Midnight Movies creates a sound that mixes the dark undercurrent of the LA underground with a classic psychedelic sound that pays homage to some of their legendary influences. The group consists of Larry Schmel on guitar, Sandra Vu on the drums, Ryan Wood on the keyboard and Gena Oliver on vocals.
The band recently released their sophomore album titled Under the Radar. Oliver spoke to The Buzz about what the future may hold for the Hollywood-based crew.

BUZZ: What’s the story behind ‘Midnight Movies’?
Gena Oliver: Our guitar player, Larry Schmel is a big collector of midnight movies, and he’s got a big collection of all the original releases on VHS and the movie posters and the soundtrack on vinyl.

BUZZ: I’ve heard the term “L.A. Noir” to describe you guys, how would you describe what that is?
GO: Our music has a dark undercurrent, its really hard to tell how the city affects our music, but I’m sure it does. I definitely think that there’s a cinematic thing just from being in Hollywood a lot … because in Hollywood there’s so much glitz and superficial beauty and then there’s a lot of horrible poverty, depression and drug abuse, you know? It’s like the worst of the worst and then there’s the prettiest of the pretty.

BUZZ: Do you try to send any messages through your lyrics?
GO: On the first record it was just the band name, and there was no identity to any of us and I wanted to … be very ambiguous.
In the second record … I wanted to capture the pure essence of love, not so much romantic love, which there is that as well, but just kind of the totally unselfish, not self-motivated form of love.

BUZZ: Who would you consider not only you, but the band’s musical inspiration?
GO: I’m a little afraid to answer that for any of the other members because its a personal thing, but we’re all inspired by a lot of psychedelic music from the ’60s. Larry’s a huge Pink Floyd fan, Ryan’s a huge Led Zeppelin, Ryan’s very into crap rock nowadays, we all are. Sandra and Ryan are into electronic music … The three of us are all big Bjork fans. I think overall a psychedelic, crap rock, electronic thing is what the four of us have in common.

BUZZ: As you’ve grown more popular as a band, how have things changed for you guys?
GO: I don’t think it has really. We all work normal day jobs. I feel I’m most inspired when my time is precious. But none of us have any nice stuff or anything, we’re still as broke as ever and just working normal jobs and making exciting music.

BUZZ: Where do you hope to see Midnight Movies in five years?
GO: I think the favorite thing for us has been the chance to tour with bands that we really love and are totally fans with. But as far as fame and fortune goes, . I don’t think that’s something that any of us really want, but we really love writing music and playing awesome venues with awesome bands.

BUZZ: What is it that you want people to think and feel when listening to Midnight Movies?
GO: I would just hope that they feel something, anything.
Possibly something inspiring and if the lyrics motivate anyone to do something. That’s good and healthy for themselves and other people, that would just be overwhelmingly awesome.