Oklahoma emo-infused indie rock band Lilac Kings released their new EP ‘Love You More’ via InVogue Records. This release is a culmination of relatable personal emotions and experiences, and the band’s vocalist/guitarist Dylan McBride took the time to delve into it track-by-track. Despite generally serious lyrical content, this dynamic EP is full of upbeat riffs and catchy choruses.
Stream the EP: https://orcd.co/loveyoumore
Hailing from Tulsa and Oklahoma City, the band combines elements of indie rock, post-hardcore, and Midwest-emo to create a sound in which its description alone brings fans of various genres together to hear something entirely different. Notable for their atmospheric, passionate template coupled with their dynamic high and low vocal range, their sound is something entirely unique to the point in which it cannot be confined to a single genre. While each album demonstrates the constant evolution of their sound, they retain their signature sound and experimental mindset.
“The album itself is the polar opposite of the last album. Not a concept. No particular tie in between songs. Just a collection of things that I’ve felt or been through, I suppose. Lyrically I just wanted to relate with people. And vocally, I took different approaches to make them feel more approachable and catchy. And it honestly helped me find myself vocally, I think. Musically, I wanted things to be more upbeat and fun. Which is something we’ve dabbled in in the past. But not to this extent, I don’t think. We’re really proud and happy with this one on so many different levels. We just hope that others can relate and fall in love with it like we did.”
The opening track of ‘Love You More’ is entitled “1985”, and if you’re a listener with no prior knowledge of the band, the first thing that will probably catch your attention is the dynamic vocal range that’s heavily on display even within the first 30 seconds of the song. The driving drum beat will get you tapping along and, as bright as the track sounds, the lyrical content has a dark side.
“”1985” is more or less about the mindset of someone being what holds them back from happiness or greatness. However, it goes a little deeper than that. There is a line in the song – “uneducated brains can’t comprehend disease”. Which doesn’t necessarily mean education in the direct sense. More so in the sense of understanding a disease by experience. In this case, some sort of mental state. Perhaps depression. But I really wanted to write a song about someone who turned from darkness into the light.”
Personally, “Slipping Up” is probably the track on this EP that I can most closely relate to, which might be why it’s my favorite on the release. There is clear emotion behind the lyrics, a tinge of aggression in the tone, and the delivery allows the hurt to pierce the listener’s heart just as deep as the personal pain still resides. It feels like this track was poured straight from the heart. Plus, that opening guitar riff is attention-grabbing from the jump.
“”Slipping Up” is more personal. To be completely transparent, I had this really tight circle of friends that seemed to be really concerned for my wellbeing and sort of prodded me for more details about some HUGE things I was going through. I wasn’t really huge on sharing my personal battles with people at the time. No matter how close. But it seemed like when I finally did, they opted to back out of it all and start to slowly close off. It really hurt, and I’m honestly still not totally over it.”
Being one of the singles released ahead of the EP, “This Love” is one of the strongest tracks on the release. The lyrical content explores the perspective of someone who has experienced being the victim of infidelity, but the music is upbeat and radiant. It’s like candy to the ears and the chorus will entice you to sing along. As an added bonus, the music video for this song was featured via Ghost Killer Entertainment.
“I feel like everyone’s gone through some sort of infidelity in their lives in this day and age. Whether the act be from themselves or done to them. Obviously, the song is written from a victim’s perspective. I wanted to kind of capitalize on that –in the beginning it was amazing– with the first verse. The chorus I purposely left open to be interpreted to be a cluster of issues done by both parties involved. But the tag line “I’m chasing a mistake, I just want this love to take” sort of capitalized on that phase we tend to go through when we’re in love but it’s clearly not working out.”
The next song “Letting Go” was the leading single off of ‘Love You More’, and it is clear why it was chosen to be. It’s a very easy-going track and fun to listen to overall. Complex enough to pull you in and simplistic enough to just sit back and enjoy. We all need those moments of forgetting about negativity and letting the music encompass us, and this is the perfect song for that with its pleasing guitar riffs, energetic feel, and soothingly smooth vocals.
“”Letting Go” I think may be my first feel good song. I just wanted to write a song about letting go of daily life and embracing the world. Simple as that.”
Being the most unique track on the EP, “Shore Leave”, which features Aaron Gillespie of Underoath and The Almost, was the most recent single released. It has a partially spoken word vocal vibe that makes it stand apart from the others. There is so much going on in this track that it demands your attention from beginning to end, but everything blends together seemingly effortlessly. If I had to pick one track from the EP that shows just how dynamic and experimental this band can be, this is the track I’d bring to someone’s attention.
“This one’s a bit off a baggage song. Personally, I’ve been burnt NUMEROUS times by church politics and things of the sort. I grew up Lutheran and then Southern Baptist (huge switch up there). As I got older and started to go through things and have questions, I felt the more I was myself or open, the more I was looked down on. That then got much worse later on regarding my marriage and other things I won’t get into at this time. All of that being said, the song is kind of about letting go of the system itself and finding yourself and the answers you seek. I feel like religiously, the human nature is to over mandate and over complicate things. Like, go out into a field and scream at the sky or something, I don’t know.”
It seems fitting that the final track of the EP would be titled “The End”, and while it may be last, it most definitely is not least. This is a strong way to close out this release. It’s the slowest and arguably the most heartfelt track of the collection. The warm track features swoon-worthy high vocals that are top notch while being beautifully delivered and overflowing with emotion. Put up your lighters (or phone flashlights) and sway along, or sing it to the one you love the most and watch their eyes turn into hearts.
“I’m not entirely sure why I named this song “The End”, but it is the end of the album. It’s just a good ol’ love song. I just wanted to write one. It’s not about anyone. Never has been. Maybe one day it will be.”
This collection of songs is one that will take you through a variety of emotions while you are happily tapping and singing along the whole way through. The lyrics will likely allow listeners to relate in a variety of ways. The content might be heavy in multiple songs, but the feeling of the EP isn’t one that will bring you down. The upbeat nature, catchy choruses, and overall fun vibe have a way of making some dark topics seem bright. I think a lot of people will find escape in these songs, a bit of reprieve from their daily life. Lilac Kings certainly have a strong and dynamic release with their ‘Love You More’ EP, one that is personal, relatable, and brings the band to a new level.
