Steven Drozd
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Some very exciting news came to us a few weeks back when our friends over at Premier Guitar Magazine published the latest edition of their superb video series, The Rig Rundown. It featured Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips, straight from the legendary Ryman Auditorium in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. Unbeknownst to us, Steven recently added the Nemesis Delay (our stereo multi-delay pedal) to his live rig. Watching the video was one of those thrilling moments when we get to sit back and say, "wow, a pedal that we created is aiding in the performance of some truly brilliant music."
The Flaming Lips are currently on tour in celebration of their epic 2002 release, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Yoshimi is a masterpiece, a gorgeous amalgam of genre defying psychedelia, sonic experimentation, pounding grooves, floating melodies, and stellar songwriting. The Lips have always been known for putting on a jaw-dropping live show, both visually and musically. Given the highly experimental nature of their records, bringing the sound to a live stage is no simple exercise. Steven explained, "When we're in the studio, we don't really think about how it's going to be live. We just make it in the studio... but then when we're starting to play it live, that's when we say, 'How the hell are gonna do that?'"
This episode of Rig Rundown is a fascinating, in-depth look at the gear Steven currently uses on stage. We don't have 100% confirmation, but we can say with some certainty that Steven employs the Nemesis Delay's "Sweeper" engine (a delay with a modulating filter applied to the repeats) on the video's introduction riff and again at 3:24. We also hear the the Nemesis' "Helix" engine (an angelic effect created by reversing the delay taps and pitching them up an octave) at 9:48. Steven admitted, "This Nemesis Delay is a new thing in my life. I like it a lot." (Thanks, Steven!!!). Those are some of the Source Audio highlights, but anybody who digs the Flaming Lips, or just loves nerding-out over oddball gear will love this video.
The Flaming Lips are currently on tour in celebration of their epic 2002 release, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Yoshimi is a masterpiece, a gorgeous amalgam of genre defying psychedelia, sonic experimentation, pounding grooves, floating melodies, and stellar songwriting. The Lips have always been known for putting on a jaw-dropping live show, both visually and musically. Given the highly experimental nature of their records, bringing the sound to a live stage is no simple exercise. Steven explained, "When we're in the studio, we don't really think about how it's going to be live. We just make it in the studio... but then when we're starting to play it live, that's when we say, 'How the hell are gonna do that?'"
This episode of Rig Rundown is a fascinating, in-depth look at the gear Steven currently uses on stage. We don't have 100% confirmation, but we can say with some certainty that Steven employs the Nemesis Delay's "Sweeper" engine (a delay with a modulating filter applied to the repeats) on the video's introduction riff and again at 3:24. We also hear the the Nemesis' "Helix" engine (an angelic effect created by reversing the delay taps and pitching them up an octave) at 9:48. Steven admitted, "This Nemesis Delay is a new thing in my life. I like it a lot." (Thanks, Steven!!!). Those are some of the Source Audio highlights, but anybody who digs the Flaming Lips, or just loves nerding-out over oddball gear will love this video.
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Learn More About Source Audio Pedals Used by Steven Drozd
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Here is a fantastic example of on other-worldly live performances from The Lips' performance at Sydney Opera House in January of 2020. Watching them work is exhilarating. The way Steven bounces back and forth between keyboard, guitar, and other sound making devices is truly inspiring. And what can you say about singer Wayne Coyne? The guy is a living breathing unicorn, an artist like no other.
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...and please excuse me for a brief moment while I reminisce. I will never forget when I first heard the Flaming Lips' breakthrough album, The Soft Bulletin. My band at the time was driving our road-worn van out of Boston in early summer of '99 for either a random out-of-town one-off show or an extended US tour. I must admit that at the time I had limited exposure to the Flaming Lips, but on this day our bass player plugged in their latest CD and all of us were instantly swept away by a pummeling drum sound (compressed to obscene levels) combined with a swirling riff from some unidentifiable instrument that our drummer described as, "a demonic violin section beamed in from some pre-World War II era symphony orchestra." It was elegant, majestic, and it rocked - a soundscape like none I'd heard. I was an instant fan. From that day forward I tuned-in to every one of their brilliant releases: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Mystics Explained, Oczy Mlody, plus their amazing early records like Clouds Taste Metallic. Every Flaming Lips record is a journey of unexpected sounds, jarringly divergent musical arrangements, and beautiful melodies with lyrics that baffle and amaze.
I recently came across the following documentary about the making of The Soft Bulletin, created by the fine people at Pitchfork. It is fascinating to hear Steven and Wayne pull back the curtain and talk about the band's history and some of the defining moments in the creation of a truly beautiful record.
I recently came across the following documentary about the making of The Soft Bulletin, created by the fine people at Pitchfork. It is fascinating to hear Steven and Wayne pull back the curtain and talk about the band's history and some of the defining moments in the creation of a truly beautiful record.
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