The Flaming Lips are a band that thrives on being unpredictable, and Wayne Coyne is the perfect ringmaster for their surreal circus. In a sprawling conversation with Kyle Meredith, Coyne dove into their concept album, King’s Mouth: Music and Songs, a psychedelic trip that began as an art installation in 2014 and now comes with a narrated storybook—voiced by none other than Mick Jones of The Clash. Coyne’s commentary reveals an artist perpetually fascinated by the interplay between chaos and melody, crafting narratives that are equal parts whimsical and profound.
He shared how becoming a father coincided with the album’s release, lending a serendipitous air to the themes of birth and childhood woven into the music. “It looks like a great coincidence, which it mostly is,” Coyne mused, though he admitted the process was subtly shaped by his shifting perspective.
And as if King’s Mouth wasn’t ambitious enough, Coyne hinted at several more projects in the pipeline, including collaborations with Deep Vally and a new Lips album set for 2025. True to form, he brushed off concerns about audience expectations or burnout: “We’re just lucky that curiosity keeps driving us forward.”
Of course, this is the Flaming Lips—so things inevitably veer into the bizarre. Coyne took a detour to discuss how a Louisville connection to the song “Happy Birthday” inspired him to dive into its overlooked history, and he even unpacked the absurd perception of a track like “Giant Baby” being linked to Donald Trump. “It’s not about him,” he laughed. “It’s just a funny, absurd title.”
Coyne also reflected on their high-profile collaborations with Miley Cyrus and Kesha, viewing them as mutual explorations of artistic freedom. “They’re fearless,” he said, “and that’s what makes it so exciting to work with them.”
Whether he’s rewriting psychedelic children’s books, covering the Beatles, or staging surrealist art shows, Coyne proves there’s no roadmap for The Flaming Lips. Their journey, much like their music, is a wild, beautiful experiment.
Listen to the interview above and then check out these earlier interviews:
