Lips Of Strangers – “Too Long For Lovers” (Video Premiere)

This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Lips of Strangers, the indie dream-pop band from New Jersey fronted by Spencer Miles (the brother of Ra Ra Riot’s Wes Miles & touring guitarist of the band), and the lead single and title track from their sophomore EP, Too Long For Lovers. Lips Of Strangers capture lightning in a bottle with their great guitar groove found on this song of “Too Long For Lovers,” and showcase their ability to make waves in the dream-pop genre. If you’re enjoying the video premiere, please consider pre-ordering the new EP that hits all streaming services on November 14th here.

The single “Too Long For Lovers” carries a dreamy, synth-driven energy with a nostalgic 1980s glow—what inspired the sound and atmosphere of this track?

Definitely 80s synth and guitar sounds were a big influence. Wanted that dreamy, nostalgic feel first and foremost. This might be a little nerdy, but it’s the first song I’ve ever recorded my Strat on the 2nd pickup switch that blends the bridge and middle pickups. I used that setting on the choruses and then switched it to my usual neck pickup setting in the rest of the song. It really makes the guitar ring in those sections, and it’s doubled by the synth which seemed to create that spacey glowing tone, and adds a nice contrast to the guitar sound in other sections.

Unlike the other songs that were shaped on stage before being recorded, the title track was added later—what made you decide it belonged at the center of the EP?

I was putting the EP together and I felt that we were missing an obvious lead-single. Luckily I hit on this idea that I liked really quickly. At first all I had was that synth/guitar riff but the song was much slower, and something wasn’t quite clicking. One day while working on it, I wondered what it would sound like if I made it way too fast. Surprisingly, i thought it worked really well, and then the rest of the song came together so fast, it seemed like an exciting starting point to introduce people to the new music.

The song feels both romantic and bittersweet—what themes or emotions were you hoping to capture in “Too Long For Lovers”?

It’s not a major departure from themes I’ve gone for in the past – how relationships change over time, how love can grow stronger through adversity, how one can become perhaps a better version of themself by giving more of themself. I think this is most strongly conveyed in the lyrics, “Are you giving it all to me / like a river run down / I’m giving you everything / like a river runs out.”

more

Not all embedded content is displayed here. You can view the original to see embedded videos and other embedded content.