Song of the Day: Menace Beach - Maybe We'll Drown

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Maybe We’ll Drown” by Menace Beach, from their upcoming album, Lemon Memory, due January 20th on Memphis Industries.

Menace Beach - Maybe We'll Drown (MP3)Despite what their name might suggest, Menace Beach is not angsty punk from California. The Leeds-based duo is often noted as an “indie supergroup” of sorts, as additional members come from bands such as Sky Larkin and Hookworms. Main members Liza Violet and Ryan Needham of Department M and Komakino, respectively, linked together in 2012 and have since put out a mixture of fuzzed out indie and melodic pop, including their 2015 debut record, Ratworld.

“Maybe We’ll Drown” is the first single off of their forthcoming sophomore record, Lemon Memory. Written in Ibiza and recorded in Sheffield, “Maybe We’ll Drown” is a glimpse into the record that was created in “an effort to lift a citrus based curse” on their house. The first citrusy track features Liza Violet on lead vocals, and a spooky set of riffs. Needham joins her in the chorus, coming to a distorted crescendo of millennial worry and nonchalance as they croon the title of the track.

Menace Beach is playing a slew of U.K. dates in February and hopefully will add some U.S. dates to the mix later in 2017, after the new LP is released. Until then, keep up with their website and Facebook page, and check out the video for “Maybe We’ll Drown” below.