Atlas Sound

BRADFORD COX is best known as that abnormal frontman in Deerhunter. Atlas Sound, however, is a far cry from indie rock roots. It's 100-percent Bradford, a collection of emotional laptop debauchery created in his Atlanta bedroom. Cox hauntingly uses synth, guitar, unconventional noises, and multi-layered voices for something of a musical science experiment. We tapped into some of the same unconscious creative process that went into making Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel.

Is "Bradford" a family name?

My mom used to call me her little Bradford Pear Tree. I'm legally called Bradley. It's actually a huge argument between my parents; my dad wanted me to have a manlier name. Bradford is far too effeminate for him.

Are there pear trees where you're from?

Yes. They stink a little like urine.

So why now go under the name Atlas Sound?

Atlas Sound is a little bit of everything I've been doing since I was 10 years old. Deerhunter was originally going to be named Atlas Sound. The drummer came up with Deerhunter along with a very cryptic image for the band. I just never stopped making music since my youth, while unintentionally and prolifically recording with the band and doing stuff on my own. Right now I'm into acoustic drums and rhythm, electronic tones and xylophones. I'm interested in expanding the instrumental pallet and arrangements.

What bands would you say are doing that fight now?

Animal Collective and Panda Bear, I find them inspiring. My stuff might be a little darker, though. It all has to do with how you grow up, how you perceive things and how you produce things.

Is there any song that you created by first fucking it up and then recovering it that you liked?

One big luck-up song on the album is "Small Horror." I can't say what purpose it was serving, but something of a concrete depression.

When you're at these stages in your work, are you usually alone?

I tend to be kind of isolated, but I live with my best friend. He generally has a lot to do with it. It gets complicated. There's nowhere to go or hide. New York City has a lot of place where you can escape, whereas in Atlanta you're just kind of stuck.

What keeps you in Atlanta?

My family lives there. You never know how long you're going to have them. Another part of it is I have an enormous record collection.

What keeps you on the Kranky label?

I could make a garage rock record or a drone, academic, avante-garde album and they'd be just as supportive of me.

Adam Forkner of White Rainbow, and Honey Owens, both very drone-driven artists, will be touring with me live. They're great musicians to collaborate with. Also, I like that Everly Brothers, Phil Spector kind of sound for Atlas.

Were you always looking for a creative outlet as a kid?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Oh yeah, for sure. I was a bored little kid. My cousin had turned me on to punk rock at a really young age. And as a kid I was always around skateboarding in general--everyone in my band skates, but I could never really do it because my body is just too awkward. I have that same genetic condition Joey Ramone had; it's a disease where you're unable to gain weight. It makes life hard. You're never going to be accepted in life physically. I mean, the only people who would be attracted to someone like me are people who are into abnormalities. I still try to skate though. I'm just a poser; I mean, I have an Ed Templeton board but I chose it just for the graphics.

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