SPELLES Releases New Album, Diving Into the Arms of the Divine
SPELLES, the sonic duo made up of Luc Laurent and Kathryn Baar released their debut LP, Diving Into the Arms of the Divine on November 15. 2023.
Ahead of the release, they shared their single, “Night Terrors” which is a mixture of Amy Winehouse meets Suicide and shows a new side to SPELLES’ vast and genre-defying musical prowess. The menacing single begins with a blues-inspired bass synth riff and Laurent’s pulsating drums that allow Baar’s soulful and biting vocals to sink in. The choruses explode with textures of organs and string machines as Baar confidently sings “Look at me now, I’m coming alive.”
There is a moment in the song where the listener feels like they’re floating underwater and then are pulled out from the depths as the song concludes with a heroic ending. With personal lyrics such as “What haunts you the most? My unlived life” and “Built a pyramid of dreams, to honor what’s dead” Baar touches upon the dichotomy of feelings of hope and hopelessness that one inevitably experiences when chasing an elusive dream. “Night Terrors” is the 3rd single off of SPELLES’ long-awaited debut album Diving Into the Arms of the Divine which was released via Sierra Bonita Records.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, my name is Kathryn and I am 1/2 of SPELLES. We are an independent Los Angeles-based band that makes music that is at times haunting, cinematic, and soulful. We’ve released 2 EPs, multiple singles, and have been lucky enough to have our songs synced on such TV shows as Pretty Little Liars, Good Girls, Charmed, etc.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
“Night Terrors” is the 3rd single from our upcoming debut album titled Diving Into the Arms of the Divine which is out now. I like to say it’s a mixture between Suicide and Amy Winehouse. It begins with a driving and gritty synth bass riff in the verses and then opens up with layers of organs and string machines in the choruses and bridge. At times, it feels exciting, confident, and hopeful, and then the mood shifts and plunges the listener back into darkness. It is the first full-length song on the record and immediately sets the tone for what follows on the LP. The first lyric is, “Beautiful ghosts, keep me up at night. What haunts you the most? My unlived life.”
Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?
We don’t have any shows booked at the moment, but we’re planning on playing shows in the new year.
If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?
I’d love to work with Timber Timbre. They’re a band that makes eerie and cinematic music, and their production at times reminds me of one of my favorite bands, Portishead. I’m a really big fan of theirs and I think our respective musical tastes and inclinations would merge really well together. Also, Luc (the other half of SPELLES) and I love to sing along to Sarah McLachlan (“Sweet Surrender” especially), so working with her would be a major honor. I would also love to work with the band Ghostly Kisses. I just discovered them because a listener of ours messaged me on Bandcamp to check them out and I really enjoy their music. Touring with them would be a dream.
What’s your goal for 2024?
We’d love to create more music, play more shows (a European tour is on my life bucket list), and hopefully find and connect with more fans. Finding our niche and community is hugely important to me. I’m an introvert by nature and don’t feel as adept at marketing our band as I’d like to be. It’s very mysterious to me.
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