Interview with Astralux

How long has Astralux been together?

• Will Schlich (Lead Singer/Guitarist): We’ve been playing seriously since the Summer of 2021.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• Will: We had been looking a while for a name that was totally original, which is harder to find than you’d think today with so many people making music and so many “channels” to broadcast it on. I think we exhausted every word in the English language, so we eventually looked elsewhere.

• Michael Lieberman (drums): Astralux means “starlight” in Latin. We liked the way it sounded right away, but even more so, what it represents. Starlight itself is a symbol of creation, both of the universe and everything in it.”

What’s the inspiration or meaning behind your new single “Livewire”?

• Will: Musically, “Livewire” is a dance song. We wanted to write something that got the crowd moving at our shows. Something with an infectious beat. Lyrically, it’s about a feeling—good, bad, happy or sad, it’s about that primal emotion we’ve all had when we’re overwhelmed by a feeling, and all the crazy places it can take us.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• Michael: I think the one thing that we all have in common is that we are life-long learners. We are all constantly in pursuit of knowledge. Whether through reading, exploring, observing art of any kind. We are always open to new ideas and new ways of thinking. I think that’s why our sound always seems to be evolving.

How does being based in Los Angeles influence your music?

• Cam Fadl (bassist): LA is an artist melting pot. You can throw a rock anywhere in town and probably hit an incredible painter, musician, or filmmaker. That kind of constant engagement with creators really seeps into everything you do.

Tell us about your most memorable show.

• Will: Our last show at the Whisky a Go-go was pretty epic. It was a completely full house and we pulled out a few tricks to rally enhance our live sound. I’ve never seen an audience more engaged than that. It was a special night.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• Will: I’d say the Whisky. All of our shows there seem to be pretty great. Maybe it’s just the legendary nature of the stage seeping into our psyche. We’d love to play all the major LA venues – Troubadour, the Roxy—things of that nature.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• Will: The Beatles

• Cam: Black Sabbath

• Michael: Led Zeppelin

• Will: That’s a heck of a bill.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• Will: If you love something, never give up on it. I regret the years I took off playing music as I was busy making a life and career for myself. If you love something, it’s always going to find a way back into your life, so you might as well embrace it.

Of all your songs, which one means the most to you and why?

• Will: “Fantasy.” There is very few things I love more in the world than the Beatles, and I feel like that song is about as close as I’ve gotten to them. With a dash of The Strokes in there as well.

Which songs are your favorite to play live?

• Michael: “Nocturnal,” it’s our opener and always a crowd pleaser. It gets the energy up.

• Cam: “Livewire” for me. The bass line is my favorite of ours.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• Will: We all write together. It usually starts with an initial idea coming to the table, and we love to just work through it and pitch out any idea we have. We are all so musically aligned we seem to feed off each other’s creative energy.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• Will: More than anything, we want people to have fun. We want lyrics that make you think, musicianship that blows your mind, but more than anything we want to give you something to hum on the way to work or sing you’re in the shower. Something that makes you realize all the things that make music so great.

What is next for Astralux?

• Michael: We are simultaneously finishing our album, playing out around LA honing our live show, and already writing our follow up record. Our dream is to share our music with the world and each day it feels like every day we’re getting closer and closer. We’d love to tour with a national act and play festivals by next summer, or whenever the opportunity presents itself for that matter.