In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Editors guitarist and producer Justin Lockey joins Mark Millar to discuss the band's new album, Surface, Echo & Sound, returning to playing together in a room, and the turning point that helped secure Editors' future.

Following the electronics of EBM, Justin explains how the band built the new record around Tom Smith's acoustic guitar, keeping the arrangements simple and leaving the imperfections in their performances.

He shares the stories behind "The Rush", "Much Love", "Seriously" and "Happiness", alongside the influence of R.E.M., The Cure and the war films that became part of studio life.

Justin also discusses what he learned from Steve Albini and Flood, his concerns about AI-generated music, and why the human character of a recording matters more than technical perfection.

Looking back at joining Editors, he recalls a battered four-string Telecaster, writing the guitar part for "Sugar" before meeting Tom, and why The Weight of Your Love was crucial to the band's survival. He also explains how he recorded In Dream on a laptop with limited equipment.

Finally, Justin reflects on the democracy within Editors, bringing the new songs to the stage, and what still excites him about making records together.

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Website: https://www.xsnoize.com