Canada’s FAMOUS STRANGERS’ New Video “L.S.C.” Explores Beauty and Danger, Intimacy and Destruction
Edmonton, Canada’s Famous Strangers, unravels their new music video for their latest single “L.S.C.” as they gear up for perfmances at this year’s festival appearances at Armstrong Metal Fest (Armstrong, BC – July 11-12) and Loud As Hell Open Air (Drumheller, AB – Aug 1-3) along with upcoming tour dates to be announced.
As one of the first songs that all four of them in Famous Strangers wrote together from start to finish, the track is raw and intense. It represents exactly where they are as a band right now: fearless in their songwriting and unafraid to blend melody with brutality.
“L.S.C. is meant to take you on a ride. It starts soft, like it is letting you in slowly, and then it flips the switch. The heaviness hits out of nowhere. It grabs you, shakes you, and then drags you through the rest of the track without letting go. It eases you in, then completely takes over, and by the time it is done, it feels like it has drained the life out of you in the best way,” adds guitarist Jeff Kittilitz.
Lyrically, the song is told from the perspective of a female figure who is part human and part spider. It is inspired by the mating behavior of black widows, where attraction, intimacy, and destruction all collide. At its core, it is about obsession, power, and survival. It speaks to the emotional weight of wanting something that was never meant to be yours, and the strength it takes to pull yourself back from that edge.
“What we hope is that this song opens people up a little, even if it’s not what they usually listen to. There’s so much music out there that people miss out on because they’re stuck in one genre or one mindset. We’re trying to break through that and just write what feels real, no matter what it sounds like. We are about being fearless in our songwriting. Put everything on the table, be yourself, and don’t hold back. That’s the energy they’re trying to give people when they press play,” says Kittilitz.
Famous Strangers has had a healthy and steady evolution. Since their earlier singles in 2024, Famous Strangers have started to lock in with each other creatively and naturally found a sound that they can all stand behind. It flows and feels more cohesive, and everyone in the band feeds off each other in a way that keeps pushing the songs to a new level.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
We are Famous Strangers from Sherwood Park, Alberta. The lineup is Jeff Kittlitz, Braden Sustrik, Brian BEEJ Jolly, and Amanda Keirnan. We’re a brand new band, only two years old, but we’ve all been part of the music scene for decades. We’ve played in multiple bands, crossed paths many times, and now we’ve come together as one. At the core of it all, we’re just here to spread love, connect with people, and play honest music.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
We just released LSC, along with a music video that we’re incredibly proud of. It was mixed by Joel Wanasek, mastered by Maor Appelbaum, produced by Jeff Kittlitz, and recorded with the help of Phil Anderson. We put our whole selves into this one.
Lyrically, it’s inspired by the mating behavior of praying mantises and black widow spiders, you know, that whole concept of intense passion followed by destruction. Amanda ran with that idea and brought a dark, sexy edge to the lyrics. The song itself starts heavy, drops into this smooth, haunting middle section, and then builds back up into an explosive chorus. It’s unpredictable and dynamic, and we like that it doesn’t follow a traditional format. In fact, someone once told us it doesn’t even have a climax, which is funny because we thought it had several.
The music video dives into all those layers and goes even deeper visually. We filmed it ourselves with the help of our team, and we’re stoked about how it turned out.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
There’s no strict formula, but it usually starts with a riff. Jeff, Beej, or Braden will bring in something they’ve been working on. Sometimes it’s new, sometimes it’s been living on a hard drive for 10 years…and we jam it out. Amanda freestyles over top during rehearsal, and we record everything.
Later, she’ll dig through those recordings, usually in the middle of the night, and start pulling melodies and concepts. From there, the song takes shape. It’s very collaborative. Everyone contributes. No one shoots anything down. We’re all open to ideas and we trust each other. That’s probably what makes it work so well.
We even test new songs live before they’re done. Amanda will ask the audience for a theme and improvise the lyrics right there. One time, someone yelled out “dinosaurs” and that turned into a whole live performance we recorded and pulled ideas from later.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content fans can look forward to?
Absolutely. Next up, we’re playing Loud as Hell Festival on the Sunday morning pancake breakfast slot, so set those alarms and come start your day with us.
We’re also finishing the music video for Deep Star, which is already out on all streaming platforms. Half the video is shot, and we’re planning to wrap it soon. After that, we’re heading into the studio to record a four-song EP that really pushes our boundaries. One of the tracks in particular shows a side of Famous Strangers that no one’s seen yet, and we’re excited for people to hear it.
Touring is a huge focus too. We just came off a killer mini-tour with Grave Mass, and we’re hungry for more. We’re actively talking to bands, planning shows, and looking at where we can take this next. New content, new music, more live dates…we’re all in.
You’ve only been a band for two years. Looking back on your musical career, is there any particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight for Famous Strangers?
Honestly, the last two years as a whole have been one giant turning point. We started off as four people jamming covers in a basement with no expectations. Then one day the guys dropped a mountain of original songs on Amanda, and things shifted instantly.
There was a moment during one of our early jams where all four of us just clicked, no words were needed. It was like we looked at each other and silently agreed, this is it. We’ve been giving it everything since then.
Highlights? Too many to count. Every live show adds something new. Our first show opening for The Devil’s Sons at the Starlight Room was huge. Our first headliner was special. Our recent run with Grave Mass through Lethbridge, Calgary, and Armstrong Metal Fest blew us away. The crowds, the love, the way we were treated, it left us speechless. Every show is a highlight. Every new person we meet is a gift. We’re still high from all of it.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward. What upcoming bands or artists would you recommend your fans check out?
There are so many we could shout out. Definitely go listen to Quietus from Edmonton. Amanda’s been singing their praises since day one. They’re soulful, heavy, and powerful, with over 25 years of history behind them.
Also check out Femmes Voyous, a femme punk band from Edmonton that’s fresh, fun, and really unique. They just released a bunch of new music and they’re killing it.
Grave Mass is another must. They’re new in name but packed with experience and energy. We just toured with them and they brought it hard every night.
And let’s not forget local talent like Juliet Ruin, Planet Eater, and Lightworker, just a few more names doing incredible things in our scene.
Support your local bands. You never know when one of them is about to blow your mind.
Honorable Mentions:
-The arts major
-Anomalyptic
-Black Friday
-Shackled to the throne
-Darkened skies
-creature conspire
-valley of despair
-Syren
-the unending
-volt
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