Ravinia 2023 Issue 1

DEARIE CHEN of helpful changes and guidance from Kras,” observes Clyde. “ Living Room was more like, ‘Let’s kind of write the songs, to some degree, as we’re re- cording them—building it up—so the process felt night-and-day different. The studio experimentation played a little bit larger of a role in the songs. Some of the songs had been played live, but for the most part, they were studio creations before they came out in concert.” Lawrence immediately made up for lost time performing those vibrant tunes on the road, and in the process crossed paths with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/rapper/producer Jon Bellion, the multi-billion stream- ing superstar who didn’t only fall in love with everyone’s innovative sounds, but invited them as support act on his mammoth Glory Sound Prep Tour. By 2021, Lawrence became the inaugural act on Bellion’s Beau- tiful Mind Records, a partnership the siblings couldn’t be more effusive about, going from longtime fandom to now both a working relationship and a personal friendship with a man many call one of this generation’s finest pop geniuses. In fact, Bellion co-produced and co-wrote all the songs with the siblings on their latest album, Hotel TV —also alongside Cohen and fellow bandmate/guitarist Jonny Koh—which propelled them to a whopping 53-city show stretch of their own, including a local House of Blues sellout. “I think that this album, to us, didn’t feel like a sea change,” suggests Clyde. “I think it was just a continu- ation of getting more and more com- fortable in the studio, thinking about how songs best present themselves in a recorded environment. On some songs, Jon helped in a massive way, and then on some songs, more minor ways that still make a difference. There’s a number of songs that have done really well, but certainly the big- gest one to talk about is ‘Don’t Lose Sight.’ I think that song is really the culmination of all of the things that we were talking about over our first couple albums—trying to make sure a song has really great energy, trans- lates onto a studio record, represents both Gracie and I, what we bring to the sound, and trying to have a song that feels honest and conversational, but still has a big message people can relate to.” Adds Gracie: “I hope our music makes people feel understood, or that what we’re saying feels really human and relatable. I think Clyde and I both have a little bit of a knee-jerk negative reaction to songs that are dramatically any emotion. I think that ‘Don’t Lose Sight,’ to a lot of people on maybe a first listen, sounds like a song that’s just about positivity, but what I really love about that song—and maybe why people feel like they can relate to it— is that all the verses are really critical of self, are this desire to give up, and then this chorus is this anthem that says don’t lose sight , so I think this balance makes it relatable. If the song didn’t have any of that negativity or doubt, would the chorus feel as mov- ing and like enough of an arrival? I don’t know. The good comes with the bad and vice versa.” So where exactly has this whirl- wind of wisdom and wonder taken Lawrence at this point of its gradual but exponential ascent? “To Ravinia” answers Gracie with a laugh before Clyde interjects. “All roads lead… I’ve been told by many people that Ravinia is one of the nicest venues in the country. When we announced the show, some of the members of our band, who I believe have been there, and other friends from the Chica- go area just reached out when they found out we were playing there. I was inundated with texts from people who were singing the praises of what sounds like an incredible venue. I’ve never been there before, but I can’t wait!” Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based writer and photographer with credits across countless newspapers, magazines, and websites, as well as the founder of ChicagoConcertReviews.com. He is the house photographer for the AuditoriumTheatre and also regularly engaged by other area venues, concert promotion companies, and directly with artists. RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JUNE 6 – JULY 2, 2023 86