Photo: Natasha Austrich
Lauren Lakis’s soon-to-be-released album, “A Fiesta and a Hell,” is celebrated with a compelling new single, “Terror Tears.” The song is a potent rallying call, merging the energetic pulse of 80s punk, shoegaze, and goth rock with intense drumbeats and her vocals and guitar work bathed in echoey reverb.
In Terror Tears, Lauren Lakis paints a vivid picture of societal disenchantment. The lyrics portray a poignant rebellion against the shackles of conventionalism. The heart of the narrative beats around the fusion of spoon-fed dogma and standing tall against capitulation. “Sweet terror tears”, a refrain echoing throughout, illustrates a painful year-long journey of disillusionment, coupled with the dichotomy of warring days and loving nights. The lyrics illuminate a longing for liberation from authoritarian chokeholds and a craving for sincere human connections.
As the song dwindles to a close, it implores us to question our conformity and scrutinize the narratives we are sold and commanded to follow. The track is a resonant tapestry woven with threads of revolt and societal critique, embodying a strong undercurrent of discontentment against the monolithic power edifices.
“I’ve become increasingly disillusioned with our society over the past few years,” Lakis says. “The media propaganda machine, government hypocrisy and lies, corporate-owned institutions that only seem to tighten their control as the years pass…I don’t know where the future is leading us, but I know that we the people need to start intentionally choosing what kind of future we want, instead of being led into dystopia by systems of power.”
The video, directed by Stefania Vasconcellos, is a throwback-style performance clip shot on the streets of Hollywood, the epicentre of this very malaise. It cuts to psychedelic moments and closeups of Lakis’s expressive face floating above the flaming artifice of Tinseltown.
Watch the video for ‘Terror Tears” below:
“A Fiesta and a Hell” was put to tape in Austin, Texas, with the artistic hand of Modern Medicine (Wild Child, Josie Lockhart) at the production helm. The record was then refined through the mixing skills of Elliott Frazier from Ringo Deathstarr and mastered by the esteemed Christopher Colbert, whose resume includes works with Mazzy Star, Starflyer 59, and Leon Bridges. The album is coming this fall via Green Witch Recordings (Pearl Earl, Pale Dian, Timothy Eerie).
Emerging from the beating heart of Baltimore, Lauren’s artistry has blossomed, echoing the city’s inherent fatalism through her music. With a raw, eerie and unforgettable sound, Lakis is a gust of change in the musical landscape, delivering her own unique brand of “gut-wrenchingly enjoyable shoegaze”, as described by Flaunt.
Lakis and her band have left their musical footprints across the West Coast and Texas, sharing stages with notable acts such as Ringo Deathstarr, Holy Wave, Sea Wolf, Peel Dream Magazine, Deaf Club, and Drowse. This year saw them playing to enthusiastic audiences at The New Colossus Festival in NYC’s Lower East Side, and causing a stir at SXSW, as well as an electrifying Levitation pre party. In the near future, they’re gearing up to perform at Dum Dum Fest at the Echo in LA.
Prior to the global pandemic, they moved a packed house at the Doug Fir Lounge, and brought their vibrant sound to The Catalyst Santa Cruz, sharing the stage with Flor & Winnetka Bowling League. Lauren also had the opportunity to showcase her solo talents alongside Grammy-nominated rock icon Tracy Bonham.
During the isolation of quarantine, Lauren found a way to stay connected with her fans by partnering with Bands In Town, Jam in the Van, B Side TV, Rock to End Rape Culture, KXLU, and ACLU to perform a number of virtual gigs, proving that even a pandemic can’t silence her distinctive sound.
Upcoming tour dates:
Follow Lauren Lakis:
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