Song of the Day: Lemolo - Hold Light

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Hold Light” by Lemolo from the 2015 self-released album Red Right Return.

Lemolo - Hold Light (MP3)

A few weeks prior, Lemolo sold out The Crocodile for the release show of the new album, Red Right Return. It was easy to see why, as principle band member Meagan Grandall and crew gave a passionate performance that captivated the audience in a dream like state. After such a successful performance, at first glance it seems odd that Lemolo is taking their album tour to house shows around the country. But it's a decision that seems to be made not out of necessity (they have proven they can sell out much bigger venues) but a conscious choice to express their music in the kind of environment where it can be best appreciated. With hushed layers of sound and Grandall's ethereal voice, Lemolo creates music that invites you in to the minds of the members and makes you feel at home in between its blankets of instrumentation. Look no further than today's featured song, "Hold Light", for a prime example. On it, dark keys dance around the subtle punch of percussion, while Grandall's cosmic voice slides over the instrumentation. It's repetitive in a comforting sense, and by the time the song comes to an end, a sense of familiarity is earned, one that urges you to press replay and return to a newfound home. Lemolo will be back in Seattle in December to play two sold-out house shows. Look to see what they'll do next by keepinf up with the band on their Facebook and website. For now, check out their past live performance of "Knives" at the KEXP studio below, and look for a more recent live session with Lemolo coming soon to the KEXP Blog: