entries Fest II. What are your expectations for this show, and what can we expect from your setlist?

Lovataraxx

Concerning our shows in Spain, we started the tour and are really lucky, the audience reacted with a lot of enthusiasm every night. And we’re actually in Valencia where we played several times. For the Dark Entries Fest II : we’ll sing a new song in spanish, that will be out on our next album, so we’re looking forward to see the reaction of the audience!

Lizzie

Have you played in Spain before, or is this your first time? What do you think of the Spanish audience?

Lovataraxx

As I told you, we love the Spanish audience; people are hosting us very warmly and are really enthusiastic. We already played in Spain, yes. We were performing at the last Ombra Festival, played several times in Valencia, and had been on tour around Spain 7 years ago.
I remember well our first show in Madrid, this was in a squat that was a former movie studio. The sound and the audience were wild!
The day after, we visited Madrid and went to Rotor, the Record Shop of Esplendor Geometrico. Our host told us that Alex de la Iglesia made some movies in this district. These are great souvenirs!

Lizzie

That sounds great!! I’m sure you’ll put on an amazing show and everyone will be delighted once again.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us, guys!