Adam Lytle Shares “Heaven” Single + Video | ‘Altars’ Due Out May 2nd via All DSP’s
Indie Rock singer-songwriter Adam Lytle writes songs that explore the darker regions of the heart. In his upcoming sophomore album, Altars, Lytle’s poetic lyricism delves into the sort of razor-sharp observations that might make you feel uncomfortable. The visionary “technician of the sacred” confronts the intense complexities of the human condition in this record, drawing heavily on gothic and religious imagery to create a haunting yet captivating atmosphere of what’s to come.
Today, Lytle releases the album’s second single, “Heaven“, accompanied by a live performance video recorded at the legendary Power Station Studios. On the track Adam describes “‘Heaven” as a critique in the form of an odyssey. Drawing on elements of Psychedelic Rock and Kosmische, the song follows one person’s search for meaning through a society that pretends to have all the answers. The energy you hear comes from the fact that this song was recorded live in the studio. With each take, the sound became more and more unhinged. In a way, perfectly mirroring the unraveling arc of the narrative.
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
How did recording “Heaven” live at Power Station Studios influence the song’s final energy and feel?
Shortly after the record was finished, I started to assemble a live band to help interpret the new material on stage. Cameron Kapoor brought in his friend Julian Cubillos. Will Logan, the drummer on the album, referred me to his friend Felix Ambach. These guys are incredible and the ferocious sound came effortlessly. After playing a string of local shows together, I wanted people to see what we are capable of. It’s always intense but never the same. “Heaven” is the best example and we decided to film a live version.
Glenn Forsythe at Power Station did a great job of engineering this session. He prioritized the sound of that legendary console and room while embracing all the bleed that comes without isolation. We set up as if playing on stage and let it rip. My hope is that anyone who sees the video wants to come see us live. Making an album is one thing, but putting on a show is a whole other artform. We aim to perfect them both.
Can you elaborate on the narrative arc of “Heaven” and how the music mirrors that unraveling journey?
The narrative of “Heaven” follows an individual’s journey through the machinery of western society; Religion, Education, Armed Service, and Medicine. Each system promises fulfillment yet fails to deliver. Finally, the protagonist reaches his breaking point and renounces them all. At that moment he is set free,
The music mirrors this journey through the motorik rhythm and the call and response between the increasingly loud electric guitar and the song’s refrain. Each time you hear the word “Heaven” it becomes more grand and more desperate. Vocalist Kristina Moore builds a choir that grows increasingly angelic as the song progresses. Meanwhile Jonathan Schenke’s synth snarls with frustration as if lashing out at the false promises being made. All of this culminates before the last Chorus when Cameron Kapoor’s guitar goes into overdrive. This is the moment of revelation. This is the moment of transcendence and this where the song’s meaning is revealed.
Were there any unexpected moments or improvisations during the live takes that ended up shaping the final version of the track?
The moment described above was the most memorable part of the album recording session. My co-producer Jonathan Shenke and I had planned this session to prioritize improvisation. We selected an exceptional group of trusted musicians and shared rough versions of the songs with them before the session. By the time we were in the studio, no one in the room had played the songs together before. The song didn’t even have an ending at that point. What you are hearing is the thrill of discovery. The final recording was cut down from a twelve and a half minute version which had built to such an unexpected cacophony that we knew it was the one.
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