Melodic alternative / indie rock duo Para Lia present their new single ‘Children of the Flood (feat. Fady Haddad)’, who contributes both synth and vocals. Frontman René Methner created an uplifting video. This collaboration with American musician Fady Haddad came about through a SoundCloud meeting of minds and a mutual respect for each other’s work.
The duo just released their second album ‘Gone With The Flow’ on vinyl and CD. With 11 new tracks, its core themes are the muse and the continual struggle with that relationship, explored amidst layers of sound and arrangements that continually swing from light to dark.
Preceded by the singles ‘My Muse’ and ‘Riders On The Dike’, the digital release was timed for the anniversary of Germany’s reunification, significant for a band hailing from the Eastern part of a then-divided Germany.
“About working with Para Lia, you just never want it to end. Inspired and inspirational, the process of making music is so much easier when you are starting with brilliant material. I feel like I was just adding icing on an already delicious cake,” says Fady Haddad.
Now based near Berlin, Para Lia is René Methner (all instruments and vocals) and Cindy Methner (backing vocals), their band name was born of their love for Greece, with para lia, (παραλία) meaning “coast” or “beach” in Greek – a name full of mystery but optimism, which both has history and evokes a balance of the masculine and feminine.
Influenced by ‘90s alt-rock and ‘80s darkwave, Para Lia burst onto the music scene in 2019, debuting with ‘Soap Bubble Dreams’ LP and ‘Hawk Hill’ EP and often likened to J Mascis, The Cure, Arcade Fire, The Mission, The Last Shadow Puppets, Sebadoh and Editors.
Para Lia also recently launched a virtual mixed art exhibition with artist Louis Renzoni, dspawned from numerous in-depth conversations. Originally destined for an NYC gallery until the global pandemic, this is a celebration of the band’s new music, complemented by Renzoni’s artwork. An immersive experience, each exhibit is fully interactive and can be found at www.sophisticatedape.com/gone-with-the-flow-exhibition
“Louis’s work plays with many interesting shades and suggestions. A lot of his paintings connect the modern with expressions, which seem to come from 19th century aesthetics, it feels like a surreal view into the Victorian age. The lyrics to ‘Children Of The Flood’ was inspired by one of the finest lyrical ‘paintings’ of the German 19th century novel ‘The Rider On The Dike’ by Theodor Storm. A dark novel, a Faustian plot, and a ghost rider on a white horse on a dike,” says René Methner.
“The lyrics attempt to connect the overall impression of Louis’ and Storm’s work to a current narrative, to save the dike, perhaps a metaphor for much of what we see happening around us? The balance here was to try and hold back the outright rage which is often part of modern discourse.”
‘Gone With The Flow’ is now available on vinyl, CD and digitally via Bandcamp. It can also be found on Spotify and Apple Music.
CREDITS
Lyrics and music by René Methner
Mixed and produced by René Methner
Mastered by Thomas Heimann-Trosien at Turnstyle Mastering, Berlin
Cover artwork by Louis Renzoni
Cover design by John Farley, SPR Designs
René Methner – lyrics and music, vocals, all instruments
Cindy Methner – vocals
Amanda Kim Sanderson (UK) – vocals on ‘Riders On The Dike’,
Fady Haddad (USA) – synth and vocals on ‘Children Of The Flood’, synth on ‘Fire (My Chemical Imbalance),
Terry Wigmore (CAN) – cello on ‘Fools’
Keep up with Para Lia
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