Aaron Mader has made quite a name for himself in the music industry. That name just happens to be "Lazerbeak." Using the moniker, the co-founder and CEO of Doomtree has released an abundance of his own music, produced songs with the likes of Lizzo, P.O.S, Mac Lethal and Dessa and delved into the world of artist management. Long before Mader was a Midwest music mainstay and one of the driving forces of an accomplished creative collective, he was an inexperienced teen in the Minneapolis suburbs who was struggling to get shows for his first band.
That band — The Plastic Constellations — wound up lasting 13 years, being signed to French Kiss Records, touring and selling out spacious venues in Minneapolis before he could even legally drink. Along the way, Mader dabbled in beat-making and his Lazerbeak alias was born. The rest is history. Recently, Mader spoke to My First Band host Tyler Maas and told him about his impressive indie rock past, the origin and unexpected explosion of Doomtree, and how he stays both active and creatively fulfilled making music in his solo project, Shredders and the brand new Night Stone, and as part of a forthcoming band with William Elliott Whitmore and members of Ten Grand.
Over the course of the lengthy and open discussion, Mader also talked about ways the COVID-19 crisis is currently impacting Doomtree and the artists he manages, accidentally sharing a stage name with an obscure Transformers character, his inspiring "little money in lots of places" approach and how Lizzo gave him a six-pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade to make beats for what would eventually become her Lizzobangers album.
My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Indeed Brewing Company. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth ("The Junction Street Eight Tigers"), The Plastic Constellations ("Let's War") and Night Stone ("Echo Love" featuring Lady Midnight).
