Singles Spotlight:
Lowly –
“Liminal Space”

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While SWT has a healthy amount of content from US bands and a good amount of that is from the Midwest, we love to cover bands throughout the world. And will continue to maintain inclusivity, supporting good musicians and humans as much as possible regardless of where they call home. Today, I’m excited to head across the Atlantic to talk about Lowly, a fantastic five-piece band from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lowly’s discography includes three full-length albums, Heba (2017), Hifalutin (2019), and Keep Up the Good Work (2023). I recommend taking the time to listen to each one. The band’s bio on the Bella Union record label site explains the first two in more detail, noting, “‘Heba was very much the energy of meeting in a room and quickly arranging songs that had already been sketched out,’ continues Steffen. ‘Hifalutin was more produced, more put-together from different fragments. Now, I feel like we’ve gone into that process again of just being in a room together, not looking at a computer screen. Like, ‘Here’s a song, let’s play it maybe two or three times and then record it,’ so that it really has a strong connection with some of the early Lowly stuff.'”

But wait, there’s more! From the press release of their upcoming release, “Danish quintet Lowly are back with their fourth studio album, the organic and expansive Softy, due out October 30th via Bella Union and available to pre-order here. With Brian Eno expressing open admiration for their acclaimed previous work, Nanna Schannong (vocals), Soffie Viemose (vocals), Kasper Staub (synthesizer), Thomas Lund (bass), and Steffen Lundtoft (drums) reconnected to the creative process that bound them together when they formed over a decade ago. Namely: getting in a room together with their instruments and working out their ideas with only their talent and their esteem for one another guiding the way. The result is an album of deep emotionality, exploring themes of parenthood, family, love, and loss, while expanding on the dreampop sound that made their previous releases so popular.”

The release continues by telling of the album’s production, offering quotes from the band: “For the first time in their career, the Danish 5-piece decided to self-produce their album, a choice that brought them even closer to fully realizing their impact. Across 10 sprawling tracks, the band tell a tale of modern life, weaving together stories of raising children, searching for togetherness, and finding courage in the face of an increasingly unstable world. “When the world is going so crazy, bravery is more relevant than ever,” says Steffen. “Maybe that’s why we’re channeling these feelings on this particular album, because right now is the craziest time in all of our lives. We talked a lot about, what do we want to do? Why do we want to be a band under these circumstances? And if we’re going to be a band, then we should do it in a really, really caring and sustainable way. Let’s take responsibility for the process, and also be brave enough to put out an album that’s not overproduced.” Excited to listen to the entire album? Same.

But before you listen to the whole album, Softy once it’s released, let’s first explore what I consider my favorite song on the album. I think it’ll become a favorite of yours, too. The fabulous “Liminal Space”. As the band notes on their Bandcamp, “Liminal Space (is) a twinkling mid-tempo ballad buoyed by soothing-yet-haunting guitar melodies and Soffie and Nanna’s crystal-clear, blissful harmonies. Like many of Lowly’s songs, its uplifting beauty belies a tint of darkness, as it speaks plainly about the anxiety of raising children in an increasingly unstable world. “The lyrics are about being a parent and realizing you have to actually do something to not pass on the mess that you were given as a kid,” says Soffie. “To create brave little kids, you also have to be a role model.”

What can I add that hasn’t been mentioned? I love the messaging. Break that cycle. Do better. And be a role model are phrases I can’t say enough.

I’m captivated by Schannong and Viemose’s vocals individually, but also by how their harmonies are beautiful in unison. The freedom and space in the melody and instrumentation create an open, free-flowing feel and a sense of adventure. The drums are very present in this song, and they maintain a mid-tempo beat, with additional instrumentation I’d best describe as door-opening sounds and noises you might hear in a horror movie. I think they add more anxiety that fits the theme. Luckily, those discordant noises appear in the first half of the song and aren’t present in the last minute or so. I think this song is well deserving of being part of our Singles Spotlight series and also serves as a solid introduction to the band, Lowly.

But don’t just take my word for it. Take a look and listen for yourself. Check out that Zoom backdrop that some office workers may find triggering. The awesome, creative video for the song “Liminal Space” from the Lowly’s YouTube channel:

(All credits and rights to Lowly)

Take a look at the cover art for Softy:

The track list for Softy:

1. Brave
2. Liminal Space
3. What Is It For
4. Curious
5. Fighter
6. Stretch Under Strain
7. At All
8. Softy
9. Tilted
10. Xclouds

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com