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Lord Huron’s Ben Schneider on ‘crucial weirdos,’ cosmic jukeboxes and unanswered questions

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Ben Schneider might not possess all solutions, yet he poses thought-provoking questions quite effectively. In a song previewing Lord Huron’s upcoming album, the lead vocalist and guitarist expresses this inquiry through heartfelt vocals tinged with urgency: “Who will be the one who laughs when no one lives forever?” This profound question is echoed twice, in a subdued tone over a payphone, by actress Kristen Stewart, who features both in the song and the David Lynch-esque dreamscape video for “Who Laughs Last.

A search for the lyrics of “The Cosmic Selector: Vol. 1” shows that there are 27 question marks distributed across six out of the band’s twelve new tracks. The song titles and lyrics pose profound, inscrutable questions, such as “Is There Anybody Out There?” and “living infinite lives / are they mine?” from “It All Comes Back.” Schneider’s songs are known for their poignant expressions of mystery, often infused with a unique, subtle depth.

The singer explains that his music is essentially about asking questions rather than providing answers, as he sits casually on a stool in his almost deserted house with his worn 1991 Gibson Dove acoustic guitar nearby. Despite Lord Huron’s massive success, such as their multiplatinum single “The Night We Met” being one of Spotify’s Top 30 most streamed songs ever and the band headlining their hometown arena, the Kia Forum, in November, Schneider maintains a genuine sense of disbelief about their achievements, and it seems that fans are deeply engrossed in exploring every detail of the group.

The opening track “Looking Back” on “The Cosmic Selector: Vol. 1,” released July 18, starts with a comforting crackle and carries an intimate, melancholic tune. This album, which can be both introspective and quirky, provides intriguing material for fans who are drawn in. Lyrics like “life is strange and so am I” suggest that Schneider may be expressing personal feelings in this collection of songs.

Schneider expresses his affection towards those considered unusual, including himself, echoing thoughts from a discussion about David Lynch and his unique perspective on life. He believes that people may hide their peculiarities due to fear of judgment, yet these individuals are often the most captivating. He refers to them as ‘essential oddballs’, people who, although unconventional, significantly influence how one experiences life.

Lord Huron could serve as a significant enigma for certain fans. To elaborate, the concept behind “Cosmic Selector” – a baffling, possibly metaphysical jukebox where pressing a button could alter one’s life course – is an idea that Schneider frequently revisits. As he has grown older, he has come to understand that mystery and beauty are intricately connected. He has been contemplating this idea a lot lately, reflecting on how the enigmas of the universe, such as love, cosmos, and consciousness – things without clear answers – are incredibly captivating and thought-provoking for him. However, he doesn’t necessarily aim to unravel these mysteries: “I want some mystery to remain in the world.

The musician hailing from Lansing, Michigan was born into a family of skilled writers – his father, mother, brother, and sister are all journalists. He studied painting and graphic design at the University of Michigan, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2005. After attempting unsuccessfully to establish himself as a painter in New York, he moved to Los Angeles. In California, he discovered a more welcoming environment and an “anything goes” attitude that encouraged him to delve deeper into music as a vehicle for expressing and investigating creativity.

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In a pondering mood, he admits, “Perhaps I’ve always been drawn more to spinning tales than sticking to traditional facts.” Yet, he adds, “In essence, I believe I’m striving for the same goal, just through different methods.” Schneider is also graced with a refined and productive literary inclination, expressing his fondness for Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” as his current preferred novel.

While touring, Schneider finds opportunities to delve into books, particularly works by Norwegian author Karl Ove KnausgĂĄrd. Instead of a conventional biography accompanying his albums, Schneider explains, “The essence of my record was about connecting with people I admired and seeing if we could collaborate. We reached out to a few authors, and surprisingly, Karl Ove was one of them.” Contrary to expectations, KnausgĂĄrd responded, and the two had lengthy conversations. Later, KnausgĂĄrd seemed to vanish for a while, but upon his return, he penned a bio that encapsulated Lord Huron’s spirit. In it, he wrote about “…the influence of the past in the present, the lingering afterimage of the departed on our perception, as this is where Lord Huron resides. … If this sounds like an indistinct, vague, blurry place—or one of the qualities of the past being its lack of clear boundaries—the music that emerges from it is filled with presence, beauty, and emotional intensity.

The Cosmic Selector: Volume 1″ marks the fifth studio album by the band, and although Lord Huron may not be widely recognized household names, Schneider has had bizarre encounters with fame. “I usually think that nobody knows our band; that’s sort of my outlook,” he shares. However, an unexpected moment of recognition occurred when Schneider was at the dentist, and a Lord Huron song played over the office speakers. “It was quite a peculiar experience,” he reminisces with a chuckle. “I was literally sucking on that dental tool; if someone asks what I do, I tell them. Sometimes they acknowledge it. Other times, they’re like, ‘Oh, another musician in L.A., there are so many of them.’

As the sun sets over Los Angeles, the large front window of the house displays a rich tapestry of foliage gradually slipping into darkness. Forty-two-year-old Schneider is dressed in various shades of green: a short-sleeved work shirt with a Bic four-color pen in his left pocket, paint-splattered trousers, and lighter green socks. The house, much like Schneider’s melodies, can be minimalist at times, yet robust and thoughtfully constructed, filled with details that echo the past but are designed to endure. It’s a place that is both hauntingly beautiful and delightfully quaint, mirroring Schneider’s melancholic disposition.

Nostalgia played a significant role for him, with the last album titled ‘Long Lost,’ exploring the longing for something that may have never truly existed in the way we recall it. There’s an enigma surrounding this too, which he finds hard to let go of. Despite understanding it’s illogical to cling to memories, there’s a captivating allure to the mystery that he finds himself entangled in. He admits to being nostalgic for experiences he didn’t necessarily live through, which seems peculiar. However, this isn’t an entirely unique sensation; in various languages, ‘Sehnsucht’ and ‘anemoia’ describe this very feeling.

Regardless of the nostalgic feelings and desires that shape Lord Huron’s enigmatic Americana style, Schneider expresses gratitude for living in the present. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be living in a time when technology makes it easier to create art, and society is more accepting,” he explains. “I have vintage equipment, and I enjoy blending these old tools with modern ones. This flexibility allows for endless possibilities in experimentation.”

“To put it simply, there’s a unique aesthetic to digital tools as well that adds depth and contemporary hues. This aspect is just as genuine in today’s world, especially in the realm of recordings,” he continues. “I’m not a traditional purist who only appreciates analog; I embrace everything.

The lyrics “I sure like the feeling of an endless road / My life is still a tale untold / I’ve gotta stop believing in a long-gone past” can be seen as a subtle encouragement to focus on the present, or “be here now.” It’s a reminder that dwelling on the past can limit us and that we should instead appreciate and make the most of the current moment. This sentiment is often repeated but remains crucial for living fully and mindfully.

Although many people find this skill challenging, Schneider admits to making progress and repeats, “I’m getting better at it… I’m getting better.” He expresses some frustration, stating, “It’s tough. When you pause to consider the amount of time we spend either fretting about future events or ruminating on past ones, it’s astonishing. However, in today’s world, we don’t have to live that way; we don’t need to remember every detail because most likely, it’s documented somewhere.” He laughs, adding, “This might mean we could utilize other parts of our brain for other tasks. But, let me tell you, it’s much easier said than done.

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2025-07-23 18:31

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