eBurban interviewed lead singer/guitar player Lauren Larson from up-and-coming band Ume recently and delved into the inspiration behind their unusual band name, their tour experiences, and the Austin outfit’s latest album, Phantoms, which was released on August 30.  And even scored a free download of their single “Captive” for our readers.  Catch the interview and the link below!

Zak Winters: How did you guys get started out in Texas?

Lauren: Yeah, Well I actually met Eric and our old drummer while going to High School. There weren’t any real punk bands in Houston, so I started in my first band when I was 15. Playing guitar in what was a kinda thrashy hard-core band called Twelve Blades. We kept making music and played our first show under the name Ume in 2002. But around the same time I moved away to graduate school. We didn’t play for several years but then we reformed around Austin in 2008 and started taking it more seriously.

Ume literally translates into ‘plum blossom’ in Japanese but symbolizes ‘devotion’. What does devotion or Ume personally mean to you?

Well back when we first started we had a friend that was big into Japanese culture, and we were playing around with names that wouldn’t be used or copied and that is when we asked him what Devotion would be in Japanese. We also liked the idea the people would have trouble pronouncing our name.

I don’t want to say we have little trials, but it seems every time we’re trying to move forward something will happen. Like we’ll be making a recording and our equipment will break or we’ll be going on tour and our van will break down. So I know we are definitely devoted to our music because as a band it has not been an easy road.

Can you give us a little picture of the tribulations you’ve overcame on the tours?

Well every time we go out on the road…(pauses and counts) we’ve broken down probably 10, no 11 times! Just totally broken down, engine smoking on the side of the road. Then we dip into the merch money to be towed. We’ve driven 600 miles to play for 6 people but whether we play [in front of] 6 people or 3000 people, which we’ve done, we give it our all. I hope this shows our devotion to people because we give it our best no matter what because we just love to play and the rest is just details.

Are there any stories that stick out in your mind from this tour? 

Well we’ve been having a really good time on this tour. Umm… One of the stops we got to play with the Flaming Lips and it was real fun getting to meet and hang out with them.

Well more than most bands I’ve encountered, you guys have shared the stage with a very large variety of musicians. One show you played with Muse and Eminem and then I catch you by chance with Stockholm Syndrome. Are there any bands that you hope to do more with in the future?

Well the most recent band that we’ve gotten in with is called Warpaint, we’ve kinda become intertwined in the last year. They’re just a really cool band from L.A. We definitely all love this band called Kylesa from Georgia. I kinda got into Warpaint because they’re really moody and new wave, while Kylesa is more metal and sludgy but I think they’re good examples that help define our sound. We definitely take a very art type sound and push the boundaries.

Now, you played the Kansas Festival at the beginning of this summer’s tour which included you on the bill with Eminem. Did his or any other person or group’s inclusion inflame you or the band’s ethics? Also have you ever been effected by a crowd’s prejudice musically or otherwise?

Well, a slew of rock bands played and while Eminem played we didn’t really stick around to see him play. I am not really about him at all. As far as new crowds, they always think we’re going to be a christian band or a folk band. At some of our shows security doesn’t even believe I am in a band and won’t let me backstage.  My favorite is “oh, what do you play? The violin?” But its okay (she laughs almost to her self) because I like to surprise people.

It’s actually great you touched on that. The editor in chief of our site, who happens to be a woman, and I were talking about the large amounts of women who are coming out on Rock and heavy music tours this summer. Do you feel this could be the start of a trend that opens up the sex barrier completely in Rock?

 Oh, man, I hope so! My dream is that one day people won’t be surprised to see women on a stage playing in a rock n roll band. Really guy or girl, it should be a whatever kinda thing. There are so many Women musicians out there and I really don’t understand why certain people are like “wow can you believe this girl thinks she can play guitar?” Essentially my dream is they won’t be surprised to see girl guitarist up their. I’ve even been asked if I was a dancer in the band! It is so frustrating.

You guys get allot of “Sounds-Like” thrown at your music. One of the big ones, I noticed right off the bat, was Sonic Youth. Especial with the Husband-Wife team you have going on. Also I’ve seen the yeah yeah yeahs, among many others. So, do you guys like any of these bands? Do you agree with the connections?

O yeah, I’ve been a fan of Sonic Youth since I was a child but I think it’s important to never consciously go out of your way to sound like something. I mean, I think people over look, because we are also big fans of Black Sabbath and David Bowie but people tend to look for the easiest answer. But yeah I am a huge fan of those bands.

The only show I ever had to cancel, I was super sick, and still don’t believe it but Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth had came out to see us. It was just… It crushed me! I had a fever and my throat was so messed up I couldn’t even talk. Ever since, even if I haven’t had a voice I’ve made it a point that I am still performing. I am not cancel a show just because I am sick. But seriously that was a bummer because that would have been a dream come true.

O, man! I am huge fan of Sonic Youth also, so I feel your pain but I am sure you’ll get a second chance because you guys are just too good not to have good things coming your way.

We’ll see…But there is that Devotion we keep talking about.

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