Moogfest Q&A: The Jellyrox

Photo from The Jellyrox Facebook page

If “Appalachian electropop,” the self-styled classification of Black Mountain-based The Jellyrox sounds like a misnomer, don’t over think it. The band’s most recent release, Embellish, promises “warm, dreamy, danceable, electronic pop joy.” The Jellyrox is the solo project of Matt Langston from indie-pop outfit Eleventyseven; he performs as part of the local showcase at New Earth on Thursday, April 24, at 8 p.m.

Mountain Xpress: You also perform with Eleventyseven, but at Moogfest you’ll be doing your solo project, The Jellyrox. What are you able to do as a solo performer that you can’t do with a full band?

Matt Langston: My first reaction to that is that I miss my friends in Eleventy, and kind of wish they were on stage with me. I played guitar in Eleventy, so being able to play synths live is a really fun experience for me, because I’m not a keyboard player by trade. I have a lot more control over the flow of the set since it’s only me, so that’s cool. Unfortunately, it also means I’m the only one making jokes, and that’s bad for everyone involved.

Anything special planned for your set?
I’m hoping to have time to play a cover of R. Kelly’s “Remix to Ignition.” That song makes me want to find the nearest skating rink, re-open it (since it’s probably closed), and jam-skate.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Moogfest lineup — anything you hope to takeaway from the experience?
I feel really honored, and really excited to be a part of this intricately mammoth and all-inclusive scene that is electronic music. I love meeting new bands, swapping stories, talking tech … hopefully that will happen. I hope to take a poster away from the experience.

If you could collaborate with another Moogfest performer, who would it be?
I’ve been a huge fan of Pet Shop Boys since I was a kid. Neil Tennant’s vocals are just so freakin’ cool. Maybe one day they’ll let me produce a track for them, if I’m really lucky. I love their approach to pop, and how they’ve figured out how to stay in the game so long.

Are there any day programs (panels, talks, installations) that you hope to check out?
Dave Smith, Tom Oberheim, Roger Lynn — they all kick ass. I always love hearing from people who make the instruments that we all obsess over. They probably have a great perspective on music from where they’re sitting.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.