L.A. Edwards Talks New Album, Hometown And More

Heartland rockers L.A. Edwards will release their new album ‘Pie Town’, on 5th July 2024 and will support it with some UK live dates. Frontman Luke Andrew Edwards took time out of his busy schedule to tell us about the new album and more:     

Who is in the band and what do they play? 

Luke Andrew Edwards-Vocals, guitars, synths, pianos, ukulele, mandolin, drums, percussion, harmonica, lap steel, tin whistle

Jay Edwards-Vocals, guitars, synths, pianos, Bass, organ, percussion, tin whistle

Jerry Edwards-Drums, Vocals, percussion

Landon Pigg-Piano, Synths, organ, vocals

Jesse Dorman-Bass, Vocals

What is your earliest musical memory?

I remember hearing Yellow Submarine on some sort of compilation cassette in the early 90’s in England, and something about it clung to me.  It was so simple and silly but it got stuck in my toddler brain and it took me on a weird trip.  I had no idea what the lyrics meant but the melody and production was so appealing.  My 3 year old daughter just had the same experience with that song recently and she was singing it around the house for weeks.  

After that when I was around 6, our Grandpa taught us how to play some songs from The Sound of Music on the ukulele, and that was a turning point as far as loving to learn and play music and instruments.

So I read that you dropped out of school at 15 and hit the road with his older brother Jay, playing gigs and busking across North America. Do you have any stories, memories from that time? Did you learn anything about yourself from that experience?

Our family has always been pretty outside the norm with 7 siblings, half Asian, deeply religious, and a military household in a small town.  High school and adolescence were different for me and Jay because our upbringing had been so much stranger than our peers in every way.  We started playing guitar and drums, writing songs, and decided to take our chances on the road instead of the football team.  

An interesting memory- When I eloped at 20, Jay bought me a 6 pack of beer and we headed out on tour that same night.

Your new album ‘Pie Town’ is released on 5th July 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the album? Where did you record the album and who produced it?

We approached Pie Town with a lot of ambition for the sonic landscape but with no set deadline.  There were only a few songs written beforehand and we wrote the rest in the studio while running tape over a few months starting in the summer of 2023.  I had a vague North Star idea of where we were heading but I think the fun in searching for and finding that star can be heard on this album and production- kind of like the 3 wise men in the dunes on Christmas Eve.  I produced it at my home studio in Seattle.

When you are writing songs do you have a particular process e.g. lyrics first?

The songwriting process is always different for me.  Sometimes I’ll be inspired by some other art, or based on a dream, or a guitar lick.  It’s pretty open ended but melody usually dictates the lyrics and arrangement.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Wuthering Heights.  It’s so relatable, yet surreal and romantic too.  Ghosty shit is cool too!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I play pretty much all Gretsch guitars onstage right now.  Jay and I trade between rhythm and lead a lot, and for me Gretsch does a great job covering the basis for both.  I’m playing a Silver Penguin or Sparkle Jet live, usually through an AC30 or AC15, usually with a compressor and some boosts for solos or slide guitar.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Julian, California is our hometown-Pie Town is a call out to it.  It’s a town of about 2000 people and it’s known for apple pie.  We moved there for Y2K when we were kids and the effect it had on our family was enormous.  We went from moving around all the time with the Navy to finally settling in a small rural town when we were coming of age.

In 5 words or less: Small town dreams, pie town.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the album recording sessions?

I don’t smoke weed, but Jay brought some into the studio when we were writing and recording ‘Just Forget It’ and it was pretty funny.  I remember writing the riff and holding onto my Gretsch for dear life with fear, laughing hysterically.  While- also being totally thrilled on how everything was sounding and just to be able to jam with my brothers and not worry about anything else. 

Do you have any plans for live shows in Europe/UK in 2024?

We have our first headline tour coming together in the UK and EU for summer 2024.  It’s a big jumping off point for us since we’ve been supporting so many great artists domestically and abroad over the last 4 years.  I’m looking forward to playing a longer set and giving our fans a deeper dive into the songs and what they mean as a catalogue.

You have also released your new single ‘Good Luck’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track? 

Good Luck is about a few different people in my life, all very close and sometimes disappointing(as I know I have been to some of those people closest to me).  I think there is an honest ‘good luck ‘and also a “fuck you” good luck portrayed.  Similar to; “don’t worry about it,” the sincerity of the phrase is always up to the person saying it.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

A.-Happiest is “Angel Weight.”  Any song about my wife is always happy since that’s how she makes me feel. 

B.-Angriest is “Good Luck” 

C.-All of the songs are very reflective on this album, but in a different way than previous records where the lyrics were so cut and dry and biographical.  This album is more reflective musically, hopefully leaving more space for the listener to reflect on the lyrics.

Was it a difficult album to write?

This album was very difficult to write and record.  We mysteriously lost the original recording sessions which was devastating.  It was about 3 months of work that was never recovered.  The point in life as a person and also being between heavy touring was also exhausting for everyone involved-whether as family, players, or anyone in our camp.

How do you look after your voice?

Champagne, Cigarettes, and no more than 6 hours of sleep nightly.  And not talking too much.  I’m not really a vocalist so it never really mattered too much.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

My influences musically are always changing and the answer to that question is evolving alongside of that.  Right now I’m loving Depeche Mode and early U2, along with the Velvet Underground, the Kinks, and Lucinda Willams.  I recently got into The National, especially their song “I Should Live in Salt” which is about brotherhood and has a beautiful arrangement and some funky timings.  If I could have written one song from another artist it would be “Good Times” by Sam Cooke.

You and your wife Starr have your own vegan sauce empire called Bitchin’ Sauce. When did you launch it, where did the idea come from and what flavours do you have? 

We launched Bitchin Sauce in 2010 to make money for our growing family.  It’s been a wild ride that has opened so many doors for us and also challenged us in ways we didn’t think possible.  We have about 20 flavors currently and Starr and I still handle all of the innovation and key sales from our home kitchen.

What makes L.A. Edwards happy and what makes you unhappy? 

Family and family.  Music and music.  Champagne and champagne.