“I like coordinating the music for memorial services,” Lauderdale said. “That sounds terrible but the music played during a funeral service is very important. You’re trying to honor the life of somebody or something. In this case, it’s the first elephant born in captivity back in 1962.”
Lauderdale enjoys having parameters for writing, arranging and recording.
“Somehow it’s easier when there are rules,” he said. “If I’m thinking about what kind of album I want to make, it can be overwhelming because the possibilities are endless, especially with our repertoire. Since we have global songs in different languages it can never really end unless we put it to an end.”
Pink Martini’s ninth album, “Je dis Oui,” was released on November 18. The musical landscape has changed considerably since the group’s debut, “Sympathique,” was released in 1997.
“I don’t know why we still make new albums,” Lauderdale said. “As an industry, sales are significantly down so things have shifted. Fifteen or 20 years ago, half of our income came from album sales and half of it came from performances. Now, it’s 95 percent performances and five percent album sales. Releasing an album gives you an additional reason to tour but it doesn’t make much of a difference.
“Because record sales are down, I had to totally change the approach I take to making albums,” Lauderdale continued. “I have to be more efficient in the studio but that’s good. Again, having those parameters helps with the discipline. I don’t want to go broke making albums but having new material infuses new energy in the musicians in the band and me and, hopefully, the audiences too.”
Given the changes in the music industry, Lauderdale considers himself fortunate to still be playing his unique brand of old-fashioned global pop.
“It’s sort of preposterous in composition to have a band with 10 to 12 people that play real instruments and sing in 25 different languages,” he said. “It seems like it wouldn’t really work but it does. We’re incredibly lucky to still be working, especially when so many industries have toppled in the last 20 years.”
WANT TO GO?
Who: Pink Martini
Where: Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton
When: 8 p.m. Friday, March 3
Cost: $25-$60
More info: 937-228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com
Artist info:www.pinkmartini.com
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