There is an indelible homespun warmth that surrounds the work of Madison, Wisconsin based artist Jason Lambeth. From family oriented DIY music videos to the sketches and collages shaped so beautifully into handcrafted zines, Lambeth has established himself not only as a key figure in the underground independent scene, but as a rather splendid human being to boot.
With layers of droning guitars and psychedelic keys building a home for his softly sung melodies, and the propulsive rhythms of bandmate Elsa Nekola driving the music ever forward, Lambeth’s noise-rock project Red Pants are about to release their strongest work to date, and first to be pressed to vinyl.
New album Not Quite There Yet arrives October 27th via Meritorio Records, and ahead of its release Jason very kindly agreed to answer some questions for heavymetalkids.uk:
Hi Jason, thank you for talking to heavymetalkids.uk! I was wildly excited to learn that the new Red Pants album Not Quite There Yet would be getting the full vinyl treatment courtesy of Meritorio Records. How did the link up with this fine Madrid based label come about?
Hey Fran, thanks so much for having me!
Connecting with Meritorio was surprisingly simple. Álvaro messaged me and asked if I would like to work on something. I was already quite a fan of Meritorio’s releases from the last few years and jumped at the chance to work with them. And as luck would have it, Elsa and I were just about to finish up the recording and mixing the new album. It all came together relatively quickly after the first couple of messages.
I first became aware of your work early last year with the release of When We Were Dancing, due to it coming out via my favourite San Francisco label Paisley Shirt Records. As a Madison, WI resident, how did this Bay Area connection arise?
I quickly became a Paisley Shirt fanboy back in 2019 when I bought a cassette of the Sad Eyed Beatniks album, Music From Big White. I was doing my own tape label at the time and I felt an immediate kinship with what Kevin was doing with Paisley Shirt. Kevin and I became internet friends and when I was lamenting to him about not having time to do my own label, he offered Red Pants a spot on the Paisley Shirt roster and I took him up on the opportunity. There’s no doubt that working with him opened a lot of doors for us and I am so thankful we got to work together.
The Red Pants origin story seems to date back to around 2018. Can you tell me a little about how the project started, and how you arrived at working with the quite brilliant Elsa Nekola?
Red Pants began after I had taken about 4-5 years off from making anything. It was a pretty busy break. My wife and I started a family and we started up an in-home daycare (which I still run). Once we had settled into this new life, I started tinkering with art and music again. I believe Elsa and I met way back in 2011. I was good friends with her husband and we met when they started dating. We played together a bit in 2013, but she moved away for grad school and I took my hiatus at around the same time. She moved back soon after I started putting stuff out as Red Pants and we picked up where we left off. Her Images project was one of the first things I put out on my short lived tape label!
I love the homespun/DIY nature of your work and enjoy checking out your drawings/collages just as much as I love hearing your music. How is it being an artist in 2023 and how important are your family to your creative process?
I feel pretty lucky to be making art and music in 2023. I know social media certainly has its pitfalls, but I have become friends with so many amazing artists and musicians thanks to it. I’m constantly inspired by what I see other people doing online. And it enables me to spread the word without having to leave my house.
The fam is most definitely a constant source of inspiration. It’s definitely evolved over the years from writing songs to or about my daughters, to seeing if I can get a rise out of them with how noisy I am being in the basement, to making art that annoys them. My older daughter always questions my choice of giving people two sets of eyes. It drives her nuts. It’s my best dad joke yet.
Lastly, with the new album about to come out into the world, what are your hopes and aspirations for the record, and beyond?
I am just super excited for everyone to hear the album! Getting to put it out on vinyl with Meritorio has already exceeded all my expectations. Elsa and I are planning our first shows in four years. So, I am pretty stoked to play some backyard barbecues around Madison this fall!
Thanks again for having me and for all of your efforts to share great new tunes! The blog and radio show are definitely highlights of the internet!
With those incredibly kind words carrying me forward, I’m off to immerse myself once again in the wonderful sounds of Red Pants. Not Quite There Yet is the most fully formed, immersive album that Jason and Elsa have released to date. A wonderful collision of garage psych urgency and amber soaked melodies that capture you from the very first listen, leaving lasting images and impressions that will keep you coming back again and again. Be sure to also check out Jason’s other creative endeavours at https://www.jasonelambeth.com.
Pre order Not Quite There Yet here, and watch the Jem Fanvu (Vacant Gardens) directed video for On A Wire below.
With thanks to Jason Lambeth and Álvaro at Meritorio Records.
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