The Motivation Behind Ume's "Monuments"

The rock band opens up about the essence of their sophomore album

From the LifeMinute team

After a 200-date tour for their debut album "Phantoms," Texas rock trio Ume is at it again, this time for their sophomore album "Monuments." Before playing a show at Pianos in New York City, band members Lauren Larson, Eric Larson and Aaron Perez sat down to talk about the inspiration behind the new record.
Lead singer and guitarist Lauren Larson shares that the origin of the group's unique name is "...Umeboshi: a pickled plum, a little sweet, a little sour." And a fitting name it is, for the band whose music has been described as a juxtaposition of heavy and soft sound.
"We like to shed expectations, I guess, and surprise people a bit," Lauren says, "We try to make music that is powerful and intense but also a little beautiful at times."
The band's frontwoman first fell in love with the guitar when she picked it up at the age of twelve. "I've always been kind of the more shy, nerdy, academic type, and then onstage, I was always able to kind of express a different side of myself," says Lauren, "I feel ten-foot-two on stage with the guitar."
Ume's latest album "Monuments" was recorded in Seattle at Robert Lang Studios with Grammy Award-winning producer Adam Kasper, who's worked with everyone from Queens of the Stone Age and Nirvana to Foo Fighters and Cat Power.
"It was really about capturing maybe the essence and intensity of what we are as a live band," Lauren says of the record.
The band always tries to pay tribute to their fans, who they say helped fund their album, by giving their all on stage.
"I think people gravitate [to us] just to see something completely honest and passionate," she says, "We try to be ourselves."
See where you can catch Ume on stage at http://monuments.umemusic.com/
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