Revealing their new pop single 'Something About You' earlier this month which is released today (March 18), Lucius are an incredibly compelling group showing a lot of promise.
'The few years that led us to the writing of this record were a rollercoaster'
We got the opportunity to chat to Holly Laessig all about the band's music, future and more in a new and exclusive interview - read on to find out what she had to say...
What should first time listeners expect from 'Something About You'?
They can expect to gain a little strut in their step with this one! We wanted to inject the track with a fair dose of cockiness in everything from the instrumentation to the vocal performance.
Your second album 'Good Grief' is out now, what should fans expect from that collection?
We tried to use an album title that encompassed everything that the record was, and when Jess thought of 'Good Grief' it was the perfect fit. There is polarised material on the record, very high energy and high-spirited tracks (Good), paired with (and to provide balance for), very heavy dark songs (Grief).
The few years that led us to the writing of this record were a rollercoaster, and 'Good Grief' also posed as a great exclamation of relief and humour to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.
You worked with Shawn Everett, Bob Ezrin and Tom Elmhirst on the LP - what were they like to work with?
They were all unique puzzle pieces to the making of this record. When Jess and I started to round up all of our demos, we worked with Bob on narrowing down some of our song choices and tightening things up - he was most involved in the pre-production.
Then we dove straight into this creative process with Shawn who is a mad conductor of chaos in the absolute best way. He put himself right into the record along with the five of us, helped navigate our varied strengths and kept us all exploring new terrain throughout.
After we worked through every track we brought the album to Tom Elmhirst to mix. He had this balls to the wall, sort of raucous energy that brought the mixes to life while somehow maintaining great clarity.
It was an incredible mixture of chefs in the kitchen and it was a treat to learn from them all.
Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day in the studio when creating new material?
Typical day in the studio, hmm... Well, there were some things you could expect - we would all get coffees down the street at the beginning of the session every day. We would sit in the studio for hours until the evening and we'd order in some food and beverage delivery - with several smoke breaks in between! But as far as the recording itself, when you are working with Shawn there is absolutely no telling what is going to happen. Maybe we'll have a dog running around (named Chloe) and she'll start barking, and we'll put effects on the 57 that's winding through the room just lying on the couch ready for anything. Or maybe there'll be a guitar part played with our vocals through the magic of midi. It really could be anything at any time and that kept things interesting.
Where do you draw influence or inspiration from for your work?
When it comes to the writing, it's every day life. It's our experiences and our relationships. As far as performance and arrangement there are so many wonderful musical influences, visual art influences, such a wide variety between the five of us. We are drawn to the era of rock n roll and soul music that had a voice and a look that created a whole world for people to enter into and keep that in mind for our own experience.
You'll be touring Europe in April - what should those coming to the gigs expect from the night?
Expect a show full of energy and a real good time!
Will you be throwing some surprises into your sets?
Always!
Do you enjoy the touring life?
Yes. It's very unconventional and has its pros and cons for sure, but all the hardships that come with always being on the move are alleviated by the hours in the day we get to share with our audience.
What advice do you have for those who may be looking to chase a career in this industry?
Work hard and then work harder. And enjoy yourself as much as possible, with a dose of humour to keep you grouded. You and your craft may not always love each other in the same moments, but it doesn't mean you won't find each other again.
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
To continue to grow and transform with our art.
Lucius will be performing in the UK and Ireland from April 5, kicking things off in Dublin before shows in Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol and London. Check out the full list of European dates below:
- 5/4 The Academy, Dublin
- 6/4 Gorilla, Manchester
- 8/4 Arts School, Glasgow
- 9/4 Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
- 10/4 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
- 11/4 Thekla, Bristol
- 13/4 KOKO, London
- 14/4 La Maroquinerie, Paris
- 16/4 Botanique, Brussels
- 19/4 Melkweg, Amsterdam
- 20/4 Prinzenbar, Hamburg
- 21/4 Privateclub, Berlin
- 22/4 Strom, Munich