Los Angeles indie pop band Saint Motel plays The Observatory this week in support of their latest EP The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Part 1, with Part 2 and 3 on the way, so we chatted with frontman A.J. Jackson…

L.A. WEEKLY: How do you think the band’s sound has evolved since forming in 2007?

A.J. JACKSON: I started self-producing more around the time of Voyeur in 2012 and when that happened, it opened up new creative freedoms with the sound. Rather than just recording it the same way we had played it in bars for months, we could experiment with different sounds and instrumentations. I think our sound has always been hard to put a finger on and if anything, it has just gotten more finger resistant through the years.

What do you think of the L.A. music scene today?

Strong as always, I presume. I don’t frequent the Eastside residencies quite as much anymore but they were always the best way to spend a Monday night. Constant musical discovery of bands pushing what they can do. A lot of the bands we are still playing with came up in that world.

Do you enjoy performing in Orange County? What do you think the differences are to L.A. crowds, if any?

The band formed in film school in Orange County so there’s always a little bit of getting back to roots when we head down there. But, when we were playing down there it was mostly dorms and strip malls.

What can we expect from this set?

The mission was how to make this concert feel like an interactive cinematic experience where the audience is an active part of the show and not just watching a huge LED screen behind us.  Can’t give away too much, but The Motion Picture Show tour will be unlike anything we’ve done before.

What’s next for the band? New album?

We have Part 2 and Part 3 of the album coming out soon, and each part is going to have a lot more surprises. Stay tuned!

Saint Motel plays with KOLARS at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 24 at The Observatory.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.