Vital Vinyl: Steven Drozd Discusses New Electric Wurms LP, Artwork + More
The Electric Wurms are a psychedelic-prog-rock outfit whose music is a supernatural trip to another dimension. Fronted by Steven Drozd and featuring the mind of Wayne Coyne -- both of the Flaming Lips -- the Electric Wurms' debut release, 'Musik, Die Schwer Zu Twerk,' is like nothing you've heard before. Fortunately for wax fiends, the band put as much thought into the vinyl release as they did the overall music of the album.
"I listen to vinyl. I just think it sounds great if it's done right," Drozd tells us in an exclusive chat. "Most of the music I listen to is on my computers, but I also have a Magnavox from 1961 and I have a bunch of records from that time that I like to listen to just on that record player. It's a different listening experience if you have time for it, you know?"
Even as great as the vinyl listening experience is, it's obviously not always the most convenient method to hear your favorite music. "I don't think it's a necessity by any means. If I was a 21-year-old kid, I might not think it's a necessity; it's just another way to listen to music," the Flaming Lips guitarist says honestly. "I just think it's a cool thing to have, it's another way to present music, it's another thing to collect, it's another tactile thing you can hold in your hand. It's a piece of art. I'm happy that it's happening and that vinyl is making some kind of resurgence. I'm thankful it's there."
A major part of any vinyl release is the cover art; blown up on a 12-inch jacket, even the simplest photo or drawing can look magnificent. With 'Musik, Die Schwer Zu Twerk,' the cover art is almost as captivating as the music itself.
"Wayne and George Salisbury did the artwork, they pretty much do everything," Drozd explains. "I think Wayne found a painting he liked and scribbled on top of it and that became the album cover. He had three or four things that he had done and he sent them to me in an email and asked me what I liked the best. The cover seemed to go really well with the music, you know, the exploding colors."
When listening to the Wurms debut album, it's hard not to be transfixed by the mind-altering cover at the same time. Drozd tells us, "Wayne is just constantly doing stuff. He might be writing lyrics or jotting down ideas for a video, he's always doing stuff. For him, doing the cover was just all connected to making the music and writing the liner notes. I think our album cover suits the music very well. It looks like new art, but it also looks based on some old psychedelic art."
The original piece of art that Coyne and Salisbury "mutilated" is called 'Over Exploded' by illustrator Dan Donahue. You can see it on the cover of his book, 'Ultraviolet: 69 Classic Blacklight Posters from the Aquarian Age and Beyond.'
Whether it's the exploding colors on the jacket's cover or the exploding colors in the music itself, 'Musik, Die Schwer Zu Twerk' is a record that warrants a listening session on a turntable. Drop the needle, sit back and let the Electric Wurms transport you to outer space.
Electric Wurms' debut album, 'Musik, Die Schwer Zu Twerk,' is available on CD and digital formats as well as a 'dayglo purple' (transparent purple with pinkish swirl) vinyl edition. Get details on the release here.
Electric Wurms -- Musik, Die Schwer Zu Twerk