Lenorable Gives Us Chills

by | Aug 16, 2013 | MUSIC

Something about moody electronic music and Twin Peaks just makes sense.

Something about moody electronic music and Twin Peaks just makes sense. And DC’s Lenorable has done an excellent job at combining the two in their most recent video:

Lenorable is a great story of a modern band successfully emulating a number of classic bands. Hints of the cure and New Order ring throughout. Between Lisa Reed Graham’s vocals and Ian Graham’s guitar/electronic work, there is a lot to love in this noisy sound scape.

Ian Graham answered a few of our questions via email about Twin Peaks, being married and being in a band, and what the hell a Leonrable is:

Where does the band name come from?

Lenorable was a nickname given to our singer, Lisa, long before we had ever met. It was part of her GMail address. When we were thinking of names for this project we were starting, it jumped out at me. After that it just sort of stuck.

Why Twin Peaks? How does it relate to you all musically?

We both harbor a minor obsession with David Lynch. We covered “In Heaven, Everything is Fine” from Eraserhead. We were watching Twin Peaks and for some reason the pacing of one particular scene caught my eye. As soon as the episode was over, I grabbed my laptop and started making an edit with our song “Disconnect,” and I think it came together pretty well. Though it is a total spoiler if you haven’t watched the show, which is unfortunate.

Does being married to your band mate make music production harder or easier?

I’ve found that it makes things easier. Once we sorted out our writing and arrangement process, things were good. It’s not as delineated, the way things are when you have band practice Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 10pm every week and that’s the only time you have to try things out. But finding our process was a little harder. Every band fights about stuff, and the creative process can be very contentious. We can’t really have angry band practice, because we’re practicing together in our bedroom, but we’ve found ways to collaborate without killing each other.

How receptive has DC been to you all?

I think DC’s had a hard time figuring us out. When we started, we were very much a noise/punk thing, but after we released “The Prince,” we were post-punk or goth-pop. Like, RIYL: Joy Division, Siouxsie, the Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen. But we didn’t want to sound like bands who influenced us, we wanted to sound like us. We started experimenting more with synth sounds and drum samples, we brought back a lot of the noise from our earliest demos, and came to where we are now. We’re making music that won’t appeal to everybody, so maybe the majority of DC won’t be into it — there are plenty of pop bands for people to enjoy — but hopefully there’s a few dozen, or a few hundred people in DC who will hear “Disconnect” and think, “Whatever this is: I like it.”

What’s next for Lenorable?

Our last album came out in July, but this weekend’s show at Black Cat with Technophobia is our first local show since the album’s release. We have a few demos in the works, so hopefully something new will be coming soon.

Check out more from Lenorable via their website.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




more in music

A Quick Guide For This Labor Day Weekend in Richmond

Labor Day weekend is here, and if your plan was to sit around doing absolutely nothing for four days, Richmond has other ideas. Here are ten things worth getting out of the house for this Labor Day weekend. Commonwealth Sound ExchangeThursday, Sept. 3 through...

For These Artists, PrideFest Is More Than Performance 🏳️‍🌈

Virginia PrideFest returns Saturday, September 12, from noon to 8 p.m. The state’s largest LGBTQ+ festival draws tens of thousands of attendees to the free event each year and one of the festival’s biggest attractions is its musical performances, with artists flooding...

RVA Live Music | Destructo Disk, Wilt, Babe Lewis, Belly of the Heart

We’re talking Destructo Disk, we’re talking Gaffer, we’re talking Belly of the Heart, nothing but the best. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lmOQL32Ss8 Destructo...

Infinite Expansions: A Conversation with Lonnie Liston Smith

Exclusive Q&A with Lonnie Liston Smith below. Today was a good day. This very magazine’s Landon Shroder invited me to interview one of Richmond’s real living legends, jazz impresario Lonnie Liston Smith. On September 13, they will be screening selections from the...

What the Hell is VITCO? We Went to Find Out.

Editor’s Note: This story was produced in partnership with Virginia Transit Company (VITCO). There are few large-ish pieces of real estate in the city proper that have been more screaming for development than the fallow field bordered by Clay Street and Hermitage...

RVA Live Music | Palmyra, Joey Cash, Jo Passed

Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit us up at griffin@rvamag.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5HUKi8y13k Palmyra with Joseph Terrell, Nabeel, ShagwufAugust 20-22nd at The Camel Virginia natives Palmyra are...

RVA Live Music | Which Side Are You On Fest, Drug Country, ShotClock

Lotta bands on these bills so I hope you see one you like. Got some really good and impactful benefit shows this weekend so if you got some time and a few bucks it goes a long way to a lot of people. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music?...

Topics: