Perry Farrell and Etty Lau Farrell at Porno on Lollapalooza India, new label Pyros Reunion

During a busy Lollapalooza weekend in Chicago last month, Perry and Etty Lau Farrell announced a new deal to keep the festival in Chicago’s Grant Park, highlighting Lollapalooza’s 2023 Indian debut and the world’s most powerful Eighth market for one of the festival brands.

The pair also announced the debut of their own imprint label, with a remix of Etty Lau Farrell’s debut “He’s A Rebel” set to be the first single for the new record label.

Imprint Label offers up-and-coming artists a unique opportunity to both record and perform, while continuing to refine the concept behind Heaven After Dark, an ambitious indoor performance series personally curated by the couple To do.

Preparing for launch Jane’s Addiction Tour Alongside Smashing Pumpkins, which kicks off in Dallas on October 2nd and runs through mid-November, I spoke to Perry Farrell and Etty Lau Farrell backstage in Chicago about their first Lollapalooza performance with Porno For Pyros since 1997. Did. Lessons learned from the industry and more. Below is a transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity.

busy right now…

Etty Lau Farrell: It’s a little strange. We’re in rehearsal for the 7/7 show at The Belasco. We started rehearsing for porn. I went to Stockholm between rehearsals. I came back and did a show. I went to France. We immediately went back to rehearsals. And now we are here! It’s been a busy month with travel.

Last year’s Lollapalooza was an odd way to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Porno For Pyros in 1992 and in 1997 he played Lollapalooza. How does it feel to be back this year after 25 years?

Perry Farrell: A lot less worried…

ETTY: You have to understand that when Lolla came back last year, it was the first music festival in the whole world. So we knew we were scrutinized and guinea pigs. Otherwise? It’s our fault it’s closed again, right?

Clearly, Lollapalooza is one of the strongest festival brands in the world. How important was your expansion into India?

ETTY: India felt like an area we had been working on for years. And of course COVID took us back a few years ago. And I felt that India is a big country. Because they don’t go to familiar areas. France? Europe is familiar. That’s why I wanted to go to India. India is the first, so maybe I can do Singapore or Shanghai. I think it’s great that it’s expanding.

PERRY: As Etty points out, this is an introduction to the East. Indian music is very transcendent. That’s exactly the kind of sound we need. It’s an awareness-raising sound for everyone. Speak this universal language of music and art. My project to do when we go there is the Kind Heaven Orchestra.

What makes now the right time to launch your own imprint record label?

ETTY: It feels like there’s a bit of a popularity race with streaming services and such. There are certain ways to manipulate numbers and others that aren’t. Also, I think there are some artists who don’t like the social media aspect, but they are great artists and spend more time with their art. That’s why we want to provide a platform for artists who are genuine and really love their music.

Perry: We are in an incredible position. I have a vehicle for these young artists. So, while we can’t support tours, we can offer festivals around the world.

ETTY: Platform.

Perry: I’m not trying to manage them or call them every day and ask them, “How are you feeling?” I can’t do all that. So they need to take care of themselves a little more. But what I want from them is the authenticity and authenticity of their art. Yes. Some artists might just say “let’s make more tracks together…”…

It doesn’t have to be 9 songs. There was something very unique and special about the album at the time. And I still love the concept. But it doesn’t have to be just albums and singles. I always like to say “why can’t we have both?” Make an album for the first time in a year. Maybe in the next six months, if you have a song or two coming out and it’s the right time or place, put it out. If it keeps the project and momentum going, so be it.

Forbes detailsEtty Lau Farrell and Perry Farrell feature on new single ‘He’s A Rebel’To Jim Ryan

remix ofhe is a rebelwill be the first single, isn’t it, Etty?

ETTY: Yes! Just heard that it was released and a lot of UK DJ’s got it and added it to their rotation. So I am a test subject. It’s working pretty well.

Perry, when you started out you had time to build your identity as an artist over multiple albums and years. Nobody understands it now. Is that something you’re trying to change about watching artists on your own label?

Perry: Right. Yeah, I saw greats like Mo Ostin and Lenny Waronker at Warner Bros. Records. They gave the artists five years to develop themselves, provided tour support and at least three records to get it right – radio play and everything else. Currently they do not offer tour support.

ETTY: They didn’t even get a full record. 3 if you’re lucky.

Perry: Artform is struggling. A little struggle isn’t a bad thing – it can actually make you stronger. And we’re missing out on a lot of potentially great young artists who got beaten up for not coming out of these major labels. I don’t think it’s agile.

They don’t have time to develop artists. Their artists are young. Maybe I haven’t sang it perfectly yet. Well, they would say We will correct it by mail. ’ And they try to perfect that voice with auto-tuning. Sounds like shit to me. It’s like watching a basketball game on your computer and making sure the guy dunks every time. It’s not a game! I want to see the flaws. That’s the exciting part for me. can they do that?

it’s their soul. I want to hear their souls. I want to hear them longing, crying, bursting with joy or happiness. So put it back.

Another platform I use a bit to find and develop talent is “heaven after darkconcert series. How is the second going, how is it growing, and where is it going?

ETTY: Second, we took over the entire building. We took over all floors. So we had different performances in different corners throughout the night. It was more of an experience than just going to a show.

Perry: we’re an art gallery [smaller room]There was art there. Artists wanted to recreate the Garden of Eden. There were statues in the garden, and at the end of the night everyone had to take flowers and plants home. So that was an added bonus.

Forbes detailsPerry Farrell discusses the evolution of Festival Sphere as new ‘Heaven After Dark’ series takes shapeTo Jim Ryan

The next thing we’re going to do will be something different. We’re now starting to think about what we’re going to do with Lollapalooza in India, and Kind His Heaven Orchestra is going more electronic and getting rid of analog his artist instrumentation. they are still there. I don’t want to lose the live element. I’m still a live PA.

But I’m looking forward to it. i love it Every song, every show is like a new canvas.