La Luz

La Luz

La Luz performing live

Performing on tour in 2015
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Surf music, doo wop
Years active 2012–present
Labels Hardly Art, Burger Records
Website laluzband.tumblr.com
Members

La Luz is a surf rock band from Seattle, Washington founded in 2012 consisting of Shana Cleveland, Marian Li Pino, Alice Sandahl, and Lena Simon.[1] La Luz has received critical acclaim following the release of two studio albums It's Alive and Weirdo Shrine.[2][3]

La Luz is known for their "surf noir" style with layered vocal harmonies.[4] Their energetic live shows often include Soul Train-inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.[5]

History

Shana Cleveland and Marian Li Pino (former members of Seattle band The Curious Mystery) formed La Luz in Seattle with Alice Sandahl and original bassist Abbey Blackwell after being inspired by surf and rock and roll acts like Link Wray, The Ventures, and Dick Dale, as well as girl groups like The Shirelles.[6][7] After releasing an EP titled Damp Face in 2012, La Luz signed with Hardly Art and released their first full-length album titled It's Alive.

Car Accident

While on tour supporting Of Montreal on November 5, 2013, La Luz was involved in a serious automobile accident on the road travelling from Boise to Seattle as their tour van slipped on black ice. After crashing into a highway divider, their van was then hit by a semi-trailer truck.[8] Band members sustained injuries, and all of the instruments and merchandise were destroyed with the tour van and trailer, forcing them to cancel the remainder of the tour.[9]

Personnel Change

On February 4, 2014 bassist Abbey Blackwell announced via Facebook that she was leaving La Luz. She posted "Dear friends and fans, I am sorry to say that I will be leaving La Luz... after a year and a half of being in this incredible band, spending time with these talented women, and experiencing the best and the worst of tour, I've decided that the touring life just isn't for me, and my heart lies in the back of an orchestra and working on my own music."[10]

Two weeks later, La Luz followed up by announcing the addition of new bassist Lena Simon.[11]

A Shana Cleveland
La Luz performing in New Orleans, LA

Recording With Ty Segall

In February 2015 La Luz announced the release of a new album produced by garage rock veteran Ty Segall. After supporting Segall on tour, he offered to produce their next album in his home studio (later moved to a surfboard warehouse).[12] Segall's influence resulted in a live-sounding recording sacrificing technical perfection for a more visceral, organic sound that he felt captured the essence of the group.[13] Also introduced was the heavy use of a fuzz pedal on Cleveland's guitar, at Segall's encouragement.[14]

On August 7, 2015 La Luz released their second LP through Hardly Art titled Weirdo Shrine, and embarked on an international tour to support its release. The album received positive reviews.[15][16][17]

Move to Los Angeles

On December 22, 2015, La Luz announced that they would be moving from Seattle to Los Angeles.[18][19]

Band Members

Shana Cleveland - Guitar and vocals

Marian Li Pino - Drums and vocals

Alice Sandahl - Keyboard and vocals

Lena Simon - Bass and vocals

Discography

Albums

It's Alive (Hardly Art, 2013)

Weirdo Shrine (Hardly Art, 2015)

EP

Damp Face (Burger Records, 2012)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Luz (band).
  1. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (March 26, 2015). "La Luz Triumph Over Near-Fatal Car Accident on New, Ty Segall-Produced Album". SPIN.
  2. ↑ Hood, Lindsay (August 4, 2015). "La Luz: Weirdo Shrine". Pitchfork.
  3. ↑ Presley, Katie (July 29, 2015). "Review: La Luz, 'Weirdo Shrine'". NPR.
  4. ↑ Lobenfeld, Claire (September 16, 2013). "La Luz: "Pink Slime" (Stereogum Premiere)". stereogum.com.
  5. ↑ Douglas, Martin (September 16, 2013). "La Luz Just Wants Us All To Dance And Cry". MTV.com.
  6. ↑ Spicer, Justin (March 8, 2012). "Shana Cleveland Talks The Curious Mystery, Touring, and the Seattle Music Scene". SSGmusic.com.
  7. ↑ Segarra, Brooke (July 30, 2013). "Q&A: La Luz". CMJ.com.
  8. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (March 26, 2015). "La Luz Triumph Over Near-Fatal Car Accident on New, Ty Segall-Produced Album". SPIN.
  9. ↑ Savage, Emily (November 6, 2013). "Seattle surf rock band La Luz in severe car accident". San Francisco Bay Guardian Online.
  10. ↑ Abbey Blackwell on Facebook
  11. ↑ La Luz on Facebook
  12. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/review/la-luz-subverts-surf-rock-sound-weirdo-shrine-223047
  13. ↑ http://performermag.com/la-luz-on-surviving-a-near-fatal-car-accident-producing-new-lp-with-ty-segall/
  14. ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/05/la-luz-announces-new-ty-segall-produced-album-shares-you-disappear-listen/
  15. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/20/la-luz-review-hug-and-pint-glasgow-seattle-surf-rock-and-pop
  16. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/arts/music/new-releases-from-la-luz-chelsea-wolfe-and-ossia.html?_r=0
  17. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20781-weirdo-shrine/
  18. ↑ La Luz on Facebook
  19. ↑ http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/your-new-years-eve-in-seattle-music-shabazz-palaces-la-luz-and-more/

External links

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