Brooklyn-based rock outfit EARTHQUAKE LIGHTS barely fits within its self-described alt-rock genre. Orchestral strings litter the dense arrangements, elevating the songs to something more refined and nearly classical feeling. But there’s a distinctive jazz influence to the grooves and harmonic richness that the band is hesitant to compare to jazz, though the comparison is something they contend with regularly. Still, the rock influences are clear, and Earthquake Lights sounds something like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Beck.
Their music has garnered millions of streams to date. Their latest album Desert Bloom charted nearly 30 times on the iTunes and Apple music charts, and somewhere along the way they managed to snag a feature on Vulfpeck’s The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate. They have also received praise from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, The Line of Best Fit, Ones to Watch and Earmilk to name a few.
In an age when mental health is waning, Earthquake Lights gives us a look at the cultural phenomena of social media and how it affects all of us through their latest release ‘Pictures’ featuring Lindsey Lomis. Written allegorically, ‘Pictures’ tells a story of mutually unrequited love. The song loosely examines a personality that reluctantly romanticizes the nostalgia of a past relationship, friendship, acquaintance or fling prolonged by the ever-present role social media plays in our lives.
Rodenhouse explains, “Maybe you only feel connected to that person because of how immediate the internet and pictures have seemed to make them. But seriously what even are these connections you have with other people on the internet? Just because you see a picture of them it doesn’t mean they’re actually important to your life.”
Tinged with a dark and moody undertone, ‘Pictures’ features an enchanting melody, where sultry, velvet vocals collide in perfect harmony. Lomis sings, “Am I just a picture? Do you ever look for me? And I wonder if you saw me, would you tell me you remember my face?” Rodenhouse shares, “The lyrics were inspired essentially by an era that’s defined by pictures and feelings of missing out, or wondering about someone that may be in some memory, possibly just out of reach but still barely relevant. Wondering if they actually care to remember you, or if it’s even worth remembering one another and losing any sleep over.”
Speaking on Lomis, Earthquake Lights share, “She’s an athletic, excellent singer. Her unapologetic focus on her vocal ability really makes her a perfect fit for this tune.” Lomis was featured on Jacob Collier’s latest album on the song “Cinnamon Crush” and is about to embark on a tour with him in April.
Have a listen to ‘Picture’ below…
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