· By Mattias Forsgren
Conjuring beauty from disparity, the queen of death gospel Louise Lemón returns. Her enchanting LP Lifetime of Tears will be available 23rd February 2024 via Icons Creating Evil Art
Exploring personal metamorphosis and the emergence of light from darkness, Louise Lemón will release her latest album Lifetime of Tears, the third album from The Queen Of Death Gospel.
As a testament to Louise Lemón’s unique style, she fuses deep, dark undertones with an unwavering faith in the light and the ability to rise above. The writing process of Lifetime of Tears began aboard a plane as Louise Lemón navigated the emotional aftermath of a breakup and bid farewell to a previous life. Through this airborne introspection, high above the clouds, she had a moment of clarity as she realised her third album would revolve around finding tranquility after the overwhelming pain of heartbreak. This pivotal insight became the guiding force that shaped the emotional core of Lifetime of Tears; conjuring beauty from disparity with her captivating noir-sound.
Attention must be turned to the title track of this latest release. Brimming with intense emotions, ‘Lifetime of Tears’ is a soulful rock ballad that pays homage to Louise Lemón's musical influences of the 70s including Fleetwood Mac and The Allman Brothers, amongst others. Guitarist Johan Kvastegård skillfully captures the energy of this era as well as the raw sentiment of the lyrics with his sensual, somnambulant, Santana-esque guitar hooks. Melded with steady drums and deep piano instrumentation, ‘Lifetime of Tears’ is ultimately carried by Louise Lemón's enchanting, eerie, and ethereal vocals—a reminiscent blend of Cat Power, Lana Del Rey, and PJ Harvey.
Of the single she says “Lemón on your arm, pour some salt, the scars will last a lifetime. I need sweat and tears in music to really appreciate it. I love big emotions and they need to come through in the instruments too, I need to hear your tears through the guitar, I need to feel your passion in how you hit each drum. I need music to take me to another dimension, create a movie where I want to be, whether it is a grand passion or a nice float through pink clouds.”
Recorded at the legendary Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, Lifetime of Tears comes to life amidst a treasure trove of vintage gear and authentic instruments, capturing a pristine and contemporary sound free from digital interference. The album marks a significant milestone in Louise Lemón’s career, as she takes the reins and showcases her exceptional talents as both a songwriter and producer. Joining forces with acclaimed producer Randall Dunn for the mixing/mastering process of the album, the collaboration promises to elevate her music to new heights, captivating listeners worldwide.
“I wanted the sound to match the realness of the lyrics.” says Louise “A big thing for me was that it was the first time I produced an album in this kind of big studio and really had the creative control over each and every sound that is on the album. It was also special to have been touring with the musicians alot before recording and having that band energy in the album. I wanted to capture their amazing souls too and they really played right from their core. I had a clear vision of the whole album while writing it and I think I scaled off the sound and transformed it. Less noise, more emotions.”
Louise Lemón has garnered widespread acclaim for her previous works, including two highly successful albums and the Devil EP. She has earned the well-deserved title of ‘The Queen of Death Gospel,’ receiving rave reviews and features from prominent music publications worldwide. Major pieces in multiple country editions of Metal Hammer, Powerplay, Revolver Magazine, Zero Tolerance, Close-Up, Sonic Seducer, Orkus, Gaffa, and many more have cemented her status as a captivating and genre-defying artist.
The enchanting LP Lifetime of Tears will be available across all streaming platforms from 23rd February 2024 via Icons Creating Evil Art.