If you haven’t yet heard of Wallpaper., it’s time to tune in. Since being selected as MTVs PUSH Artist of the week, the innovative quartet, fronted by vocalist Ricky Reed, has been skyrocketing in popularity. The band is known for their hit single, #STUPiDFACEDD, which catalyzed a Twitter hashtag sensation and landed the band on Top 40 radio stations across the country. Wallpaper. recently packed Los Angeles’s El Rey theatre and treated a captivated audience to their signature “booty-shaking-bass-dropping hits.”
ChinaShop caught up with Wallpaper. following their recent stop in LA. Check out the interview after the jump:
How do you describe your sound?
“Loud fun and weird. No genres, just happiness and power and freedom.”
Tell us what people can expect from a live Wallpaper show…
“All of the above. Plus Novena Carmel.”
What is the story behind you being called Wallpaper?
“Pop music is Wallpaper. Background noise with boring patterns and colors.”
How did you all get together?
“One by one, in different ways. Novena is actually my stepsister. Arjun I met in the war. Derek and I opened up a coffee shop together in the ’80s and Tom is my uncle.”
What is something about your music that makes you different from other artists out there today?
“It’s ‘music-al.’ I also say what I want to for real real. Too many artists are just forcing out hot garbage about cold garbage.”
What are your musical guilty pleasures?
“None are guilty. I like what I like and can back it all up!”
We came across a cool video of you performing at a pool part at The Standard in downtown LA. Are these typical Wallpaper gigs?
“Yeah I get down with a lot of those type of intimate situation gigs – house parties and what not. Never too good to not have a stage.”
What’s the coolest gig you’ve ever played?
“Wow. They get cooler and cooler so the more recent are always the best. Headlining Great American Music Hall San Francisco and The El Rey in LA were pretty special for me.”
I read something about you having a past crush on Al from Step by Step…was in the tomboy thing?
“Wow! Researchin’ me dog! I dunno she just had it goin’ on for me at that time. Something about a girl in denim overalls you know!”
Your albums have had some interesting titles. Can you explain the significance of Doodoo Face, #STUPiDFACEDD, etc…
“#STUPiDFACEDD is just a state of mind. It’s not a face. Doodoo Face is more of a face than a state of mind. But yeah I should prob not use the word ‘face’ in my next album. ‘ALBUMFACE.’”
What is your preshow drink of choice?
“Mix whiskey and champagne (The James Murphy) ain’t bad. The Hobo (Red Wine and Coke). The Angry Hobo (Four Loko).”
Worst decision you ever made prior to taking the stage to perform?
“Drinking all aforementioned drinks.”
What makes the best Wallpaper audience?
“People who are comfortable with themselves and do what they wanna do!”
Anything else we should know about Wallpaper?
“Yeah, but I can’t put it in writing.”
Words by Nicole Pajer (@NicolePajer). Photos by Catie Laffoon (@CatieLaffoon)
