Eric Pulido – Midlake
from Lost And Sound Hosted by Paul Hanford
What happens when a band outlives its own legend and keeps the spark anyway? I sat down with Eric Pulido of Midlake to trace how a group known for mythic, pastoral folk found a new centre after a seismic lineup change—and why the music still lands with the same autumnal glow. Eric takes us behind new album A Bridge Too Far, from sketching twenty ideas to recording live with producer Sam Evian, capturing a decades old chemistry. We talk about stepping into the vocalist role after Tim Smith’s departure and the electric snap that shaped an album that could well have sunk lesser acts – Antiphon. Eric shares how his lyric writing moved toward clarity and truth—naming real people and moments while keeping songs timeless and open to anyone’s story. We go deep on influences too, from West Coast folk and British folk gateways to earlier loves like Björk, and how Denton, Texas, nurtured the band’s early years with a supportive arts scene and real stages to grow on. I love how he talks about touring with refreshing honesty: the fragile math of mid-level bands, why Europe can be more workable than the vast US, and how thoughtful setlists honour both new work and the gateway songs from The Trials of Van Occupanther. There’s a visual thread as well, with Eric reflecting on Midlake’s cinematic feel and recent collaboration with Ted Lasso’s James Lance. If you enjoy Lost and Sound and want to help keep it thriving, the best way to support is simple: subscribe, leave a rating, and write a quick review on your favourite podcast platform. It really helps others find the show. You can do that here on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen. Midlake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlakeband/ Midlake on Bandcamp: https://midlakeband.bandcamp.com/music Huge thanks to Audio-Technica – makers of beautifully engineered audio gear and sponsors of Lost and Sound. Check them out here: Audio-Technica My book Coming To Berlin is a journey through the city’s creative underground, and is available via Velocity Press. You can also follow me on Instagram at @paulhanford for behind-the-scenes bits, guest updates, and whatever else is bubbling up. Support the show
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What this episode covers
What happens when a band outlives its own legend and keeps the spark anyway? I sat down with Eric Pulido of Midlake to trace how a group known for mythic, pastoral folk found a new centre after a seismic lineup change—and why the music still lands with the same autumnal glow. Eric takes us behind new album A Bridge Too Far, from sketching twenty ideas to recording live with producer Sam Evian, capturing a decades old chemistry. We talk about stepping into the vocalist role after Tim Smith’s d...
Chapters
- 0:00 Sponsor And Host Intro
- 3:35 Setting The Scene In Berlin And Denton
- 6:20 Midlake’s Myth And Van Occupanther
- 9:50 Lineup Shift And Finding A Throughline
- 13:05 The Chemistry Of Playing Together
- 14:22 Writing A Bridge Too Far
- 16:07 Stepping Up As Frontman
- 19:37 Antiphon’s Energy And Identity
- 21:20 Lyrical Directness And Timelessness
- 25:20 Influences From West Coast Folk To Indie
- 29:25 Denton’s Scene And Community
- 33:00 Touring Realities And Mid-Level Bands
- 36:10 Cinematic Feel And Visual Story
- 38:15 Setlists, Fan Bonds, And The Road
- 41:40 Advice To A Younger Self And Balance
- 45:26 Closing Thanks And Sponsor Wrap
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