EP PREMIERE: 'Subterra' by Lindsey Rose Black
Lindsey Rose Black
“Going Beyond The Surface.”
Los Angeles-based artist Lindsey Rose Black has released her first EP titled 'Subterra', and we are delighted to be premiering it! We have had our eyes on Lindsey since she released "Clutch" in February of this year. "Violet" and "Money Fish" were released soon after, and now it culminates with "Subterra", which also happens to be the EP's title.
“Subterra, on the surface (ha), is a snapshot of young love – the nerves, the rush, the fantasy of a long-term future together. But it’s also a recognition and rebuke of the ways in which homophobia, both external and internalized, can infuse young queer love with fear and a sense of wrongness that is difficult to shake”
But let us tell you a bit more about your new favorite artist. Lindsey was born in Dallas, Texas, and has been a performer basically since always. As a teenager, she moved to LA to star in the second season of "As the Bell Rings," a Disney Channel series where Demi Lovato and MKTO's Tony Oller also got their start. However, as a young queer woman hungry to find her own way and sound as an artist, Lindsey left Hollywood to attend college, live abroad in Japan, and hone her craft in various Brooklyn basements.
“Growing up in a small conservative town, I so wanted to be seen as right and good, which meant reflecting back on the town’s patriarchal, heteronormative beliefs and values (how many nights did I spend cry-begging to “pray the gay away?!”). It took a combination of miles and years away from my home state, an excessive amount of therapy, and some very patient former partners to help me find the courage not only to accept but wholeheartedly love who I am as a queer woman.”
Fast forward to now, where we find a very talented individual comfortable with who she is and using sharp storytelling draped in experimental soundscapes to bring us a project such as 'Subterra'. This new EP finds Black exploring how to brace for, surrender to, and ultimately collaborate with grief. Speaking of collaborations, Lindsey partnered with producers John Velasquez (Zella Day, Ella Vos) and Matthew Frazier (Local Natives) to travel the disorienting terrain of loss, and we have to say, they did a brilliant job.
“Love stories uninhibited by homophobic cultural narratives and laws, trans rights, and even merely saying the word gay are all under constant threat in our country. Everyone deserves to live their truth free from fear, our stories deserve to be heard beyond June, and we won’t stop fighting.”
Lindsey's natural talent for telling a story beautifully, her smoky vocals reminiscent of Norah Jones, and her unique raw, Avant-indie pop sound captivate you as a listener. We hope that getting a glimpse into her story will help you relate even more to her and her music because it sure has for us. It has only made us love 'Subterra' even more, and every time we re-listen to the EP, we find ourselves discovering new meanings to each track. "Money Fish" is a personal favorite and has been released as an extended version; what a treat!
Photos by Zachary Gray
If you like artists like St. Vincent, Maggie Rogers, Japanese Breakfast, and Hayley Williams, you will fall in love with Lindsey Rose Black just like we have. We suggest you give the 4 track EP a listen. Preferably in chronological order, but any which way will do. We are sure you will value the time and effort Lindsey & co. have put in to make 'Subterra' a reality. Honestly, you can thank us later. And needless to say, we cannot wait to see what she creates in the future!
Written by Piera Lolandes