With an “agree to disagree, but get out of my yard” message, Lake & Lyndale gives a cheeky nudge and wink to those folks in life who always have to be right with their brand new single, “Lawn.” Full of rootsy guitar and bluesy keys, this Americana breath of fresh air is equal parts fun and funky, with lead singer Channing Krentz’s vocals adding a smooth, sassy feel to the song. The Nashville-based band is always a treat for the ears, and this new single is no exception. We sat down recently with Krentz to discuss “Lawn,” songwriting, inspirations, and more.
Hi, Channing! You and your bandmates in Lake & Lyndale have a terrific new single out called “Lawn.” What can you tell us about this song? What inspired you to write it and what is it about?
Channing Krentz: Hey, thanks so much for listening to the new single, “Lawn.” This was a fun one to write. We were touring through the Midwest, and we had a couple free days in between shows so we stayed at a cabin, and one of the mornings we just sat on the back porch and wrote “Lawn.” I think we have all dealt with people who talk a lot but don’t really care to hear other sides or opinions. We were chatting about that, and how difficult it is to handle people like that, so we decided to write a quirky song that basically says, “Hey, if you’re going to be right all of the time, then we may just keep our distance.” We have all learned the importance of boundaries this year, and “Lawn,” to me, is what I like to call “a Midwest middle finger,” ha.
What was it like recording this song? What was the vibe in the studio, and how did this song come together?
Channing: Recording is always such a fun process, and we have such a great relationship with our producer, Alex Kiel, so with each song, we are able to really put the time in to make sure that the message and essence of the song is captured. Even from the top of the song, the drum fill was something we strategically talked about – it’s almost like a little stumble into the journey this song is taking people on. We do a lot of exploring all options in the studio, and to have that kind of freedom is so huge during the recording process.
What do you hope this song conveys to those who listen to it?
Channing: I hope that this song puts a smile on the listener’s face. It’s playful, it’s real, and I hope that the takeaway is, “Sometimes you just gotta agree to disagree and move on.” You can’t dwell on the opinions of others.
If you look back over your career, you probably feel like quite a different artist now than when you began for a number of reasons – life experience, industry experience, studio and performing experience all factoring into that. Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
Channing: We have been releasing music and traveling around as a band for over a decade, so I do know that experience in this industry has taught us so many things. You have got to be tough and learn how to enjoy roller coasters, ha. Inspiration these days mostly comes from life experiences. I feel like when I was a younger writer/artist, I wasn’t always able to articulate the way I was feeling about certain situations, so I think just the maturity and life experiences I’ve had have allowed me to do that now. I also get most of my song ideas on walks. I like to do daily walks and put on some of my favorite artists: Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Donovan Woods, among many others. I just let my mind get into the music and end up coming up with new inspiration and song titles to bring into writes.
Songwriting can be a really personal endeavor, yet when you release a song or an album or an EP, you share the music with so many people. How does this make you feel, and is it ever difficult to share songs widely like that? What kind of feedback do you get from fans who have connected with the music or had a song impact them in a deep and meaningful way?
Channing: Songwriting is a very personal endeavor, and it used to be very scary, especially around release time. Being comfortable with vulnerability is a must, in my opinion, when it comes to songwriting and artistry. When I look at my closest relationships, they are the ones where we have had deep conversations, experiences together, and have had no choice but to get “real” or vulnerable. Those bonds aren’t easily broken, so I just keep that in mind when I’m second-guessing a lyric, etc. There is no better feeling when someone comes up after a show and says how much our music meant to them or how much they could relate to certain songs. Those songs end up being the ones that are the most personal and the scariest ones to release. We all crave that relatable feeling; the feeling that we have found that middle ground.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for you this year?
Channing: This year has been such a year of growth for us. We have surrounded ourselves with such an amazing team, and all I can say is the best is yet to come. We have a lot in the works as far as new music and touring, which we will be announcing very soon. For the time being, check out our website – lakeandlyndale.com – for upcoming shows, and we look forward to sharing more news with everyone very soon.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. We really appreciate it!
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