Crave’s latest exclusive premiere comes by way of nav/attack, the synth-driven art-pop project of Los Angeles-based artist, producer and engineer Andrew Lynch. nav/attack has released its self-titled debut,via Dangerbird Records, hitting the ground running with a positively wild video experience.
According to Lynch, the nav/attack moniker is derived from an ’80s “War Games-esque” software that uses a computer to locate a specific target and relay information back to its human counterpart. To avoid misunderstandings with a computer, you must learn its language. Written, recorded, produced and performed by Andrew Lynch, nav/attack’s self-titled debut LP is a “trip through the post-Computer Age, where each technological stream flows intravenously into the larger consciousness. Piano, trumpet, drums and bass are invaded by drum machines, computer speech, vocoders and vintage samplers.”
“Factory Life” starts with a cymbal processed by a Moog ring modulator,” Lynch explains. “It’s joined by a beat made with a phone and a melody from a plastic music machine of the 80’s. It sounds like an anxiety factory. The process of recording “Factory Life” started pretty unceremoniously. I didn’t have anything, I was just testing out a new microphone on my piano. I got set up and starting improvising and out came the low piano “bass line” that starts the song. The next layers were a drum machine beat from my iPhone and a rumble from an old Slingerland 28″ bass drum. After layering more electronics, I took it out to Aaron Epinoza’s studio The Ship to record some live drums by my friend Denny Weston, Jr. Later, I asked another pal, Robert Douglas, to add electric bass and he played this beautiful 70’s soul melody—it’s still my favorite element in the song.”
Lynch continues: “The video is only one of six videos I directed myself for the album, so I can’t give away the whole story—you’ll have to watch the other ones to get it all. We’ve already met the evil Dr. Ross Arlen (played by Bram Barouh) in an earlier video, but in this one we get a glimpse into the inner lives (booze, shoes, and cocaine) of The Operators, three women who work for the doctor. Every villain needs assistants who actually make the evil happen. These women have the real power… and fun!”
Watch the video for “Factory Life” below, premiered exclusively on Crave:
Lynch expands on the video production:
”The video for ‘Factory Life’ was shot at CML Studios in Glendale, CA. We constructed the doctor’s office sets on the sound stage, and using a skeleton crew, shot it (and two of the other videos) all in one day. All of The Operators’ keyboards, video monitors, and other technology are items I bought second hand and painted myself to fit the world of “Factory Life.” I decided early on that I was not only going to direct the video, I also had to be the art department. This wasn’t necessarily the brightest idea since I don’t have any kind of workshop. Christina Offley plays our hero—I found her through a casting call. The Operators are expertly played by Marci Miller, Heather Lynch, and Rene Hartel, who already all knew each other, and when you see them together you can really tell. For the cocaine scene, one of them had to coach the other two on how it’s really done!”
“There’s a film by Antonioni called Red Desert that is one of my favorites. Monica Vitti’s character has recently survived a car accident, has psychologically lost her shit, and she’s wandering around industrial landscapes, trying to adapt to the new social environment in Italy. I went through a windshield in Alaska in an auto accident myself when I was 9 months old—it put me in a coma for three days. Navigating our global internet culture often makes me feel like I’m wandering around a technological landscape, trying to adapt to the new norm of knowing the minute-by-minute details of strangers’ lives. Or maybe I just have a crush on Monica Vitti.”
Andrew Lynch studied film and video at Academy of Art in San Francisco before composing the music for Christopher Guest‘s film For Your Consideration and Drew Barrymore‘s directorial debut Whip It. As an audio engineer, Lynch has worked with—among others—John Cale, Sia, Earlimart and L.A. punk supergroup OFF! As a musician and performer with various bands, Lynch has played at BBC Radio 6, Radio Paris, SXSW, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic and CBS’ Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Keep up with nav/attack on their official site, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
