MGMT are the musical duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, known for creating irresistibly catchy, genre-blurring music.

In this Encore Episode, we dive into how they continually push the boundaries of pop and indie music while still maintaining their unmistakable sound. We also discuss the politics of performing at Madison Square Garden, their unexpected rise to TikTok fame, and how their views on drugs have evolved since their debut album.

Since their time as art students in the early 2000s, they’ve released five studio albums, garnered critical acclaim, and cultivated a devoted fan base. Their newest album Loss of Life is available now.

Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with the artists behind the hits 'Kids' and 'Little Dark Age

00:00 MGMT on Pop Music vs. Experimentation

00:29 Welcome to The Plug w/ Justin Jay

01:03 Can AI Replace Human Songwriting?

01:59 Introducing MGMT & the Album Loss of Life

02:56 First Reactions to MGMT’s New Album Loss of Life

03:22 Post-Album Letdown & Choosing Not to Tour

05:47 Touring Burnout, Aging & Changing Priorities

07:39 Writing Catchy Pop Songs Without Compromise

10:04 Genre Labels, Adult Contemporary & Steely Dan Influence

13:24 MGMT Influences: Roxy Music, Prince & 80s Synth Pop

17:07 The Role of Producers & Working With Dave Fridmann

21:28 Music Videos, Self-Promotion & Streaming Economics

30:00 Drugs, Lyrics & Growing Older as a Band

31:56 Final Plugs, Artists to Support & Closing Thoughts

Check out video clips of this episode and other conversations on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1

Have any comments, feedback or suggestions for upcoming guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay at: theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justinjay.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HI 1K - 10 Years / 1000 Moments On Hawaii’s North Shore by Justin Jay:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hi1k.com/

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