we have the pleasure of presenting you the latest audio-visual trip from Europe’s sonic adventurers Para Lia. Ripe with positivity and a good handful of inspiring images, they present their new video for the latest single ‘Sunchild‘, the first new music since announcing the duo has signed to Berlin-based About Us Records for their third album ‘In Clash With The Zeitgeist’ (out on August 25). This driving, guitar-laden indie rock lead track is accompanied by a fun-filled nostalgic self-directed video. With every taste of their new record, we look forward to hearing the full collection more and more. In an ocean of negative soul-defeatist music, Para Lia are literally a beacon of light. Shine on Para Lia!
Para Lia is René Methner (all instruments and vocals) and Cindy Methner (backing vocals), who were raised in the eastern part of a divided Germany. 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.
“Greece, for us, is a place of well-being, joie de vivre, the home of friends, almost ‘second home’ to use and a place to ‘take a deep breath’. With emotions that are consistently positive, these images therefore perfectly translate the mood of this song, combined with footage from the Thommy Hein Studio in Berlin, where the whole album got its finishing touches in a beautiful atmosphere. Good vibes through and through,” says René Methner.
Not only do does Para Lia’s psychedelic side find its way into the lyrics, but also the video. Methner adds, “The whole thing is framed visually with psychedelic echoes and a vintage touch, which are both reminiscent of indie rock videos of the early 1990s and also late-1960s Super8 aesthetics. This track is a love letter to life. In fact, most of the songs here are characterized by optimism and hope.”
Now based in Cottbus (near Berlin), Para Lia’s music is influenced by the rhythms and tones of ‘90s alt-rock and the synth density of ‘80s darkwave. Their own sound blends melodic guitars, along with distinctive lead guitar and resonant synths.
“This is a psychelovic indie rock song for survivors!” says Cindy Methner. “This is an ode to not letting it get you down and was created in darker days. It’s an optimistic song to blink into the sun, where the joy of life is at home behind the black holes”
Ignoring the zeitgeist of this day and age, Para Lia creates music that is far from mainstream. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the band has gathered listeners from around the world. Debuting with the ‘Soap Bubble Dreams’ album in 2019, followed by ‘Gone With The Flow’, which involved artists from the USA, Canada and the UK, as well as a collaborative interactive art exhibition with painter Louis Renzoni.
Now Para Lia is ready to enter the next chapter with the new album ‘In Clash With The Zeitgeist’. Self-recorded and produced at their home studio, these tracks were then mastered by Thommy Hein (Die Ärzte, Nina Hagen, Udo Lindenberg). This album sees them blend their love for late 80’s and early 90’s indie rock with 60’s influences, psychedelic, garage rock and early prog rock elements.
‘In Clash With The Zeitgeist’ features appearances by US keyboardist Fady Haddad, who featured on Para Lia’s previous record, as well as two artists from the Staatstheater Cottbus – Christian Georgi on electric piano and baritone Andreas Jäpel on vocals. The artwork was designed by Greek artist Georgia Moschogianni.
‘In Clash With The Zeitgeist’ sees Para Lia grow on yet another level with the band expanding from two members to six with an eye towards pursuing live performances.
‘Sunchild’ is out now and is available digitally across fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify andBandcamp. The full album ‘In Clash With The Zeitgeist’ will be released, both digitally and on vinyl, on August 25.
TRACK LIST
1 Like Always
2 Sunchild
3 All That It Takes
4 What We Always Wanted
5 C’est La Vie
6 Will You Find Me
7 Yellow Rose
8 Already Came To Know
9 Mr Perry
10 Nagual
11 Sunchild (Reprise)
ALBUM CREDITS
René Methner – guitars, bass guitar, keys, drum programming, vocals Cindy Methner – vocals
Fady Haddad – synth on ‘Yellow Rose‘
Christian Georgi – e-piano on ‘Yellow Rose‘ and ‘Sunchild (Reprise)’
Andreas Jäpel – vocals on ‘Mr. Perry’
Lyrics and music by René Methner
Recorded and produced by Para Lia
Mixed by Para Lia and Thommy Hein
Mastered by Thommy Hein at The Thommy Hein Tonstudios Berlin
Cover artwork by: Georgia Moschogianni
P&C 2023 Para Lia under exclusive license to About Us Records GmbH
Video by René Methner
ISRC code DEYG32300057
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