World Cafe Words and Music Podcast Lord Huron explores 'the big mysteries' on the band's latest album
Sep 12, 2025
Ben Schneider, frontman and primary songwriter for Lord Huron, dives into the band's latest album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1. He illuminates the album's nostalgic jukebox concept and its evolution into a mysterious character. The conversation explores themes of mortality, with graveyard imagery reflecting on death and memory. Schneider also discusses the influence of David Lynch on his creative process and how he engages with fans through mythology-building. To top it off, the band delivers live performances that resonate with their cosmic themes.
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Mystical Jukebox As Story Engine
- Ben Schneider frames the Cosmic Selector as a mystical jukebox that lets characters meddle with fate.
- He imagines it like a Twilight Zone device with a dark, Faustian cost to using it.
Childhood Jukebox Memories
- Ben recalls childhood memories of choosing jukebox songs by album art or title, enjoying the roll-of-the-dice surprise.
- He still uses TouchTunes to queue songs and jokes about 'juke bombing' bars with odd playlists.
Leave Space For Listener Stories
- Lord Huron intentionally leaves narrative gaps so listeners can insert their own lives into the songs.
- Ben credits this openness for deep fan engagement and interpretive fandom activity.