Here's an in-depth interview with Alex from the New-York-based lifeinabungalo.com

No Robots, But Lots Of Style

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By George Koroneos


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"The mutated punk/new wave sound of IMA Robot was conceived in 1997 when singer Alex Ebert joined up with noisemaker/keyboardist Oliver Goldstein and guitarist Timmy Anderson to run loose in LA with their brand of hip-hop infused dance rock. At the time, Ebert claims that his love for hardcore rap, like NWA and even further back with Run DMC, influenced his decision to rhyme more than sing. “Me, Tim and Olie came from hip-hop worlds, but we were all disenchanted with it when we met up. So we tried to forge something new. When we were young hip-hop was the punk rock thing. All these radical rap groups were coming out that people were scared of and that was our shit. When that got corporatized and became crap we all kind of fell out of it and started looking for other things.”

That other thing came in the form of bassist Justin Meldal Johnsen and drummer Joey Waronker, both session musicians and the rhythm section behind folk-rocker Beck (Waronker has since moved on). Ebert and company ditched the drum loops in exchange for a real groove, and the New Wave/Punk stylings of IMA Robot were created. “When Justin came in, we no longer had to make our bass lines with a keyboard, and suddenly we had this freedom and we started exploring writing songs in a rehearsal room instead of a studio,” Ebert says.

IMA Robot kicked off the hype with the “Public Access” EP, a four-song sampler with two unreleased tracks and the band's infamously funny hidden track “Black Jettas.” “When we put that out in the UK that got some really good reviews and people really liked it,” Ebert says. “Those were some tracks we just threw together and put it out to the public, which is the way I like recording. I don’t like taking too much time in the studio.”

Robot Style
Having finished a tour with Hot Hot Heat, and starting another live run with The Sounds, the band has locked itself in with the latest Nuevo Wave scene that has been cropping up on MTV2; however, rather than merging their love of punk and new wave into one style, IMA Robot switch it up between the two genres, rarely blending them on one song. Luckily, the track placement on the record keeps the styles flowing in peeks and valleys, creating perfect segues between the keyboards and the power chords. “We used to have that problem where we were so varied that no one would sign us,” Ebert says. “Certainly we tried to make a cohesive record, but it was never much of a conscious effort. I just listened to the record as a whole a couple of weeks ago, because I just saw that kids at shows were freaking out and singing along, so I decided that I should re-listen to the record, and guess what—I really liked it. I like how the whole record flows.”

“Black Jettas” was never a favorite track of Ebert’s, but the tune ended up on both the single and the record. The track is a straightforward digital drum and bass new wave song about fearing the sight of an ex-girlfriends car. In this case, a black VW Jetta. The tune caught on, and now is one of the band’s more popular live numbers. “Justin made that track, and I was going through this issue with my ex-girlfriend and her black Jetta and everyone thought it was silly,” Ebert says. “I really like it, but didn’t want it on the album because it was too cutesy. The label disagreed and people really fell in love with it, so it went on the record.”

Live Like Dynomite
On stage, Ebert transforms into a dazed frontman, who stares blankly at the wall until the moment the distortion tears through the speakers. Without notice, he begins careening around the stage stumbling over his bandmates and jumping off anything in sight. “That happens to me a lot during shows,” Ebert explains. “I just kind of end up in my own kind of world. I’m not high or anything. Sometimes I just don’t talk and just play. I generally am always tempting danger… so far I’ve been hurt but not too bad.”

If he were hurt, Ebert probably wouldn’t notice since IMA Robot’s insane fanbase (largely comprised of women obsessed with his quirky style) is usually screaming louder that his yelps of pain. From punk rockers to local hipsters searching for the latest buzz band, IMA Robot draw a diverse and crazy audience. “The crowd is so fucking into it, and they inspire me to get more into the band,” Ebert explains. “They inspire me to like IMA Robot more than I ever liked us. It’s just this vigor and lust for the band that just blows my mind.”

The heat from the crowd also sets Ebert into a battle between his body and his bandmate's massive on-stage collection of keyboards and effect pedals that usually get trounced in Eberts explosive dance/convulsion moves. How do his bandmates feel about his antics? “It’s a problem; I get yelled at,” Ebert admits. “But I yell at them back. They can’t tell me what to do, I can’t be thinking about the gear while I’m performing. Now it’s in the back of my head, I can’t do this, I can’t do that. The truth of the matter is, we don’t have much money, and while I want to do whatever and have the venue charge me, I can’t really say that yet. Also, we like bringing along all that gear, because we take pride in the fact that we don’t play to a track, so we try to bring out all the gear that we need.”

IMA Robot’s gear is just half the group’s stage show. With a hair cut that could give The Flock of Seagulls a run for their money, a plethora of strange tattoos, and odd sparkling clothing, the band comes off visually shocking and obscene to some unprepared fans, but Ebert says that the group loves the heckling as much as the cheers. “We are kind of unique in the fact that we love the awkward moment,” Ebert says. “We love when people don’t get it. To me, being misunderstood is an honor. There have been occasions in European countries where these teenage kids would really try to mock me, but I just handle it and mock them back, and blow kisses at them. They just shut up.”

“As much as we like when crowds are totally into it, we also enjoy probably just as much when the crowd is uncomfortable,” Ebert says. “I’ve seen bands fall apart on stage, and it’s so embarrassing. I hate seeing it. It really makes me cringe for the band.”

Robot Exposure
As the IMA Robot gear up for their latest tour with Kill Hannah and The Sounds, the band is starting to get some television exposure. Their single “Dynomite” is being played during prime-time MTV shows. Does the exposure bother the band? “To be honest, I have a problem with the whole thing,” Ebert says. “When we start getting into this whole commercial… Look, you know that whole theory, where the Man uses you and then you use him? The problem is, I suspect that you never finish using them, because you always want the next big, better thing. What I’m trying to do is just allow certain things to pass, and then eventually be able to do our own thing. The MTV thing I don’t mind, because it’s just eye-candy, but as far as commercials, shit like that could end up haunting me.”

So there’s no chance we’ll be seeing “Black Jettas” used in a Volkswagon commercial?

“No,” Ebert explains. “I just don’t think I can. I don’t think I can do it. I don’t believe in using the system to get out of the system. Now the Warped Tour, that’s a place where there’s going to be a lot of awkward moments to go around. I really like awkward moments. Did I mention that?”

IMA Robot will be setting off for The Warped Tour from June 25 to July 18, but first the group will be hitting the Irving Plaza in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 24 with The Sounds."