The Lightness of Being - Can't Keep - Song Review & Band Interview - Alternative Grunge Rock from London, England
In this feature, we delve into the captivating world of The Lightness of Being, a promising alternativegrunge/progressiverock band based in London, England. Our focus centers on their latest release, "Can't Keep," as we dissect its character, style, story, and potential while also presenting an exclusive band interview.
The Lightness of Being first caught my attention approximately a year ago with their powerful track, "Last Dance." Now, they return with another single, "Can't Keep," released in 2020. Since their active debut in 2014 with the EP "Directions," they have showcased their musical prowess through subsequent releases such as "Diversions" (2018) and an array of compelling singles including "Stay" (2019), "Last Dance" (2019), "Sleight of Hand" (2019), "Red Summer" (2020), and "Can't Keep" (2020). Immerse yourself in their music as you continue reading.
The Lightness of Being is a powerful quartet driven solely by their love for music, seeking respect rather than expectations. Their dedication is truly admirable, evident in every aspect of their band image, visual aesthetic, lyrics, career trajectory, and most importantly, their music. While some may argue, they frequently bring to mind Tool with their imaginative musical ideas. Over the past year, I have immersed myself in their discography, consistently finding positive elements in their songs. Their ability to infuse a live performance vibe into each track resonates deeply with listeners like myself, who grew up cherishing records and the era of MTV.
We currently find ourselves in a time where a disconnection exists between generations, especially regarding music. I don't consider myself part of an older generation, but I believe it is vital to pass on our values, particularly when it comes to music. "Can't Keep" effortlessly captures a sense of ease while maintaining powerful dynamics and energy. The Lightness of Being's decision to prioritize overall energy and groove, keeping the structure simple, reminds me of the legendary Motorhead, who conquered the world by staying true to their unique approach. However, it is important to note that The Lightness of Being is not merely following a path or copying a style; they possess an admirable authenticity. In our interview below, their diverse range of influences, reflected in their top five albums, brings me great joy. The Lightness of Being exemplifies the power of collective energy. Sometimes, that is more than enough. I have closely followed this band, learning invaluable lessons during this time, and I am genuinely grateful. They consistently release new music, remaining devoted to their craft even amidst other commitments. Their pure excitement for making music remains unaffected by external influences.
Technically, "Can't Keep" showcases above-average standards. Honesty guides my judgment. In our modern world, where possibilities seem endless, remarkable recordings emerge from home studios. In this context, "Can't Keep" presents a touch of the old-school approach. As a listener who appreciates this style, I find it appealing. Ultimately, it is about channeling the right energy through the listener's ears, and "Can't Keep" achieves this with perfection. However, it is worth noting that the song could make an even greater impact with improved sound quality.
Taking everything into consideration, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to another song by The Lightness of Being. From the outset, I held positive sentiments about their music, and they have yet to disappoint. Their music has yet to fully unveil their true potential, but I am pleased to witness their resilience during these uncertain times. They continue to rock, release new material, and eagerly await the opportune moment to perform live once again.
Please explore the links below to learn more about The Lightness of Being. Follow them on social media, subscribe to their channels, and show your support to stay updated on their upcoming releases.
In conclusion, the Metalhead Community Team commends The Lightness of Being for their remarkable work on "Can't Keep" and extends our best wishes for their future endeavors. Don't forget to check out our exclusive interview with The Lightness of Being.
Exclusive Band Interview
Q1- Can't Keep is the 8th release of The Lightness of Being since the band's first release in 2014. How does it feel, still being able to sustain your musical careers after six years? How do you guys keep it together? What's your secret?
We‘ve put out EPs and singles which likely flatters the number of releases! Most importantly though, we’re four individuals who just want to make decent rock songs and are grateful we get the change to do that with likeminded people in The Lightness of Being.
Q2- How was the recording process? Where did you record the album? What were the most challenging factors?
For our last 3 or so releases we’ve taken the same approach for recording, where we’ve tracked the drums and main guitar parts at recording studio here in London. Everything else is recorded at our home studio, as gives us more flexibility, reduces the cost and hopefully we’ll learn how to improve over time. Drums are the only part we can’t record ourselves, but also we like to record guitars and drums together for more of a “live” feel. Hopefully that comes across, but at the very least it’s more fun. Keeping a sense of energy when some of the parts are recorded separately is probably the biggest challenge.
Q3- What can you tell us about the band's latest release, CAN'T KEEP? What is the story?
“Can’t keep” is the last of a series of 3 singles we’ve released over the past few months. It’s got a post-punk driving guitar riff which started as the basis of the song, but after a conventional verse-chorus there’s an extended breakdown. Really the idea here was to write an energetic (but not frantic) song with a strong groove you can dance to. Some of our recent song structures are more complex, but here we wanted simplicity… to cruise at a similar speed and vibe throughout.
Q4- How is the feedback so far?
So far we’ve been very happily surprised! Our tracks don’t necessarily feel “polished”, but people who enjoy this kind of music have given us some very kind feedback. Also, what’s been great is that it’s increased the interest in and audience for our other previous releases, all of which are on Spotify.
Q5- The Lightness of Being is releasing only singles since the last EP album, Diversions, in 2018. Can you tell us why? Is it because of the global trends, or there's a strategy behind?
Good question. As long as we feel the quality is there then releasing singles seems to fit with how we can best get them on playlists and blogs etc. But really we’re just experimenting and we like to put out new song! That said, we will do further EPs if that’s what feels right for that set of songs.
Q6- Should we expect a long-play album release in the future?
We’d love to do an album, and if we were a signed band doing this full-time no doubt we would have a go. We’d lock ourselves in a recording studio deep in a Scandinavian forest and see what happens. But the reality is we’re 4 individuals with other commitments, and given limited time we’d likely only be able to release something new every 3 years if we did albums.
Q7- What The Lightness of Being was planning to achieve with the release of Can't Keep? Do you consider it a success? And what is your next checkpoint as a band?
Our main aim, honestly, is to write and record songs we enjoy playing. One thing we’ve not mentioned so far is playing live. We’ve always played shows here London and want any new song to work at volume and in person. Because of the current shutdown of venues in the UK we haven’t yet played any of our recent new releases live, which is unusual. Just wait until the beast is allowed out of the cage! It’ll get messier than an Joe Exotic afterparty.
Q8- When you look at "Directions" (2014) and "Can't Keep" (2020), what differences you see musically?
“Directions” is quite a mix in terms of genres. The song we love and still play live is “Wasteland”, which is a prog-rock track with a slower atmospheric build, crushing middle section and an outro which mirrors the opening parts. However, likely we wouldn’t come out with this song now! Overall, we’ve shifted towards heavier music, and “Can’t Keep is an example of that. “Stay” from 2018 is likely the heaviest we’ve strayed, with even some Meshuggah influence.
Q9- Can we say "Can't Keep" represents the Ultimate The Lightness of Being style? What can you tell us about the band's musical direction?
We’re sometimes told our songs vary in terms of sub-genre. That’s probably true and it brings both positives and negatives. On the positive side we don’t know how the next single or EP will best be labelled, which keeps it interesting. But hopefully people can still tell it’s us. We’re talking about doing more of a stronger-rock recording next, and have a bunch of ideas in the lockdown sketchbook. Much depends on what we’ve been listening to. Recently it’s been a lot of Dope Smoker, Kurt Vile and Monolord so it’s unclear where that’s going to end up!
Q10 – What can you tell us about the band's short- and long-term plans for the future?
We simply hope to keep writing an recording new material and put new stuff out every 6 months or so. We’ve never had a long-term plan, but at the same time it’s feels likely that The Lightness of Being will still be making music five years down the line (if the world still exists.)
Q11- What makes a band "Great" in your opinions?
An original sound, good (not necessarily virtuoso) musicianship and well-crafted songs with an authentic vibe. There’s also a need for some kind of natural charisma, the essence of which is often hard to pin down.
Q12- Top 5 albums that influenced The Lightness of Being's music?
The 4 of us will give 4 different answers. But in the spirit of 2020 then putting democracy aside, let’s say: In Utero – Nirvana, White Pony – Deftones, The Violent Sleep of Reason – Meshuggah, Relationship of Command – At the Drive In and Anticult – Decapitated. Q13 - Lastly, what would you like to say to our readers?
Thanks so much for your interest and we hope to play live somewhere near wherever you are if we’re ever allowed to lay our fuzz pedals on stage again!
