If you learn nothing else about Brooklyn-based indie rock group Ladybug Transistor and the secrets behind their bittersweet pop, know this: their mothers are really proud. Of the three classic pearls of wisdom from mom - ‘Wait at least an hour to swim after eating,’ ‘Too much TV will rot your brain,’ and ‘Always remember to share.’ - Ladybug Transistor has at least one of those down to a mutually beneficial science. Lending their skills to other groups as well as borrowing musicians from bands like Architecture in Helsinki and The Clientele has turned Ladybug’s sound into particularly matured indie pop. This ‘all are welcome’ philosophy practiced in the recording precess of their recently released sixth album (Can’t Wait Another Day) may not translate perfectly to the Emo’s stage Friday - obviously not all of the borrowed musicians can be there - but gleaming melodies and infectious song-craft will certainly be sitting in with them on a song or two. 'Playing nice' with Ladybug Friday night are The Dodos, Papercuts and Sub Pop's Jennifer Gentle.

We recently caught up with founding member of Ladybug Transistor Gary Olson to discuss collectives, Stephin Merritt and working with Soft Machine's Kevin Ayers.

I've noticed you guys have done some trading with other musicians on Merge Records. Is it a very incestuous family there? Kind of like a collective?

I wouldn't call Merge a collective, but more of a big loving family these days. We've had a long history of sharing band members (Julia Rydholm and Jeff Baron) with Essex Green. Alasdair from The Clientele, who are label mates, helped us out with some guitar for two songs on the new album.

Speaking of collectives, what's the band's association with Elephant 6?

I guess it's more about when we got started. All of those bands were coming up around the same time as us. We would cross paths a lot and shared a similar approach in that we were making music in our own studios and trying to stretch it further than what was typical for the time, paying a lot of attention to detail. Back then we played with The Apples, Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel. Our first real US tour was with Of Montreal. We would visit Athens a lot in the early days and still have some good friends down there.

How many of your albums have you recorded at your home studio, Marlborough Farms? How does it feel to record there as opposed to other studios?

We've made all of the Ladybug albums here except for the self titled record. The pace of Marlborough Farms is a bit more relaxed since it's in my home. Without conventional studio pressures (time and money) we are able to let the music distill and pay more attention to detail. It can be a long process though. We worked on the new record on and off for nine months. It was a bit like having a baby.

What is your approach to inviting other musicians to play on your records? Is Marlborough Farms a 24-hour indie pop jam session?

We have the advantage of having a steady stream of visitors. Being in a central place like New York, it seems that everyone you've met in any corner of the world will eventually come to visit you someday. I must admit that I do enjoy having the company and, if we are working on a record, I'll order the guests downstairs to sing or play on something. Some people have this idea that we live on a hippy commune, but it's more of a musical work camp!

I see you've undergone some lineup changes since your last record. How has this had an effect the sound of the new record?

If anything it's loosened up the rules a bit and has allowed us to get more people involved. We are lucky enough to have gained Kyle Forester and Ben Crum from Great Lakes who contributed deeply to this record. I think it's given our sound a glossy coat of red paint.

Indie pop is a broad label that's thrown around a lot these days. How do you feel about being included in that genre? What do you think would describe your music more accurately? Are you more comfortable with chamber-pop?

I don't know. I'd prefer Smooth Jazz to Indie Pop. But I have to admit that I don't really lose sleep over classification. Indie pop seems like such a dying genre that maybe it will be extinct soon. Perhaps it's just reached a ceiling in it's limited appeal. Sometimes it just makes me think of bands who can't play their instruments properly and need an umbrella to congregate under. I think Ladybug's standards are too high to fit under that label. Chamber Pop? No, but would I encourage everyone to be creative with their own genre entries in that little box provided by iTunes.

How do you react to the comparisons which have been made between you and Stephin Merritt?

We don't look anything alike! I'm a little taller than he is.

With so many sounds circling in your music, is there a standard process for deciding where to put the strings, horns, synthesizer, etc.?

With the arrangements, we tend to throw it all against the wall and chisel away at it. There is some editing involved. The challenge is trying incorporate everything without cluttering that song. It's a delicate balance, and I'm a Libra you know!

What is the other soon-to-be-released album you worked on with Kevin Ayers?

Two summers ago we were contacted by Kevin Ayers’ manager about working with him on a record. He came out to New York to meet us, and it went well. He returned not too long after that, and we started rehearsing and recording for almost two months. The record features Ladybugs’ Jeff Baron on guitar, San Fadyl on drums, along with our long time associates Heather McIntosh (Circulatory System, Instruments) on bass/cello and Joe McGinty on keyboards and string/brass arrangements. I did a lot of the production on the album for the US sessions, and then they took it to London to finish it up. Special guests include members of Teenage Fanclub, Architecture In Helsinki, Bridget St. John, Phil Manzanera and Julian Koster (Music Tapes, Olivia Tremor Control) - a cast of a thousand, really. It's coming out in September. Kevin was a huge influence on me, so just having him walk through the front door was a dream.

Ladybug Transistor w/ Jennifer Gentle, Papercuts, The Dodos
Friday, August 17th
Emo's (Inside)
8 p.m. Doors, 10 p.m.
Show $8 Tickets

[Ladybug Transistor Official] [Ladybug Transistor Myspace]

Image via Ladybug Transistor's official site; Photo by James William Hindle