"Won’t you take my hand? / Won’t you take my hand? / Won’t you take my hand? / Won’t you understand?"
From the very onset, the dense hallucinogenic "TAKE MY HAND" by Austin based shoegaze dark rock artist Lauren Lakis pulls you into it's other world. As Lauren repeats "Won't you take my hand" repeatedly it plays like an echo that doesn't lose it's strength or a fracture glitch, a stutter repeat on a film projector. The song erupts quickly with explosive guitars. There is a gothic sense that makes me flash on the pulpy noir of late 70's Italian horror when murder and sensuality collided far too often. Upon listening repeatedly I have the feeling that Lauren might be playing with the unease of singular desires that might not feel in line with all those messages from parents or from clergy (or whomever) that don't match. Reading some press notes and I find I am clearly off the mark.
Of the track the darkly poetic artist shares that "TAKE MY HAND" is most notably about "forgetting what you thought you knew, letting go, bravely opening your mind to something radically different," (She further asks), "what if you were wrong? Are you able to admit it? Can you shift with the ever-changing landscape of reality, or are you stuck in your ways? I found myself stepping into the unknown in many ways the past few years, forced to entertain the notion that maybe I didn't know everything, and in that I found freedom."
Progressively drawn, heavy and dramatic I thought of different artists while listening, some because of slight commonalities sonically but most because of their tension filled creative outlooks, an amalgam of artists like Deerhoof, Tropical Fuck Storm, PJ Harvey, Anne-Marie Hurst.
[The upcoming album “A Fiesta and a Hell” was recorded in Austin, TX with Carey McGraw producing (Wild Child, Josie Lockhart), Elliott Frazier mixing (Ringo Deathstarr, Blushing), and Christopher Colbert (Mazzy Star, Starflyer 59, Leon Bridges) mastering. “A Fiesta and a Hell” will be released Fall 2023 with Green Witch Recordings.]
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lb2A86IQoaWDc57lUT7Qy
https://www.instagram.com/laurenlakis/
https://laurenlakis.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/laurenlakis
A child of Baltimore, Lauren grew to embrace the fatalistic spirit of the city in her work and art. With stunningly raw, haunting tones, Lakis is "a breath of fresh air in the music industry, arriving with her own brand of 'delightfully gut-churning shoegaze'" (Flaunt). Authentic and honest lyricism, paired with lush, darkly romantic vibes, her songs are “a refreshing change from today’s polite rock…” (Earmilk).
Following the release of her debut full-length Ferocious with Cavity Search Records (Elliott Smith, Helio Sequence) in 2018, Lakis delivered audiences her slowcore heavy, baritone-driven follow-up EP, Sad Girl Breakfast. Both records were produced by Billy Burke (REL, Luna Lovebad) with additional engineering by Grammy-winning mixer Chris Kasych (Adele, Deftones, Phantogram, HAIM). Both releases have gone on to garner radio airplay on 40+ stations nationwide, and placement on 65+ Spotify playlists. Lakis has also licensed tracks to Dating Pains and The Drunch.
Her latest LP, Daughter Language, was released in 2021 with Green Witch Recordings. It has received critical acclaim from Flaunt, Wonderland, Earmilk, Ladygunn, Buzzbands LA, Grimy Goods, Atwood, and more, with 1st Day Fresh naming it "a rock gem...the music is equally as powerful as the message with an electric magnetism rarely found in today's overproduced records". Daughter Language was recorded at Seahorse Sound with Billy Burke producing and Chris Kasych & Samur Khouja (Devendra Banhart, Deerhunter, Chastity Belt) mixing.
Lakis and her full band have toured the West Coast extensively, having shared bills with Ringo Deathstarr, Holy Wave, Sea Wolf, Peel Dream Magazine, and Drowse. The band sold out the Doug Fir Lounge with Coastlands and Pacific Latitudes, as well as The Catalyst Santa Cruz, supporting Flor & Winnetka Bowling League. Lauren also performed a pair of shows with Grammy-nominated rocker Tracy Bonham. Prior to the return of live music, she performed several live-streamed shows, partnering with Bands In Town, Jam in the Van, B Side TV, Rock to End Rape Culture, KXLU, ACLU, and JuJu Live.
Her latest LP, Daughter Language, was released in 2021 with Green Witch Recordings. It has received critical acclaim from Flaunt, Wonderland, Earmilk, Ladygunn, Buzzbands LA, Grimy Goods, Atwood, and more, with 1st Day Fresh naming it "a rock gem...the music is equally as powerful as the message with an electric magnetism rarely found in today's overproduced records". Daughter Language was recorded at Seahorse Sound with Billy Burke producing and Chris Kasych & Samur Khouja (Devendra Banhart, Deerhunter, Chastity Belt) mixing.
Lakis and her full band have toured the West Coast extensively, having shared bills with Ringo Deathstarr, Holy Wave, Sea Wolf, Peel Dream Magazine, and Drowse. The band sold out the Doug Fir Lounge with Coastlands and Pacific Latitudes, as well as The Catalyst Santa Cruz, supporting Flor & Winnetka Bowling League. Lauren also performed a pair of shows with Grammy-nominated rocker Tracy Bonham. Prior to the return of live music, she performed several live-streamed shows, partnering with Bands In Town, Jam in the Van, B Side TV, Rock to End Rape Culture, KXLU, ACLU, and JuJu Live.
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