Lemuria have made a yearly tradition of releasing a Secret LP that they make available to their fans on their site and socials. Past years have included a 12″ version of their original demo cd-r and album outtakes, but recently fans got a treat when Lemuria surprise-released a new album called Recreational Hate, and those 700 fans that got the secret release were the first to get the limited physical release of the album before its available in record stores everywhere today via the band’s newly minted Turbo Worldwide imprint, with the help of Asian Man Records and Big Scary Monsters. ‘Thanks to everyone who took a gamble and purchased the secret LP we put up for sale back in August. We’re excited to unveil that the LP you ordered is our new studio album, Recreational Hate .’ the band wrote to fans, adding, ‘Your trust and subsequent purchase enabled us to achieve some great feats with this release, including working with the 4-time Grammy winning producer and engineer Chris Shaw.’
The band again turned to fans on social media for the first video from their new album by asking them to choose their favorite song from the album and make a music video for it quickly in time for today’s official release of Recreational Hate! Erik Button of Charlotte, North Carolina is the grand prize winner and he will be getting a check and prize pack from the band. Here’s the video and a Q&A between the band and their new director friend….
Watch Christine Perfect below!
Where do you live? What do you do for work/school?
I live in Charlotte, North Carolina and I work for a small video production company as an editor. We mostly do mini-documentaries for companies and non-profits.
Could you tell us a few things about your process for creating it? Camera used, etc.
Sure! I used a Sony FS-7 and a Sony a6300 with a 24-105 canon lens. I wanted the video to feel like a home video or a documentary. Instead of just filming animals I really wanted to show people relationships with their pets. Unfortunately it rained on Sunday so to film the stuff with my girlfriend and her dog we went to her parents place where we had to room to film in doors. After that the video was pretty much edited over night on Monday after I got off work. To bring the point home and help with the crazy time restraint I also asked my friends from around the country to send in videos of them cuddling or playing their animals to really bring home the theme. I feel like a lot of Lemuria’s music is about peoples relationships with others and the songs always feel grounded and tangible and I wanted to communicate that in the video as best as I could.
Why did you choose “Christine Perfect” as the song?
When the contest was announced I just listened to the new record twice through and wrote down every crazy idea I had and this idea for Christine Perfect seemed like the best. I thought the webcam part first and then worked back from there. Also its a REALLY catchy song that will now be stuck in my head for the next few weeks.
Are you and your pet in the video? Tell us about your pet.
I am not! While I don’t have any pets the St. Barnard is my roommates Dylan and Kelsey’s (Dylan is the one in the video) and the pit mix in the video is my girlfriend Allison’s so I’m thankfully surrounded by sweet dogs all the time.
Have you ever made any other music videos or films? If so, mind linking us to your work?
While I don’t get much of a chance to make my own projects outside of my job I do from time to time. Most of my creative energy goes to making music videos for my band and silly videos to promote our shows. I would like to hopefully make more music videos for other bands this year, which I’m trying to work on right now. Outside of that if you live in the Charlotte North Carolina area you might see HVAC repair videos the company I work for made. You can see things I’ve done here, and here’s a video series I helped produce that features local bands from Charlotte NC.
You made this with very little time and, we’re assuming, very little budget. What would your dream music video be if you had both more time and money on your side?
I’m not sure it’s a music video idea specifically since that always depends on the song but I would like to one day have a budget to produce a music video so I can hire all my crazy talented friends to help me shoot, or act in, or light a film.
About Lemuria:
Lemuria, consisting of band members Alex Kerns, Sheena Ozzella, and Max Gregor, are an American Indie Rock band. They formed in 2004 in Buffalo, New York, in the landing of an apartment stairway above the greatest diner in the world, Amy’s Place. 15 years of touring, 4 albums, and dozens of 7″s later, the band is much different than it was when it began; Lemuria changes with the varying and dynamic interests of its constituents, and avoids being pigeon holed at all costs. “Recreational Hate” is, along this avenue, something different. The songs can be traced to a past, present, and future existence of the band, running in every direction, but always coming home to a definitive observational point of reference. “Recreational Hate” is the next book in a fantasy series. It’s the surprise 6th act in a never ending performance. It hints of familiarity in a place where the guidelines have been abandoned, and anything is possible.
Lemuria on tour!
Feb-15 Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge*
Feb-16 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room*
Feb-18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom*
Feb-22 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall*
Feb-24 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium*
* w/ Jeff Rosenstock and ROAR