Grateful Web is thrilled to sit down with LVNDR.SOUND, the critically acclaimed livetronica trio making waves with their sophomore album, In The Dark. Released via Perception Records, this project marks a transformative chapter for the band, pushing the boundaries of their sound with immersive production, emotive storytelling, and a fresh, vocal-centric approach. Drawing on influences from future bass, electro soul, house, hip-hop, and nu-age funk, LVNDR.SOUND delves into themes of resilience and self-discovery, crafting an album that celebrates the strength found in overcoming life’s darkest moments.
With standout collaborations, a meticulous fusion of electronic and live instrumentation, and a genre-defying sound, LVNDR.SOUND has captivated fans and critics alike. Tracks like the atmospheric “Nostalgic Nights” and the moody title track “In The Dark” reflect the band’s dedication to innovation and authenticity. Their unique production style has garnered praise from outlets like Your EDM, The Nocturnal Times, and Grateful Web itself, further establishing them as a trailblazer in the electronic music scene.
Join us as we discuss the creative process behind In The Dark, the inspiration for their latest music video, their evolution since their debut album Lavender, and what fans can look forward to at their upcoming shows. Let’s dive into the world of LVNDR.SOUND and their journey of transforming adversity into artistry.
Grateful Web: Congratulations on the release of your new music video for “No Time”! Can you tell us what inspired the song and its visuals?
LVNDR.SOUND: We wanted to recognize the constant energy and movement of New York City, then bring a clear visual contrast through our reverse movements, which was actually quite challenging at some points, like walking backward down a set of stairs to the subway. By doing this, we were trying to portray the concept of the world continuously moving, regardless of whether one is moving with it. That’s where we linked the sentiment of “no excuses.” There is certainly an element of introspection we tried to show while being surrounded by a somewhat chaotic environment.
GW: This track continues the narrative from the title track, “In The Dark.” How does it connect with the themes explored in that song?
LVNDR.SOUND: Throughout both of these songs and their lyrics, there are elements of introspection and how we can only control ourselves rather than the outside world. That being said, there are themes of forward movement, optimism, and finding one’s way again. These themes are meant to be understood in multiple ways, whether it’s internal, external, with others, or by oneself.
GW: Your sophomore album, In The Dark, features some notable collaborations. How did these collaborations influence the album's sound?
LVNDR.SOUND: Each collaboration provided an opportunity for us to fuse our evolving style with other artists, eventually culminating in songs that we wouldn’t have been able to create otherwise. Each song with a feature on In The Dark follows the energy of that artist, whether it’s a more driving hip-hop beat or a contemplative, slower song with smooth and spacious vocals. We pride ourselves on being flexible within the electronic space, and working with these amazing artists allowed us to do just that.
GW: The production style of LVNDR.SOUND is unique and genre-defying. What elements do you believe set your music apart from others in the EDM space?
LVNDR.SOUND: Because we all come from funk, psychedelic, rock, or jazz backgrounds, bringing our instruments into the production was a main focus from the very beginning. We’re constantly looking for space to include an acoustic guitar or piano or write a song that features a slap bass, for example. That, combined with the darker nature of the synth and drum design, creates a unique sound that we’re constantly trying to perfect.
GW: Looking ahead, what can fans expect from LVNDR.SOUND in the future?
LVNDR.SOUND: We certainly want to keep evolving, learning from each song, album, or show, and infusing that into future work. A goal of ours is to play more shows, because we feel we can provide a unique experience through the unique talents that we have as a trio. Being able to combine the energy of electronic music with the musicianship and crowd interaction of live instruments is something we want to share with everyone. It also makes each show unique and gives us space to improvise and feed off each other’s energy in real time.
GW: What was the creative process like for the music video? Did the team face any challenges during production?
LVNDR.SOUND: Obviously, one of the biggest challenges was being in NYC, a city that constantly throws you curveballs whether you’re filming or just walking down the street. But the energy of a place like that is truly inspiring, and we wanted to bring that energy (and sometimes chaos!) into the video as a complement to the lyrics and backing instrumental.
GW: How do you hope listeners will connect with the message of “No Time”?
LVNDR.SOUND: When we wrote “No Time,” we were feeling the exact energy we were trying to portray: it’s time to stop dwelling on past events, realize the opportunity that we have in this current moment, and take control of our immediate future. We hope the message can resonate with listeners who are going through a similar situation, because these steps of moving forward sound simple but can sometimes be incredibly hard to recognize.
GW: Can you share any standout moments or experiences from the making of In The Dark?
LVNDR.SOUND: In The Dark gave us an opportunity to create music through a variety of new experiences, which we all found valuable. Going to NYC to shoot our first music videos, writing and performing our own vocals for the first time, or even recording and mixing when we were all separated across the country—in retrospect, these experiences definitely shaped the album and its themes. Ultimately, I’d say the time spent writing in the studio together, collaborating and coming up with ideas on the fly, was, and always will be, our favorite part of this creative process.
GW: How has your music evolved since your debut album, Lavender?
LVNDR.SOUND: A first album always offers so much creative expression, but also lots of learning opportunities. We all improved in writing, sound design, and group camaraderie from our first to second albums. While Lavender was a collection of songs we all really enjoyed, we were able to create a more cohesive concept through our music on the new album. We also wrote more lyrics (and sang those lyrics!), which was a challenge, but we thought expressing messages through yet another medium such as voice would improve our sound and make our music more unique than before.
GW: What role do live performances play in your artistic expression, and what can fans expect at your upcoming shows?
LVNDR.SOUND: For us, live performances offer an opportunity to showcase not only our individual abilities on our respective instruments but also our energy as a team and the spontaneous moments we can capture together. Creating space to improvise, listen to one another, and curate a vibe against a backing track is something we all have countless hours of experience with, and bringing that to electronic music is something we’re really excited about for our shows.
