Don’t Get Lemon, a Texas-based dance-pop ensemble, creates music steeped in the rich influences of Danish synth, glam rock, and the distinctive, edgy rhythms of 80s New Wave. Their music is a unique fusion, marked by a blend of whimsy and the bizarre. Drawing from the grotesque yet fascinating aspects of our shared reality, they skillfully create vibrant, dynamic dance music. This swirl of sound forms a vivid and lively contrast to the monotonous greyness that frequently colors our everyday world. Their approach not only redefines the genre but also offers a refreshing escape through their quirky and imaginative musical storytelling.
In Say Something New For Once, one can’t help but discern the echoes of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Talking Heads, and Simple Minds, though there’s a wink and a nudge to more contemporary muses like LCD Soundsystem, Alex Cameron, and Cold Cave. At the helm is frontman Austin Curtis, whose vocal stylings deftly marry the emotive intensity of Morrissey with the debonair charm of Bryan Ferry. These Texan Anglophiles manage to stretch their musical arms across the Atlantic, stitching together a patchwork quilt of pop culture that spans from the sepia-toned yesterdays to the neon-lit tomorrows.
Faiza Kracheni’s music video for Say Something New For Once pays vibrant homage to the sleazy allure of 70s glam. Set against a backdrop adorned with disco balls, scattered rose petals, and remnants of cigarette ash, the video encapsulates the glittering excess of a bygone era of hedonism and decadence. It artfully juxtaposes this with the pressing sense of desperation for the present and the looming future.
Curtis commands the screen with a performance that masterfully straddles the line between Elvis Presley’s hip-shaking, sensual swagger and David Bowie’s otherworldly charisma. Curtis effortlessly channels an electrifying blend of masculine and feminine energies. His moves, inspired by the gritty soulfulness of Northern Soul, coupled with a magnetic intensity that would make any post-punk Mancunian nod in approval, turn the performance into a captivating spectacle of internal conflict and raw, unbridled emotion. Surrounded by guitarist/keyboardist Nick Ross and bassist Bryan Walters, this dynamic trio delivers a bold and inventive twist on the new wave sound.
Watch below:
Have Some Shame, the 9-song, 37-minute album, is due out on April 23rd, 2024, via à La Carte Records and Summer Darling Tapes. It was recorded in rural Texas by Dan Duszynski (Loma / Sub Pop) and mastered by Paul Gold (LCD Soundsystem, Animal Collective). This buoyant collection of songs revolts against the bored, distant gaze of cliché coldwave and instead retaliates with the warm, fiery embrace of what the band contrastingly dubs as “Heatwave.” This heartfelt sound forms an idiosyncratic identity that also wouldn’t be out of place in a classic John Hughes 80s film soundtrack.
Pre-order the album here
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