From the moment I open my eyes, I see you
An apparition everywhere, all at once
The things we saw continue to haunt me
The things we saw continue to haunt us
Seattle darkwave trio Licorice Chamber, led by the enigmatic goth chanteuse Layla Reyna (Strap On Halo), have unveiled their new EP, Sentience, along with the announcement of their upcoming Grey Skies Tour, featuring fellow Evergreen State bands Replicas and 2Libras.
Vocalist Reyna, often compared to the intense and visceral sounds of Faith and the Muse, Mephisto Waltz, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and X-Mal Deutschland, infuses Licorice Chamber with darkwave synths and opulent goth-pop influences. Since the release of her solo EP, The Taste of Falling, Reyna has been joined by bassist Joe Fox and former bandmate Marc Jones on guitar, completing the band’s haunting ensemble.
“We had about a dozen or so songs that we had initially intended to release as a full-length album,” says Reyna. “But time waits for none, and we are extremely eager. These four songs came together so effortlessly that we were able to add them to our set and record them rather effortlessly. The remaining songs are on hold till we return from our upcoming tour. The Sentience EP to me is both pain and pleasure, negative and positive, which my lyrics mirror within the human condition.”
“All four songs…regard the human experience, and the word ‘sentience’ expresses this notion in a single, beautiful word,” Fox explains.
The EP begins with The Things We Saw, a haunting exploration of lingering memories and visions, where shared experiences refuse to fade. Reyna’s vocals evoke a spine-chilling intensity. Following this is All I Ever Wanted, a poignant hymn of longing and desire, set against the backdrop of dusk and fading sunlight, capturing the essence of dreaming about a beloved as time slips by.
Flesh & Bone evokes a feeling of being shattered into countless fragments, with heightened and cold sensory experiences. Repeatedly invoking “flesh and blood, flesh and bone,” they emphasize the deep physical and emotional scars etched like watermarks on vellum. Imagery of flickering light and scattered ashes conveys a profound sense of loss and fragmentation, painting a haunting picture of disintegration and the ephemeral nature of existence.
Finally, Hanged Man plunges into despair and pathos, evoking a sense of haunting losses and an ever-present adversary. The song’s themes of desperation, waning strength, and inevitable confrontation stand out. The imagery of the “hanged man” poignantly captures the essence of having nothing left to lose, waiting for the inexorable end.
Licorice Chamber have been gigging extensively together around the Pacific Northwest since 2022. The band is looking forward to touring with Replicas and 2Libras.
“It was an obvious choice,” says Reyna. “We are all from the greater Seattle area and promoters kept putting us on the same bill. So, I decided to invite them both along to tour. Not only do I enjoy their music, but we are all quite good friends as well. I feel that this will just solidify the friendship we all have. One of my favorite things to do is perform and tour. What better way than by doing so with friends.”
“Working with Layla has always been easy,” says Jones. “My personal challenge was transitioning from Strap On Halo’s bassist to Licorice Chamber’s guitarist. I still have a lot to learn, but I am involved with positive, motivated artists who appreciate my contributions….We got to know Replicas and 2Libras well outside of venues, and we enjoy their company. Besides performing, I am most looking forward to new friends we will meet along the way, and the bond with our tour mates traveling together in VanGo (our nickname for our van) who had been with us since the first Strap On Halo tour.”
Fox is also looking forward to deeper connections, new friends, adventures, and ‘learning all that he can from the other bands.’ It is going to be a blast!” he concludes.
Sentience by Licorice Chamber is out now. Grey Skies tour dates are below.
- Friday, 05-July The Church Cantina Tacoma, WA
- Saturday, 13-July The Down Under Omaha, NE
- Sunday, 14-July Minibar Kansas City, MO
- Tuesday, 16-July The Mix San Antonio, TX
- Wednesday, 17-July 101 El Paso, TX
- Saturday, 20-July Bricks Rock Bar Maywood, CA
- Tuesday, 23-July Siren Song Tavern Eureka, CA
- Wednesday, 24-July Johnny B’s Medford, OR
- Thursday, 25-July Old Nicks Pub Eugene, OR
- Friday, 26-July The Coffin Club Portland, OR
- Friday, 02-August Southgate Roller Rink Seattle, WA
- Friday, 20-September Rays Golden Lion Richland, WA
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