SOUND ADVICE

Josh Landau of Stolen Nova is Praying for an Oasis Reunion

This is SOUND ADVICE, a weekly destination for playlists curated by Interview’s friends, enemies, and lovers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered playlists curated by Rick OwensChino Moreno, and Patia Borja. This week’s edition is brought to you by Josh Landau, formerly the frontman of L.A. stoner rock band The Shrine. The band’s punky psychedelic riffs have resounded everywhere from Ozzfest to Thrasher magazine parties, but now Landau has pivoted to his solo project and alter ego, Stolen Nova. His newest 60s and funk inflected single, “Glue,” is accompanied by a Blue Velvet-inspired music video and marks something of a sonic departure, with more emphasis on rock than roll. For SOUND ADVICE, Landau shares his “no brainer all rock party playlist” and answers our questionnaire, revealing his favorite of his eight guitars, his hopes for an Oasis reunion, and the Kendrick Lamar song that makes him cry.

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Where do you dance? On top of the bar

What’s on your bedroom playlist? Mellow jazz, curtis mayfield, some 60’s motown, Trojan Records compilations

Fuck, marry, kill: Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music? Fuck em all

Bluetooth or wired headphones? My bluetooth Marshall Headphones are on my head for hours every day, love em

What do you listen to before hitting the stage? Thin Lizzy always makes me feel tough

Who’s the greatest guitarist of all time? Hendrix – my other favs Dr. Know from Bad Brains, Tony Iommi, Greg Ginn from Black Flag, and obviously Prince!

Favorite on-the-road meal? English fry up all the way

Who pulled off the best band-to-solo-act transition? I really hope Oasis get back together but I do dig Liam’s new album!

What was your first concert? My dad took me to see Pete Seegar at Santa Monica High School when I was like 7, there for sure was something before that, but we went up and said hi to him afterwards. My grandpa was in the army with him and then managed him for a few years after while working at Folkways. I’ll never forget it.

What song on this playlist makes you cry? Oh this mix is my straight up no brainer all banger rock and roll party playlist – but a song that made me cry not so long ago surprisingly was “I” by Kendrick Lamar  – when he says “how many times my potential was anonymous” something about that song and that line just hits me so hard its so powerful, it brought me to tears in kinda a euphoric fuck you way. Spanish Boots of Leather by Dylan is another one. Oh also I cried watching Iggy sing “Search and Destroy” at the Celine show here in LA recently –  seeing him survive and come out on top and sing “I’m the worlds forgotten boy” – not having been forgotten – that brought a tear

Name your favorite artist no one knows about: These aren’t people no one knows, but they’re on the come-up big time and friends of mine that I’ve recently played guitar in the studio with em and am blown away and can’t wait for the songs to come out: Teezo Touchdown, Lava La Rue, La Femme, Obongjayer, Terry Presume, Ho99o9 –  check them all out!!

How many guitars do you own? Which is your favorite? About 8 – my new clear stratocaster is my favorite – I custom put it together myself and named it Lola after my dog that had cancer and had to be put down.

Where’s the afters? Usually a house party at some weirdo rich person’s house someone kinda knows and you’re like how and why are we here?

What song do you have on repeat? I had Dijon’s song Many Times on repeat last year a lottttttt

What do you listen to when you’re high? Hendrix

What’s your favorite album cover of all time? Raymond Pettibone’s work for all the SST bands will never leave my mind, also I’m obviously obsessed with Jamie Reid and his Sex Pistol’s work. But actually it’s probably Maggot Brain by Funkadelic!!

Who’s the queen of pop? What about rock? Little Richard is both and everything in between!!

What’s your favorite movie needle-drop? It’s Blue Velvet Dean Stockwell singing Roy Orbison “In Dreams”!!! When I first saw it I was shocked no one had re-done it for a music video and I never gave up that idea and years later made it happen for “Glue”