THURSDAY FEB 17, 2022
529 Presents:
Lesibu Grand
Anna Field | Chloe Kay | Lindsay Jarman
Lesibu Grand
We all have our fantasies. And for the most part they’re benign, maybe even beneficial in the sense that they provide us with an escape from the mundane. But when fantasy begins to supplant reality and we find ourselves wanting and wishing rather than actively pursuing our dreams and desires, then, well, things can get messy pretty quick. This is especially true of marriage and love, which demands constant passion (a bit of patience doesn’t hurt either) in order to keep the intoxicating allure of fantasy at bay.
On their new single and video “The Legend of Miranda,” Atlanta newcomers Lesibu Grandexplore this contrast between everyday life and fantasy, with an eye towards its effect on the durability of love. Directed and edited by Claudia Turner, the video features vocalist Tyler-Simone Molton and bassist John Renaud as a couple searching desperately for a way out of the suburban ennui that has engulfed their marriage. In a bizarre sci-fi twist, the couple rekindle their romance, but only by shedding the shackles of the tedious life they’ve settled into—a turn of events that raises many an existential question.
“The first half of the video is set in 1950s suburban America, and the couple is bored, frustrated, and fighting over small, meaningless things,” Renaud explains. “They are both ‘counting the days’ when their partner comes back to them even though they are physically in the same place. When a shock wave in the space-time continuum ripples through their living room, they are transported into the distant future, fighting for their lives against an unseen alien enemy. This is terrifying, but also exciting, and the couple quickly perk up—their passions reignited. The video poses the questions: does the suburban American lifestyle suck the vitality out of relationships, perhaps because its so easy and bland? Do we need a common enemy in order to really come together? Is it best to maintain a fantasy life, like the common 1950s fantasy of space and time travel, in order to stay excited about life and each other? With ‘The Legend of Miranda,’ we hope to stimulate these questions in a light-hearted way, and let the viewers find their own emotional truths.”
Musically, the track finds the group trading the glimmering indie pop they unfurled on their debut single “Hush Hush” with a punchier, more guitar-driven sound rooted in ‘90s alternative rock. For Lesibu Grand, the difference in aesthetics is an opportunity to show off the group’s dynamic range, as well as celebrate Molton and Renaud’s shared love for a specific group of alt-rock era icons.
“We’re both fans of the Pixies, and while most people revere their early works, we’ve always been drawn to their later, more sonically adventurous albums, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde,” says Renaud. “In both the song and the video, we wanted to conjure up their otherworldly soundscapes that make you feel like you’re on another planet, but still stuck having human feelings. It’s like no matter how far away from our home we are, we still have our unsteady human hearts to contend with.”
We all have our fantasies. And for the most part they’re benign, maybe even beneficial in the sense that they provide us with an escape from the mundane. But when fantasy begins to supplant reality and we find ourselves wanting and wishing rather than actively pursuing our dreams and desires, then, well, things can get messy pretty quick. This is especially true of marriage and love, which demands constant passion (a bit of patience doesn’t hurt either) in order to keep the intoxicating allure of fantasy at bay.
On their new single and video “The Legend of Miranda,” Atlanta newcomers Lesibu Grandexplore this contrast between everyday life and fantasy, with an eye towards its effect on the durability of love. Directed and edited by Claudia Turner, the video features vocalist Tyler-Simone Molton and bassist John Renaud as a couple searching desperately for a way out of the suburban ennui that has engulfed their marriage. In a bizarre sci-fi twist, the couple rekindle their romance, but only by shedding the shackles of the tedious life they’ve settled into—a turn of events that raises many an existential question.
“The first half of the video is set in 1950s suburban America, and the couple is bored, frustrated, and fighting over small, meaningless things,” Renaud explains. “They are both ‘counting the days’ when their partner comes back to them even though they are physically in the same place. When a shock wave in the space-time continuum ripples through their living room, they are transported into the distant future, fighting for their lives against an unseen alien enemy. This is terrifying, but also exciting, and the couple quickly perk up—their passions reignited. The video poses the questions: does the suburban American lifestyle suck the vitality out of relationships, perhaps because its so easy and bland? Do we need a common enemy in order to really come together? Is it best to maintain a fantasy life, like the common 1950s fantasy of space and time travel, in order to stay excited about life and each other? With ‘The Legend of Miranda,’ we hope to stimulate these questions in a light-hearted way, and let the viewers find their own emotional truths.”
Musically, the track finds the group trading the glimmering indie pop they unfurled on their debut single “Hush Hush” with a punchier, more guitar-driven sound rooted in ‘90s alternative rock. For Lesibu Grand, the difference in aesthetics is an opportunity to show off the group’s dynamic range, as well as celebrate Molton and Renaud’s shared love for a specific group of alt-rock era icons.
“We’re both fans of the Pixies, and while most people revere their early works, we’ve always been drawn to their later, more sonically adventurous albums, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde,” says Renaud. “In both the song and the video, we wanted to conjure up their otherworldly soundscapes that make you feel like you’re on another planet, but still stuck having human feelings. It’s like no matter how far away from our home we are, we still have our unsteady human hearts to contend with.”
Anna Field
Chloe Kay
Pulling influence from golden age jazz vocalists and classic rock alike, as well as the sea of indie sounds she has swam in since adolescence, Chloe creates her unique sound by weaving together dreamy melodies and poignant lyrics. Most importantly, she pulls from the experiences of her life, writing all her songs first alone with a guitar. She stays open with production, sometimes playing with her band, all of whom she sang alongside while in high school back in Tucson where they are all originally from, and other times working with producers to build out tracks. No matter what, the songs she writes and her voice remain the through line and the constant.
Chloe is currently releasing with the international indie music label Moonlit Music Group, originating from The Islands of the Bahamas and released her debut album, That Time, in 2018. She is currently working on her second album which promises immense growth both as a musician and a writer. In 2021, she announced an initiative to release a single per month until that album's release.
Pulling influence from golden age jazz vocalists and classic rock alike, as well as the sea of indie sounds she has swam in since adolescence, Chloe creates her unique sound by weaving together dreamy melodies and poignant lyrics. Most importantly, she pulls from the experiences of her life, writing all her songs first alone with a guitar. She stays open with production, sometimes playing with her band, all of whom she sang alongside while in high school back in Tucson where they are all originally from, and other times working with producers to build out tracks. No matter what, the songs she writes and her voice remain the through line and the constant.
Chloe is currently releasing with the international indie music label Moonlit Music Group, originating from The Islands of the Bahamas and released her debut album, That Time, in 2018. She is currently working on her second album which promises immense growth both as a musician and a writer. In 2021, she announced an initiative to release a single per month until that album's release.
