La Luz
Album: News of the Universe
Release Date: 2024
USA
‘News of the Universe’ sees the band, namely frontwoman Shana Cleveland, sail La Luz into new waters while letting go of the past. This fifth LP sees the last contributions from long-time members Alice Sandahl (keys) and Lena Simon (bass), leaving Cleveland the only founding member standing. Couple this with a Sub Pop deal; it’s clear the band has more bankability than ever and increased creative freedom, Cleveland solely now at the reins. The result is a darkly sweet record, inspired by some heavy themes – cancer, death, motherhood – but delivered with a newfound confidence. [More on Clash]
Lyrics: Always in Love
Still at home when the day is done
Now the evening comes
Oh, the evening comes again
And you ask me what I’m thinking of
I am always in love
I am always in love with you
It’s true
I am always in love with you
Ooh
I am always in love with you
Wildflowers in the grass at noon
Reaching up to the sun
Reaching up to the sun
And the cactus by the staircase who
Prefers to bloom by the light of the moon
Ooh
I am always in love with you
Ooh
Our time will unwind into
The blue
I am always in love with you
Tracklist: News of the Universe
01. “Reaching Up to the Sun”
02. “Strange World”
03. “Dandelions”
04. “Poppies”
05. “Good Luck with Your Secret”
06. “Always in Love“
07. “Close Your Eyes“
08. “I’ll Go with You“
09. “Blue Moth Cloud Shadow”
10. “News of the Universe”
11. “Moon in Reverse”
12. “Blue Jay”
Anytime I can play more than one guitar solo in a song my inner-geek is very stoked. When we play this live I’m always out of breath at the end from ripping it up.
Shana on Always in Love
You’ve navigated various phases and projects throughout your musical career. Looking back, what has been the most surprising or maybe transformative experience for you as an artist, and how has it shaped your music?
I think the three most transformative events in my life thus far have been starting La Luz, having a baby, and being diagnosed with cancer a couple years ago. It’s been a wild decade. Starting La Luz has allowed me to travel the world playing music which is endlessly eye-opening. The baby and cancer experiences have made me more conscious of my own mortality in a way that has made me more vulnerable and open as an artist.
It is a great great album News of the Universe, as always. And, you have a new lineup now. Did you have any unique challenges you faced during the production of the album, or was it a smooth transition?
Thank you! This album just came tumbling out. No challenges here.
How did you ensure you’d be maintaining the band’s signature sound for News of the Universe?
I tried not to think much about maintaining anything! Change is inevitable and inspiring, why fight it? I knew it would still sound like La Luz in the end.
I am sure you get this a lot but your surf/garage/psychedelic sound would be a great fit for a soundtrack. It would be just perfect for a dreamy, nostalgic, and slightly eerie atmosphere. I know you also are a visual artist, has that ever been a conversation?
I would love to soundtrack a film! We’ve had a lot of individual tracks in movies and shows but to track a whole film would be great to try someday.
Speaking of your beautifully distinctive blend, can you share some of the key artists or albums that have influenced your musical style?
Yanti Bersaudara, a group of Indonesian sisters, are a formative and constant influence. Black Sabbath. Stevie Wonder. Bach. Takeshi Terauchi is my favorite surf guitarist. Lately I’ve been really inspired by this band called Being Dead from Texas.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Always in Love’? Can you share any personal stories that influenced the writing of this song?
Always in Love is one of my favorite tracks on the album. I wanted it to feel epic, the way love can feel overwhelming and all-encompassing. The guitar solo that ends the song was improvised in the studio, I had no idea what I was going to do there, and when I heard it back it felt so triumphant to me, like the sound of love destroying fear.
Can you talk about the process of creating the instrumentation and the overall sound for this track?
It starts with acoustic guitar and vocals, and then everything comes tumbling in. One of my favorite moments is this little slide riff that Lena played at 1:04, feels very Beatlesesq. Beautiful vocal harmonies by my bandmates here. I love the piano that comes in on the 2nd verse. Then you’ve got the first of two guitar solos haha. Anytime I can play more than one guitar solo in a song my inner-geek is very stoked. When we play this live I’m always out of breath at the end from ripping it up.
The lyrics convey a sense of deep emotion and introspection. How do they fit within the broader themes of your music?
There are a lot of plants on this record and I was happy to give a shout-out to the cactus at the bottom of my stairway in this song. To me, the lyrics of this song are steeped in a kind of quiet domesticity, while musically the song gets pretty intense, I was interested in that contrast. When I’m not on tour I lead a pretty quiet life in the country and I like to tune into that quiet and see how it expands and distorts under close study. The way a field of grass can seem to contain an entire universe when you look closely.
I’d like to finish this with ‘love’. What are your all-time favorite love songs?
Oh wow, so many! The first ones that come to mind: Something by the Beatles. Too Shy To Say by Stevie Wonder. Couldn’t Love You More by Sade. Heaven by Mitski. Kooks by David Bowie. Wild Is the Wind sung by Nina Simone.
