Alternative/Rock/Industrial Band "White Pulp" with Italian songwriter and singer Sonny Lanegan raging from their hometown Los Angeles, California, had taken some time to pursue other projects but during that time, things changed and White Pulp came back! All new material, new line-up, new shows, and touring, all a work in progress for Sonny Lanegan and his gang of misfits in White Pulp! Frontman vocalist Sonny Lanegan discusses their return, the new material, line-up, past, present, and future!
1. First of all, who are you, and what do you do in the band?
Sonny: I'm Sonny, singer and songwriter for the band White Pulp.
2. Can I get a backstory on the band/ band biography?
Sonny: I started White Pulp in 2009 while I was still living in Italy. At the time I was touring as guitar player with two successful bands, one called "Posthuman" which was a tribute to Marilyn Manson and the other one called "The Spiral", a tribute to NIN. After performing with them and other bands all around Europe, playing more than 200 shows in two years, I decided to start writing my own music. The result was White Pulp's first album "Ashamed of Yourself". I went into the studio with Nuke (who at the time was producing the album and also the bass player of the band) and we recorded the full album within two months. "Ashamed of Yourself" was released under the German label Echozone, followed by a second album called "Lost Inc.". In 2012 the label Full Effect Records/SONY took over White Pulp and released our third album "Vulgarity is Not a Felony" on American soil. You can also check out our full bio on our Facebook page..
3. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Sonny: It's always hard to answer this question I listen to all sorts of music. But if you wanna label it, then I would say: alternative-rock-industrial without the excessive make up. One of my main influences are NIN and TOOL, but on the other hand I also love Mark Lanegan. This is just to make an example about how many different influences and music styles I'm into.
4. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Sonny: It really depends from where you are at in your life at the moment you are writing an album. The first two albums "Ashamed of Yourself" and "Lost Inc." here both very critical towards the way I was looking at the people surrounding me and how we changed (obviously for the worse). "Lost Inc." in particular was literally representing all the good thoughts you were setting yourself, but everything was falling apart, because you were getting completely lost in something else on the way. Too many temptations which seem to be more fun and kind of an escape from boredom and growing up.
"Vulgarity is Not a Felony" was our first release in the US. Since we were new on the US market, we chose the best songs from the first and second album and just added four brand new songs to it. Both music and lyrics were pretty sexual and that's how I got the name for the album. A big playground for all the lost souls who wanna be filthy in a darkroom.
Nowadays I have a complete different approach towards life and in a way also towards my writing process. I didn't wanna write a concept album and to be honest I can't really feel like focusing only on one topic right now. It took me a long time to finish this new album. I took the human body as an inspirational point for the lyrics and I played around with it. It was very interesting and exciting. It was actually the first time I got excited about writing lyrics (some of them). For example there is a new song called "Self Medication", I'm really excited and satisfied about the way the song came out. The sound is creepy, slow tempo, heavy guitars, but in the chorus the songs open up and you get a sense of hope out of it. I love it. Sometimes I like to think that there is hope.
5. When we first spoke back in 2009, White Pulp was in Italy now that have transplanted themselves into the U.S. Of A. How has the transition been going for the band?
Sonny: The band didn't move, I did! My other band members stayed in Italy, so I had to look for new ones to fill in their positions. I got in touch with other musicians and we pretty much started playing shows. We had a great response from the audience right away, but as you can imagine it's not that easy to keep a band together, especially in a town like Los Angeles, California. I decided to pause the band for a while and see if I was gonna get excited about White Pulp again. Sometimes it doesn't even matter if people like your music or not, you are the one who needs to feel great about it otherwise there is no point. It's 2015, there is a new album and a new line up. The band is back.
6. Do you missing being out in Italy, would you ever go back for good or is the U.S. your calling card from here on out?
Sonny: Everything is possible. I miss Italy and I mostly miss my family but at the same time I love LA and I really like living here so who knows?
7. White Pulp has gone through it's member changes, do you see this current line-up to be "the one" to stick it out for the long haul?
Sonny: I love the guys I'm currently having in the band. There is a great chemistry between us and we are also friends which makes things a lot easier and pleasant. I don't think there is something like a perfect line up. Each and every musician is different This line up is working great and that's all that matters.
8. You had also mentioned back then that, White Pulp playing some shows acoustically, how did those turn out and will we be seeing acoustic material being released?
Sonny: We played several acoustic shows while I was in Europe. It was working out great and gave us the chance to reach more people and different crowds. Acoustic sets are intimate and can be very challenging. We never did it here in the US. Maybe one day we will play shows here and release music.
9. Are you guys signed or unsigned?
Sonny: We were signed. As of right now there is no contract on the table, even though I'm currently talking with three A&R about our new album. If we can find an agreement which will make both parts happy then ok otherwise we'll go out by ourselves.
10. You guys were in hold but during that time you did manage to play a handful of shows between then and now. So how have the gigs you guys been doing been going?
Sonny: We started playing shows pretty much right after I started working on the album. So far it was fun and I think we did great. Awesome response from the audience and great energy. We can't complain!
11. You decided to place White Pulp on hold during 2012-2014, how come and why did you see fit to bring it back again?
Sonny: I kind of answered this already but like I said, the main point was the struggle with other band members and that at the time I lost the excitement for whatever was going on related to White Pulp.
12. How would you say the new album compares to your previous records?
Sonny: I sent out a couple of songs to some friends and they said you can totally hear the White Pulp sound but that the album is completely different but in a great way! I guess time has also changed me and like I already mentioned, the writing process was really different. It took me 8 months to record the album and in 8 months a lot of things can change (especially in my mind). It wasn't expected but it was for the better at this point I'm really satisfied about the sound and all the songs. In a way I went back to the 90s. My best era. I believe we got so many good albums in those years unbelievable. I don't expect people to look at the new songs like I do but I hope they will find what I'm talking about.
13. Are there any surprises or any collaborations on the album?
Sonny: I co-wrote two songs with Giacomo Jac Salani. He co-produced the album with me and added his sound in some of the songs. In a way I think the album is a surprise, it's exciting and I believe it came out really good.
14. Did the band have any definitive goals they were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?
Sonny: Not really I woke up one day and while working on an instrumental track I realized that the sound was very familiar to White Pulp. I kept going and at the end of the day I had the song which was fitting 100% for White Pulp. In the next few days I kept going and I had the first ideas for some of the songs who made it into the album. That's how the recording process started and I definitely had no goals other than doing something that was gonna be different from what I did in the past.15. Are you using any new instrumentation you've never used in the recording process before?
Sonny: I didn't. When I record for White Pulp I like to give myself limitations. I like to work with a few things but that I know how to use really well. That allows me to not waste any time and go straight for what I have in my mind. That works especially for the sound you can get lost in a crazy world when you start to fuck around with some of those toys in the studio!
16. It's been some time since your last material, so did you feel any pressure to do this follow-up?
Sonny: No pressure at all. I mean technically we were suppose to give the label I was signed to another album but we worked that out since I didn't wanna write a new album just because. There is only one thing that I didn't change since I started doing music and that's writing music that I would like to listen, to write the kind of album that I would run to buy at the store.
17. Have you been road testing any of the new material? If so, how have audiences reacted to the new material?
Sonny: We did. We only played 3 of them so far and for what I can see people are really into "White Dope" and "Psychosomatic". Which they are also two of my favorites.
18. Will you be touring this album? Is there a chance you will be doing a short tour before the album is released?
Sonny: We are gonna play a couple of shows in June and then with to without label the album is gonna be out. And yes we are definitely gonna tour!
19. When can we expect the new album to be released?
Sonny: Mid July.
20. Will we ever see The Dead Good, Posthuman, The Spiral, and White Pulp, playing a show or doing a tour together?
Sonny: I don't see that happening with Posthuman or The Spiral but MAYBE with The Dead Good! I'm sure it would be a lot of fun!
21. How would you say that The Dead Good, Posthuman, The Spiral, and White Pulp, compare, differ, and have evolved from one another?
Sonny: Well Posthuman and The Spiral were both tribute bands. The Dead Good is very different from White Pulp. The approach towards the music, lyrics, the image and especially the sound they are just different. I can't really compare them but I think they are all pretty cool. ;)
22. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?
Sonny: First off there is a new album and a new line up so I think that's already something good to start with. I can't wait to play the new songs live and sweat all of our energy on stage! I'm also working with Isabella Knight on the new album for The Dead Good, so there is probably gonna be something on the way pretty soon!
23. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Sonny: You can check us out on Youtube and Facebook. You can buy "Vulgarity is Not a Felony" on iTunes, Amazon and other digital platforms. As far as the first two albums I don't really know you might find something on eBay or order them through some online stores.
24. What is it you'd like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Sonny: I usually fall in love with a band when I listen to them for the first time and when I can hear right away that there is gonna be a connection between the songs I'm listening and myself. That obviously goes on different levels but the most important thing is to relate yourself in what you are listening to. I guess that would be my main point.
25. Any last words of wisdom?
Sonny: #FilthyTits.
26. Is that your final answer?
Sonny: Pretty much and thank you!
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