Parlour Panther Return With New Single “Thrivin’” From Upcoming Album, Bloom
Vancouver indie/rock group Parlour Panther returns with the new single “Thrivin’”, featuring polished riff-laden instrumentation, out now via Rae Spoon’s Coax Records. “Thrivin’” marks a new musical journey for the band – with their dear friend Saadi D’Hoore rejoining the band on synths and guitar (he played bass & guitar on early releases – Arc en Ciel, Foreign Lust, and Hot Magic) and Jen Foster joining on drums (Hyaenas, Rong), recorded at Monarch and Blue Light Studios. Parlour Panther also shared that their third studio album BLOOM will be released on March 22, 2024.
The band shares,
“Thrivin’ is about facing trauma and putting in the work to love yourself. As a survivor of childhood abuse, Lee lives with those complex challenges and feelings of low self-worth. Thrivin’ sheds light on those feelings and rejoices in the healing process. It’s a celebration and a reminder that the work is hard but worth it”.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Lee: Why hello readers! Parlour Panther is Frankie (they/them) and Lee/me (they/them) – we’re trans nonbinary spouses and we’ve been making music together since 2015. We make indie rock music that ranges from 80s synth-pop ballads to gritty rock and roll – with sick guitar solos (double guitar solos!) and impeccable harmonies. Our friend Saadi played bass with us in the beginning and we’re stoked he’s back for this upcoming album – writing sultry opuses on synth and guitar. And Jen Foster started playing drums with us a couple of years ago and she is magnetic and powerful on the kit – you don’t want to miss the live show! It’s been said we write songs that are heavy but uplifting and that our live show is a fun good vibe.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
Thrivin’ dropped on January 12th! We are so excited it’s out, thanks to everyone who’s listened so far.
Thrivin’ can be described as an 80s-inspired synth banger with a classic Parlour Panther twist. Everyone involved in making it said it should definitely be on the album. Thrivin’ is a true representation of a Parlour Panther song—it starts off as a pop bop with the drums driving a four-on-the-floor rhythm and a hot fire guitar riff, then it explodes into an unexpected chorus of dark and gritty rock. That type of juxtaposition has been an integral part of our sound over the years. Thrivin’ also features a double guitar solo between Frankie and Saadi which you will be hearing a lot more of in the future.
Lyrically, Thrivin’ was written about facing trauma and putting in the work to love yourself. As a survivor of childhood abuse, Lee lives with those complex challenges and feelings of low self-worth. Thrivin’ sheds light on those feelings and rejoices in the healing process. It’s a celebration and a reminder that the work is hard but worth it.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
Our new album BLOOM (dropping March 22) was the most collaborative album we’ve made to date. Frankie and Lee had a handful of songs mostly written and then they asked Saadi to help them finish writing the album. For the process, usually one of us has an idea for a cool bass or guitar riff, and then we jam it out until we find something we all like. Or Frankie or Lee will write a vocal line with synths and lyrics for most of a song, then bring it to the group to finish together. It’s really song-dependant, but we definitely have some Parlour Panther writing styles – powerful vocals, dirty guitar solos, ethereal synth soundscapes, and PHAT bass and drums.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Yes definitely follow us on IG (@parlour.panther) to stay in the loop because we have a lot in store for Parlour Panther this Spring. We’ve already announced our album BLOOM dropping March 22nd! And before then you can expect some more new singles and official music videos to drop, as well as an exciting tour announcement – stay tuned because we are going to places we’ve never played before!
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
The highlight would definitely be when we got to open for Royal Canoe at the Fox Cabaret! We are HUGE fans and have seen them live multiple times. They’re a big inspiration of ours so getting to share the stage with them was unforgettable.
A turning point would have to be when we recently played The Woodstove Festival last November. It was our debut performance as the new quartet – Frankie, Lee, Saadi and Jen – and people loved it! We played two sets that were both SO fun, the crowds were amazing, and we had the best time. It felt like a turning point – like the start of a new era for Parlour Panther.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Hyaenas! Jen’s band with her wife Sophie (our besties) and their pals Jessie and Luvia – they are a hot indie alt-pop band who some have called ‘lesbian abba’. They just released their debut EP Little Trophy it is so good you should listen to it right now and follow them on IG @hyaenasband
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