Now you know: The Lulls

"Our music is something like surf rock meets shoegaze, but there’s a lot more to it than that,” says singer/guitarist Rutger Rosenborg of the Lulls. “It’s a little post-punky and ambient, but it also has a pop sensibility.”

The group features several players held over from Ed Ghost Tucker, including singer/bassist Cameron Wilson, who explains the new moniker: “The Lulls to me means calmness; still water between cresting waves. Our sound has a swirling and grounded quality that I think reflects this. Also, we named ourselves in a period of rest and recalibration after riding the Ed Ghost Tucker project to death, so [it means] a lull in our public releases and shows while we wrote the album.”

According to Rosenborg, “Our sound is a lot more minimal, refined, and targeted now. We had all of these crazy, complicated parts in Ed Ghost Tucker, and I think we just needed a break from that. We still experiment, but in a more simplified way.”

Releasing their song “Bruise” as a debut single was no random choice. “The Lulls came after the split from Ed Ghost Tucker, and ‘Bruise’ is sort of a breakup song,” explains Wilson.

The Lulls release party for their debut album, Island of Daughters, happens November 25 at Soda Bar. “We’ll play all the songs on the new record, plus maybe one new song if we can get it together in time,” says drummer Ryan Miller. “Expect some projected visuals...and perhaps a cover.”

“It’s Black Friday, so maybe we’ll have some merch deals,” says Rosenborg.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

Ansley Rosenborg: “I’ve been digging Fever the Ghost’s album Zirconium Meconium.”

Cameron Wilson: “Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom. I’m helping score a friend’s film right now, and Robert Wyatt’s sonic experiments and direct lyricisms are guiding me through.”

Ryan Miller: “Blonde Redhead and the Strokes.”

Max Montana Idas: “In Rainbows, by Radiohead, because it’s beautiful noise.”

BIGGEST POLITICAL CONCERN?

Rosenborg: “Gender equality and the lack of political seriousness in contemporary music, especially when it comes to form. Patti Smith’s ‘Gloria’ is still a hundred times more powerful as a work of art than anything Green Day or Tom Morello [Rage Against the Machine] could ever muster.”

Wilson: “Legalizing it. Because I forget.”

Miller: “Climate change, because there are still politicians who deny that it’s real and we’ll all be down the shitter if the planet keeps melting.”

Idas: “Climate change and our efforts to fight it. We all live on the same planet, guys, let’s treat it with respect.”

HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR LAST NATIONAL TOUR?

Rosenborg: “We played MondoNYC and almost sold out our vinyl-release show. Cam hung out with a dog and two homeless girls, Max got head-butted in the eye by a middle-aged Irish boxer, and Ryan found Jesus.”

Wilson: “The second half of the tour was like a honeymoon for me, especially due to the girl I convinced to travel back with us as far as San Francisco. Onboard merch help is pretty much always welcome, and long-distance relationships are chill.”

Idas: “Performing in Bart Simpson masks at our Halloween tour finale in Big Sur.”

EVER COVER ED GHOST TUCKER?

Wilson: “No, not yet anyway. Get us more drunk.”

Miller: “No, sir. We do cover New Order and Slowdive, though.”

WHAT REMAINS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

Rosenborg: “I’m doing it already.”

Miller: “Hug Sasquatch.”

Idas: “Eat ramen in Japan.”

YOUR BEST DISH (AND WHAT’S YOUR SECRET)?

Rosenborg: “Breakfast sandwich.”

Wilson: “Tikka masala, from Trader Joe’s microwave section.”

Miller: “I love a good green smoothie [with] coconut water, lime, and cinnamon.”

MOST VISITED WEBSITE?

Rosenborg: “NSFW.”

Wilson: “Talkhouse.com, to see what some people I look up to talk about.”

Miller: “Facebook, dammit.”

Idas: “Fandor.com has a great selection of independent films.”

GUILTY PLEASURE?

Rosenborg: “‘We Dem Boyz’ by Wiz Khalifa.”

Miller: “Bacon-wrapped bacon.”

Idas: “Sour straws.”

BEST AND WORST THING ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Rosenborg: “I’m in Golden Hill, and the best thing is that I can see Turf Club from my living-room window. The worst thing is that I can see Turf Club from my living-room window.”

Wilson: “La Mesa is pretty. It’s pretty boring, but I’m not unhappy there.”

Miller: “North Park has walkability, it’s a good community. The worst is bros from P.B. on weekends.”

Idas: “The best thing about East Village is the walkability, and the worst thing is parking.”

SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Rosenborg: “I used to do research on sleep and memory at Stanford. Now, I don’t remember very much or sleep very well.”

Wilson: “I used to be lactose-intolerant.”

Idas: “I make beats with Cameron for a trip-hop project called Kilgore Trout.”