ULTRAVIOLET IS AVAILABLE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR MUSIC VIA ARTOFFACT RECORDS
On Ultraviolet, LEATHERS (aka Shannon Hemmett) presents new music alongside previously released hit singles. The eagerly awaited debut album promises to launch LEATHERS to the forefront of smart, exciting, electro-pop. Aglow with glossy synths, and a nocturnal atmosphere, Hemmett’s sublime voice comes into focus — searching for the truth between fantasy and reality.
On the album, Hemmett comments:
“I got my hands dirty in every aspect of this record, not just with the songs and the lyrics, but making my own music videos, photographs, and designing an entire visual motif for the project. I find it so satisfying to create a total aesthetic.”
Inside a neon-lit dreamscape, LEATHERS crafts songs with razor-sharp style and substance. Although Hemmett was musical from an early age, she came to sing later in life after a career in the graphic arts. Her songs, mingled with her love of photography, the films of David Lynch, and the writings of J.G. Ballard; explore the disquieting uncertainty of modern life and the liminal spaces where our emotions reside.
First off, care to introduce LEATHERS to our readers?
LEATHERS is my music project based in Vancouver, Canada. The songs have a dream pop feel with darkwave and shoegaze undertones—inspired by bands like Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, and Mazzy Star. My background is in photography and graphic design, so LEATHERS’ visual style is an important aspect of the project too. The imagery has a nocturnal atmosphere; heavy on mood and saturated colours. I recently curated and designed a lyrics, and photobook which is the perfect companion piece to our upcoming album ‘Ultraviolet’.
What inspired the title “Daydream Trash” for your latest single?
Vancouver is known for its rainy climate and it was a title I thought up while daydreaming of a sunny day. To me, it summed up a lazy summertime atmosphere; eating popsicles, the sun beating down on the concrete, not a care in the world.
Can you share more about the creative process behind the release?
I’ve come to accept that my writing process is gradual—the songs on Ultraviolet were written over a period of 5 years or so. Sometimes it takes a while for the material to reach its full potential. My recent single Crash took years to finish. A search of my Apple Notes tells me I finalized the first verse for Crash in 2021 but I know the line “bloodshot dawn” was something I wrote a long time before that—I found it buried in a text document from 2011. Finishing songs can be tricky business too, there are so many decisions to make when writing that it’s difficult to know when a song is actually done. You just have to trust your gut and listen for what the song wants to be.
How has your sound evolved from the Reckless EP to Ultraviolet?
I feel the vocals and the lyrical content evolved the most, showing more creative depth and confidence. I recently revisited some of the early demos and it’s wild to hear how far the songs come from the idea stages to completion. The foundation is always there, but then you have to sculpt and carve away at the details. The studio is our playground, we love experimenting with different sounds and instruments all the time. We always try to serve the song; if that means playing an original Juno-60, or recording a bunch of cutlery crashing on the floor, we’ll do that.
After the release of Ultraviolet, do you have any plans for tours or live performances?
Yes, we have lots in the works! I can mention a few things; we have our album release show in Vancouver coming up on August 15th at Fox Cabaret, and we’ll play Purple City Festival in Edmonton on September 7th. I’ll be touring with my sibling band ACTORS in the fall, but LEATHERS will also be included on a couple of special dates in Texas and Mexico City.
Last but not least, How has being part of the Vancouver music scene influenced your music?
The moment I joined ACTORS I felt like I had found my music family and tribe. It’s been an incredible, life-fulfilling adventure that has allowed me to travel all over the world playing music. The band and touring experiences I’ve had with ACTORS have been the foundation of everything I do with LEATHERS (Adam and Kendall from ACTORS also round out the LEATHERS live band). Everyday we dare to dream about what’s next and work hard to make it a reality. I’m always striving for more with my music and artwork.
Connect with LEATHERS:
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