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Golem Dance Cult is an “Industrial Dance Rock” music project started by two friends* Charles Why (Lost A Noise/Nexus/L-DOPA …) and Laur (Sparkling Bombs/Kevin K Band/Vague Scare/Other-ed…)
The sound is heavy (both Laur and Charles are “sons of the mighty guitar congregation”) but danceable: a “mechanic, ritualistic groove with soul and grit”.
What are the origins of Golem Dance Cult? How long have you been playing together?
Charles Why: Laur and I are both from a small French town. We met as pre-teenagers as we were the only fans of Motley Crue there and we became Friends. We then started our first band together, him on drums and me on bass. Then life separated us musically, but we always kept in touch as friends. Fast forward to 2021, during the lockdown, I was in the UK and Laur in France, I sent him some ideas I had for a new musical project, the ball started rolling, and Golem Dance Cult was born.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Golem Dance Cult?
Charles Why: We used to call it “Industrial Dance Rock,” but in a review, someone qualified us as Glam Goth, which is kind of cool.
Laur: They should expect something that doesn’t really fit into categories or trends.
What are you working on at the moment that people can check out?
Charles Why: We are currently promoting our new album “Shamanic Faultlines”, which was released Friday, the 13th of June on Vinyl (Black and limited edition Splatter) and CD.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
Charles Why: Jane’s Addiction when they stop fighting onstage 😉 , The Cult, Peter Murphy, Beck.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Charles Why: Vague Scare, Other-ed, Inga Liljestrom, Mu
Laur: Alice Gift, Kevin K, The Wheal…
What frustrates you about the music business?
Charles Why: when you add “business” to something, it starts going downhill 😉
Laur: I can’t agree more with Charles. Too much business, not enough passion.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
Charles Why: When I was 15, I won a contest as an Angus Young look-alike. I was invited to meet the whole band and went on stage with them for the intro song (Who Made Who). Even if I was only provided with a cardboard guitar, I attribute this event to my love for live performance, as I went onstage, there was a massive roar from the audience (who did not realise yet that I was only an Angus lookalike 😉 and that lifted me up like nothing else… I was hooked to this adrenaline.
Laur: My first musical memories are listening to my Dad’s records and my vinyl singles that were played on an orange record player for kids. Seeing KISS pictures on my cousin’s walls was also an important moment. Tommy Lee’s drumming was probably the thing that made me want to do that.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Charles Why: PJ Harvey in Melbourne with my Daughter.
Laur: If we’re talking about bigger gigs, The Cult in Switzerland.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
Charles Why: My current top 3: Global warming, Palestine, Trump
Laur: I think everything is connected. I’m in favour of animal liberation, which also means human emancipation. The way we treat other living beings to satisfy our own greed is horrible. Tolstoy once said, “As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.”
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
Charles Why: I listen to a lot of weird stuff, from free jazz to Ethiopian Funk, film soundtrack, and experimental electronic music, so maybe the biggest surprise would be my “Madeleine de Proust playlist” where I stocked all my favourite music I was listening to as a kid.
Laur: Lady Gaga and other girl pop stuff.
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
Charles Why: David Bowie. He shows the way of how you have to reinvent yourself as a musician.
Laur: Bowie for sure as well. Sparks because they are unique. Manic Street Preachers because they are for real.
What new music have you been enjoying so far this year?
Charles Why: the latest Young Gods “Appear Disappear” and Laur makes me discover “God Games” from The Kills latest album that I kept going back to.
Laur: The latest albums of Sparks, The Horrors, Manics, The Kills…
What does the remainder of 2025 hold for Golem Dance Cult?
Charles Why: first tour of Australia would be super cool!
Laur: More people hearing about us and live opportunities.
How active are you on social media, and where can people connect with you?
Charles Why: kind of, depending on the mood and if we have something interesting or funny to share. We have our own website (www.golemdancecult.com), and you can find us on all the other usual suspects: https://www.facebook.com/GolemDanceCult https://www.instagram.com/golemdancecult/
