Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) with Neil Krug

Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) with Neil Krug

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a repeat customer along with his well-known photographer friend-slash-collaborator who’s done some record covers you’re definitely familiar with. It’s Ruban Nielson and Neil Krug. Nielson is the frontman of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the band he started in his native New Zealand before relocating to Portland, Oregon, where he still lives. UMO, as the band is affectionately known, has often been categorized as psych-rock, but I’m not sure that label is accurate or complete. There’s definitely some oil-lamp vibes going on, but there’s something more personal and direct happening underneath the swirling guitars and hooks. That’s maybe never been more true than on this year’s Curse EP, which was Nielson’s way of writing and creating through the grief of his younger sister’s untimely death from cancer. He channeled that energy into songs that were also inspired by ‘70s Italian horror movies and gloomy metal records, but somehow it’s not a bummer at all. Check out “DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY” right here. As you know if you’re a regular listener of this podcast, we mostly feature musicians, occasionally actors, every once in a while a producer or writer. But I’m not sure if in all of these years we’ve ever welcomed someone chiefly known as a photographer. That changes today, with Neil Krug, whose photographs you’ve likely seen even if you don’t know his name. Krug is maybe best known for his shots of Lana Del Rey, and he also did the iconic cover of Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush. He and Ruban go way back, having worked on artwork and photos for Unknown Mortal Orchestra over the years—and maybe in the future? In this great conversation, these two chat about the making of Curse, working together on UMO’s Sex and Food record as well as other UMO stuff, the ridiculously over-the-top reaction of Ruban’s fans to his dabbling in AI artwork, and the joys of David Lynch. Enjoy. 0:00 – Intro 2:20 – Start of the chat 3:02 – On making Curse and music as therapy 10:20 – Nielson on AI tools and the reaction from UMO fans 16:50 – UMO's "analog-only photography" policy at shows 21:42 – How Krug and Nielson first met 25:45 – Nielson's cape phase 26:42 – On UMO’s Sex and Food and the color blue 27:50 – Sex and Food's original title was... 31:51 – On SB mixes, Hanoi, Curse, and other non-traditional UMO records 34:45 – On David Lynch and the power of cinema 36:00 – The story behind The Slow Rush artwork 40:41 – Predictions on the next UMO record 44:02 – On "darky, spooky aesthetics" Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ruban Nielson and Neil Krug for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Episoder(610)

Shirley Manson with Constant Follower

Shirley Manson with Constant Follower

On today's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got one of those episodes pairing an artist you’ve surely heard of, pun intended, with one you likely haven’t, but will. It’s Shirley Manson and Stephen McAll. Mans...

27 Feb 20251h 5min

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Vera Drew

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Vera Drew

In this new spin-off series of the Talkhouse Podcast, host Nick Dawson introduces a new conversation format by setting out to ask questions that his guests have never been asked before in an interview...

20 Feb 202544min

A 2025 Preview of Aquarium Drunkard's Transmissions

A 2025 Preview of Aquarium Drunkard's Transmissions

Josh Modell sits down with Transmissions host Jason P. Woodbury to preview the new season of Aquarium Drunkard's podcast, Transmissions. Subscribe to Transmissions Read more at Aquarium Drunkard

18 Feb 202512min

Haley Joel Osment with Matt Walsh

Haley Joel Osment with Matt Walsh

If you’re a regular Talkhouse Podcast listener you know that we most often feature musicians on the show, but we’re always happy when creative people in other fields share a chat, too—especially when ...

13 Feb 202549min

Podcast Preview: Jokermen - In Conversation: JOSH TILLMAN

Podcast Preview: Jokermen - In Conversation: JOSH TILLMAN

This episode originally ran on January 6, 2025 on the Jokermen Podcast. Subscribe to Jokermen. The Jokermen and Josh Tillman discuss creative process, theories of schmaltz, The Beatles, mental health,...

6 Feb 20251h 2min

Margo Price with Lilly Hiatt

Margo Price with Lilly Hiatt

We’re going a little bit country again this week on the Talkhouse Podcast—gotta keep you on your toes—with a pair of Nashville singer-songwriters who share a sensibility, some history, and sobriety, a...

30 Jan 202548min

Bayker Blankenship with Waylon Wyatt

Bayker Blankenship with Waylon Wyatt

I’m stating the extremely obvious here, but the music business has changed a bit since I started listening to and even writing about music—in some bad ways for sure, but also in some that are pretty f...

23 Jan 202524min

Paul Banks (Interpol) with Frank Black (Pixies)

Paul Banks (Interpol) with Frank Black (Pixies)

So picture this: It's 1994. The Pixies had been music-world darlings for half a decade or so, releasing some incredible records before fizzling to a stop. Their enigmatic singer, Black Francis, change...

16 Jan 202548min

Populært innen Underholdning

papaya
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
tore-og-haralds-podkast
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
tusvik-tnne
konspirasjonspodden
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
kjendiscrush-med-sofie-karlstad
hovla
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
big-5-med-nils-og-harald-2
nare-venner
vitnemal
gi-meg-alle-detaljene
feedback-med-egon-holstad
rss-gammal-maiden
rss-brassers
rss-ls-the-next-episode