Alien Tempo Experiment 13

Alien Tempo Experiment 13 (ATE 13) is the alternative rock music project originally founded by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Jammes Luckett in Los Angeles in 1994. It stands as the foundational precursor that evolved into Poperratic.

ATE 13 emerged from Luckett's desire for artistic autonomy—a dedicated vehicle to showcase prolific songwriting and multi-instrumental abilities after years of constraints and limited supporting roles in other bands.

At its core, ATE 13 frequently paired the accessible hooks of pop with an unpredictable edge, laying the groundwork for Poperratic's signature sound. Among the dozens of lo-fi cassettes that were passed hand-to-hand in Los Angeles was an early version of "Vagus the Wandering Nerve". ATE 13's debut vinyl EP, Live! From the Roller Derby! (1998), co-produced by Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Shonen Knife) and AJ Lambert (Nancy Sinatra, Bloodslide, Looker), showcased a raw, guitar-driven energy blending gritty punk with rich melodies. That same year, the EP received full rotation airplay on the influential KXLU Los Angeles as well as secured Luckett's first professional soundtrack placement.

The early work of ATE 13 was delivered through dozens of lo-fi DIY cassettes and established Luckett’s unique voice. It drew from diverse influences spanning heavy rock, classic pop, Motown, new wave, jazz, punk, and classical.

As ATE 13, Luckett performed at legendary Los Angeles venues such as The Whisky a Go Go, Al's Bar, Mr. T's Bowl, The Dizzy Debby, The Room, Spaceland, and Studio 56. She also performed at the International Pop Overthrow music festival.

Over the years, early soundtrack career retrospectives featuring some of ATE 13's recordings have been released by dedicated soundtrack labels La-La Land Records (May and Other Selected Works) and Terror Vision, including the official May OST, which was an official 2022 Record Store Day selection.

Operating as the original flagship project under Luckett's creative studio and label, Art Mechanix, ATE 13 eventually evolved into Poperratic, where its original spirit lives on and reinspires the artist today.

The spirit and uncompromising artistic vision set forth within Alien Tempo Experiment 13 continue to resonate as a critical part of Poperratic’s work and its return to guitar-based roots. Today, ATE 13's early material is being honored and reissued, with many tracks being unearthed for their studio recording debuts.