Provoker are creating an alternative world

There is a world not far from this one, where giant cockroaches complete clandestine science experiments and teenaged vampires snack on disembodied arms during study hall, only accessible within the driving synth and muted vocals of Los Angeles-based band Provoker’s sophomore album, Demon Compass (out now via YEAR0001). 

It’s clear that escaping reality — or rather, creating an alternative one — is at the forefront of Provoker's interests. In the two years since the release of the band’s debut full-length, members Jonathon Lopez and Christian Petty have been carving out a portal to an alternative reality where the horrors of the supernatural are seen through red-tinted sunglasses and danger takes on a sexual, provocative energy. Visually, Provoker’s world is reminiscent of ’80s cult-favorite movies like The Lost Boys or Body Double. 

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Demon Compass invites listeners into a beautiful and macabre space where inner demons are examined and hidden evils jump out from the shadows. “I’ll look at something, like a drawing or painting, and come up with my own story around that. It’s like world-building,” vocalist Petty says. 

But it’s not just their intricate storytelling that sets Provoker apart from the vast array of active post-punk bands they are often compared to. Petty, originally an R&B singer-songwriter, delivers pleasant and dynamic vocals that, when juxtaposed against Lopez’s reverberating basslines and dark grooves, create something uniquely emotional and addicting. It’s rare to find a duo whose individual talents can create a body of work so cohesive. 

To celebrate the release of their new record, we caught up with Petty and Lopez to talk about the band’s evolution, their writing process, touring, and the plans for their record-release party. 

Provoker originated as a solo project, right? How did the band become what it is today? 

JONATHON LOPEZ: Yeah, it started as just me messing around in Ableton trying to create soundtrack music. On the very early recordings I was singing, but I didn’t want to do that. I’m not very good at singing. I wanted to find someone who was good at singing, and I met Christian through his older brother. When I heard Christian’s stuff, I could just see it.

Tell me how you two go about writing. How has it evolved from previous releases?     

CHRISTIAN PETTY: It’s mostly self-produced. [We make] all of the instrumentals, and we just stockpile music.

LOPEZ: If we don’t feel it right away, we take another stab at it later. That’s how “It’s in My Head,” the last single we released, came to be. We just couldn’t get it correct, so we shelved it for years. We had some help from our friend, Zach Fogarty, another producer, and he helped to get it to work, but Christian envisioned it originally.

Demon Compass feels very cohesive both lyrically and sonically. Knowing you didn’t write every song during the same time period, do you make intentional choices in terms of lyric subject matter and sound? Or does that come naturally?

PETTY: Lyrically, I think it comes naturally. I never like boxing myself into a theme, but I like to write stories and hide my personal life in the story. I build a lot of characters, and since that's a common thread in my writing, it feels cohesive.

I’d say that the visual aesthetic of Provoker helps create that storyline. 

LOPEZ: I just wanted to create something that sounded completely different from what you’re expecting. We both play a lot of video games and watch, like, every movie and just combine all of those influences. It’s just what comes out of our heads.

PETTY: Yeah, I’ll look at something, like a drawing or painting, and come up with my own story around that. 

Let’s talk about Demon Compass. Are you excited to finally release it into the world?

LOPEZ: It feels like we were able to max this one out. We had so much time to really flush it out. We built out a whole world into it. We were able to connect all the characters. We even have a choose your own adventure story that comes with the album. With the last one, it was difficult because it was all written over Zoom, and we just didn’t have a lot of time. This one is different.

PETTY: It just feels super cohesive. It’s the best thing we’ve ever done. It just feels like a whole album — it all belongs together.  

You’re on tour now. How is it going?

LOPEZ: Pretty good. For me personally, after three to four weeks, I start to get a little restless, but we get to do album release stuff now, which is fun. We’re trying to have an album release party, with Halloween decorations and maybe themed drinks, like for the videos. 

Any ideas for these drinks?

LOPEZ: I was thinking like a coconut drink with grenadine on top, maybe a test tube with green liquid for “It’s In My Head.” A fake little toy cockroach would be a nice touch, too.