Interviews, Music, Underground, Up & Coming
Oct 13, 2013

NEW MUSIC: RANDY MICHAEL, “DISORDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR”

PPLA recently caught up with Punk Aristocrats’ artist Randy Michael about his new music video “Disorder on the Dance Floor” off Adult Cinema. We think this talent could be the next Lenny Kravitz! Take a look at his video and interview, and let us know what you think!

PPLA: Tell our fans how you first became passionate about pursuing a career in music?

RM: I first became passionate about music in April of 1996. I was flipping through the channels late one night and came across the movie “La bamba.” I was 10 years old. I turned up at school that Monday with a pompadour, leather jacket and wranglers. Little 4th grade Martian! I was given a guitar by my class mate Julie Burke, and that was it. I became obsessed with music of the 50’s and 60’s. I’d never heard the Beatles prior to ’96, my old man only listened to Geto Boys and Ice Cube, so that’s what I was exposed to until I was 10 years old. I discovered a whole new world on accident, and I’m still living in it.

PPLA: What inspired your upcoming single “Disorder on the Dance Floor?”

RM: “Disorder on the Dance Floor” came about because I was tired of being lumped in with garage music. I was in a mod revival band called The Booze for years, and we wrote 2:45 60s anthems. After our demise, no matter what I released I was still tied to that scene. So I figured I’d go in the exact opposite direction and that’s what I did.

PPLA: How would you describe your sound and your first music video?

RM: For the video I took inspiration from the early 90’s CK One commercials. It’s a simple concept, just a bunch of interesting people stuck in a room having fun. I pitched the idea to director Matty Sims and he knew exactly how to pull it off.

 PPLA: Where do you see your career trajectory in the near future?

 RM: Well, I’ve always been a backing guitarist for other artists – Butch Walker, Travis McCoy, and Pyyramids. That’s always my fall back, but what I’m working on now is a record I’m calling Black Linen. It’s basically a score to a Tarantino film that doesn’t exist. Imagine Phil Spector and Serge Gainsbourg but with a modern twist.

 PPLA: Are there any artists you admire or compare your work to? Influencers on your work?

 RM: I always find myself listening to Marty Robbins at night “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs.” That’s one of my favorites. As far as artists that I admire, all the heroes like Bowie, John Lennon, Dylan, Jeff Lynn (especially) and Prince. I mean I can go on and on. Newer artists though, I really like Alex Turner; I think he’s a genius . It is almost like listening to William Wordsworth, if Wordsworth were in a pop band. I love Lykke Li, she’s got that tune “Sadness is a Blessing.” It puts a lump in my throat every time I hear it. She could sing me the bible at my death bed and I wouldn’t be sad. I also like Toy – they’re the shit!!!

 PPLA: What is the next step for you once this video is released? Are there other projects in the works? Are you recording an album currently?

 RM: After the video, I plan on releasing the next single and shooting more videos, building a name for myself as an artist on the west coast, as most of my fans are back east. I would love to get over to England again. I’ve finished the Adult Cinema EP which is where “Disorder on the Dance Floor” resides as the 1st track. I’m now working on “Black Linen” which I mentioned before. Im using the Venice Symphony Orchestra for a lot of the songs. I can always recreate it with keys if I need to. I know purists don’t think that way, they like to say “don’t do anything in the studio that you can’t recreate live.” I used to agree with that, but that mentality stifles your creativity and growth. I’m going to do what I want for as long as I can get away with it.

Follow Randy on Twitter.