Interview With Derry Lannnn (Part One)

Whilst Derry Lannnn is the man responsible for the sound of some of 2010s most unique records, he is also the current face of mental illness charity Calm Down. Lannnn suffers from an acute fear of desks both wooden and sound. He has spent the year facing his fears by twiddling the knobs for bands such as Superocean and Hitler and The Nasties. Reports coming out of the sessions point to episodes of meltdown and recovery, to periods of deep introspection and bouts of ultra-violence. Lannnn is by all accounts an amazing engineer and a genius producer, attributes that sometimes get overshadowed by his more widely publicised eccentricities. Peter Ballast met Derry Lannnn over a few drinks in NYCs East Village.

PB: So did he squirm a bit? It must have hurt.

DL: He’s a weak man… So… Yeah, the knees went.

PB: Where did you get the rake from?

DL: The gardener…

PB: Really? Wow.

DL: Yeah, they have a zen garden drum-booth there.

PB: Did that finish the session?

DL: No, I forced him to continue. It was costing us a fortune.

PB: And how long do you think he could have played if you hadn’t taken him to ER?

DL: Hard to say, really. The blood was pouring down his trouser legs. His pedals were shorting.

PB: Your stock is so high at the moment that bands will put up with never being able to play squash again just to work with you. That must feel great!

DL: It does, but don’t get me wrong when I say I hate it.

PB: Explain.

DL: I get to work and make a living, but I also have to get behind a… you know…

PB: A desk?

DL: Yeah.

PB: And?

DL: I can’t do anything else, so…

PB: Do you feel trapped?

DL: Yes.

PB: How did this start?

DL: You called my agent and we arranged to meet.

PB: No, the fear of desks.

DL: My father was killed by a falling rolltop.

PB: From the sky?

DL: From Ikea.

To Be Continued…

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