Exclusive video premiere of ‘Lost and Found’ by Will Laut, taken from the upcoming EP, set to be released on May 31, 2024.

Introducing Will Laut, a duo with avant-garde roots and a fresh sound. Based in the creative hubs of Los Angeles and Paris, the group is making waves with its unique blend of ambient pop and noir minimalism. The duo is led by Frankie Gothard, also known as COH, a prominent figure in the computer avant-garde scene of the late 1990s. Gothard’s artistic journey includes collaborations with renowned vocalists such as John Balance of Coil and Cosey Fanni Tutti of Throbbing Gristle, as well as fashion icon Ann Demeulemeester.”

Joining COH is William Laut, the frontman and vocalist, whose diverse musical background sets the tone for the duo’s innovative sound. Once a Eurovision contender, Laut has explored a variety of musical genres, from composing rock anthems to working with children’s choirs and organizing showcase festivals featuring Asian music.

The sound of Will Laut can be described as an intriguing mix of atmospheric textures, minimalist rhythms, and haunting crooner-style lyrics. Their music invites listeners into a world where synthesizer-driven tango and experimental melodies meet to create an immersive experience.

After a long hiatus, the Wavetrap label, originally founded by COH and John Everall in 1999, has made a comeback with the release of Will Laut’s debut EP. This marks the first time that the label’s catalog, which includes works by Mika Vainio, Minimal Self, and COH, is available digitally. Will Laut’s music is an invitation to explore the boundaries of sound, bridging the avant-garde with contemporary styles. The debut EP is a promising introduction to a duo that’s set to leave a lasting impact on the music scene.

Frankie Gothard (COH) discusses ‘Lost & Found’: “Will Laut, as a project, grew out of mutual musical interest. On my part, I was curious to see how William’s style of vocal performance can be best accentuated, framed into an arrangement. This particular song, ‘Lost & Found’ was, in fact, our very first interaction. I had requested William to grab a microphone and improvise whatever vocal lines will pop into his mind. He was then in his Los Angeles studio, I was in mine, in France. After a few days he sent over a couple of five-minute takes, from which I extracted a short single loop, just few seconds long, which became the root of the track. I first created patterns to frame this loop, set it against a beat, and then built the whole music piece around these patterns. This is a rather common way I write music – it tends to grow out a small “seed”, a single sound that I first create, a simple loop that feels inspiring. A few months later, we met on a “neutral territory” – at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, to record vocals for the several tracks that I’ve put together by the time. The Village is a peculiar spot. Not only it is beautiful, it is located in what used to be a Masonic temple one century ago. The building itself has a spirit of its own, a scent of mystery even. There we wrote together the lyrics for ‘Lost & Found,’ and worked on the details of vocal technique. We spent an altogether rather intense week at The Village with the material that I had prepared for the session. Looking back at it – and yes, I realise it is very subjective – it seems as if each of those songs carries a trace, a fragment of that spirit… the masons must have put something into the bricks!”

Will Laut Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube
Frankie Gothard Instagram / Bandcamp
Wavetrap Bandcamp