Scott Rietherman had always created music—first as the founder of a lofi indie pop act called Throw Me the Statue, and now as electronic dance producer Pillar Point. On his LP Marble Mouth, released last Friday on Polyvinyl (listen to the whole album above), Reitherman oriented his songs more around synthesizers and dance grooves. (Asked to describe his music, Reitherman said, “I usually mumble something about synthesizers and beats… .”)

Recorded at Kevin Barnes’ (Of Montreal) studio in Athens, GA, his guest instrumentalists include drummer Cameron Gardner (Washed Out), Barnes, who plays guitar on “Part Time Love," and percussionist Philip Mayer (Kishi Bashi). He talks to Myspace about writing ska songs, his fave synth and where the name Pillar Point comes from.

Hometown: Half Moon Bay, CA

Homebase: Seattle, WA

Why are you called Pillar Point? What does it mean?

It's the name of the harbor I grew up next to, and there's a Pillar Point in each of the states that I've spent the most time in - Washington, California, New York. I triangulated all that into a band name?!

Pillar Point is more electronic than Throw Me the Statue. What led you to the musical path you're on now?

I've always liked electronic music, and I'm making it now because I think it allows for new and creative orchestration, especially as a solo artist. And dance is cathartic. So in some ways electronic music feels more useful.

What's your songwriting process like?

I usually need the house all to myself, maybe make some coffee, and then I'll start playing around with a beat or a synthesizer and I won't stop until I've got something that moves me to dance around the house.

Who are your biggest songwriting influences?

Lately, it's been Arthur Russell, Suicide, Talking Heads, Matthew Dear, to name a few.

What was the first time you realized you wanted to sing and perform for others?

Actually it was first a love of recording and writing songs that forced me to get up onstage, I was never somebody that craved to perform in front of people. But I grew to enjoy it pretty quickly.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

The first good song I wrote was Tropical Fish. It was a ska tune. I was a freshman in High School. It had a break where our band all shouted "huma huma nuka nuka apua." Yknow, the state fish of Hawaii. Sigh....yep.

How did you end up working with Kevin Barnes on Marble Mouth?

Last year we went on tour with Kevin and his excellent band of misfits of Montreal. Along the way we bonded and he offered to produce my next record -- so I said absolutely yes.

What's one musical instrument or piece of gear can you not live without?

My Juno-60. It's the synth I've had the longest and it is so versatile I never get tired of it. It's incredible.