Lowertown Finds Creative Renewal and Community in New Album 'Ugly Duckling Union'
Indie rock duo Lowertown, after experiencing exhaustion from a demanding European tour, embarked on a journey of creative rejuvenation. Their recent album, "Ugly Duckling Union," signifies a return to their foundational principles, highlighting the enduring bond of friendship and their distinctive genre-blending sound. The band has also cultivated a vibrant community around their music, including an immersive Minecraft world, providing fans with a unique interactive experience.
Three years ago, Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg, the creative forces behind Lowertown, recognized the necessity of a fresh start. The arduous European tour had placed considerable stress on their nearly decade-long friendship and artistic collaboration. This realization prompted their return to Atlanta, their hometown, in 2023. It was within the familiar surroundings of their respective basements, the very places where their musical journey began eight years prior, that they rediscovered their initial inspiration. This period of reconnection and artistic introspection ultimately led to the creation of "Ugly Duckling Union," their third full-length album and their first in four years.
Weinberg elaborated on the album's significance, stating that it served as a "reestablishing of our friendship." He shared this sentiment with Rolling Stone while seated beside Osby in a Toronto Airbnb, following a recent performance. Their palpable closeness and mutual respect were evident even through a video call as they recounted their shared history.
The initial jam session in Atlanta in 2023 proved pivotal, not only for re-establishing their personal connection but also for birthing "Mice Protection," the album's opening track, released ahead of the full album. Weinberg's spontaneous guitar riff inspired Osby to immediately improvise lyrics, a moment that crystallized their artistic vision. "That was the first one where we were like, 'This is it,'" Osby recalled, describing the song as "finished and beautiful." The track features Osby's vocals, singing, "Maybe I'm a baby that's just been born/New and fresh," set against a folksy guitar and the organic sound of handclaps on wood.
Weinberg described "Mice Protection" as a quintessential Lowertown song, reflecting their desire to evoke the unadulterated essence of their debut album, created without external influences. Lowertown, formed in 2018 after Osby and Weinberg met in a high school math class, quickly gained recognition in the indie rock scene. Named after a Canadian town, they released their debut album, "Friends," a year later, catching the attention of Dirty Hit, the label known for launching The 1975. As teenagers, they signed with the label, propelling their careers forward. Their 2022 album, "I Love to Lie," led to extensive touring, where they opened for acclaimed artists like Wet Leg and beabadoobee.
Lowertown's music, influenced by the diverse DIY scene of Atlanta, seamlessly blends folk, country, rock, and punk elements, defying easy categorization. Weinberg noted their hometown's "eccentric, eclectic" musical landscape, where early performances often featured mixed bills with rappers and screamo bands. This environment instilled in them the freedom to explore various genres without constraints. However, maintaining such a bold creative vision within larger label structures proved challenging. Weinberg explained that "within bigger label systems, it's a little bit more difficult if you're not going within a specific genre." Consequently, in 2023, the duo departed from Dirty Hit to safeguard their artistic integrity. Osby emphasized their preference for keeping things "small," asserting that the involvement of money and numerous external parties can dilute the purity of their creative process.
With "Ugly Duckling Union," Lowertown embraced a self-reliant approach. Weinberg took on the role of self-producer, and only he and Osby are credited, alongside their mixer. This collaborative effort underscores their profound connection. Osby articulated their deep bond, stating, "We've never found a place that we fully feel like is our home besides each other."
Lowertown aspires for their fans to experience a similar sense of belonging when engaging with "Ugly Duckling Union." The album, a concept work spanning 12 songs, tells the story of an outsider duckling named Dale who battles corporate forces to preserve his individuality and protect his community of independent thinkers. Osby described the album's essence as "a home for anyone who doesn't feel like they have one." To further enhance this immersive experience, Lowertown has developed an interactive Minecraft world, a handbook, plush dolls, and comics by Doctor Nowhere (digital artist Silas Orion).
As musicians who emerged from online spaces like Tumblr and YouTube during their teenage years, providing a safe and inclusive community for their fans remains a core mission for Lowertown. Their live shows have become gathering places where online connections blossom into real-life friendships. Osby remarked, "Our shows have become a place for people like that to find friends and to feel at home and to find community." Looking ahead, Lowertown is committed to nurturing this vibrant community through their live performances. They will conclude their U.S. tour in New York in late June, their home base for several years, before embarking on another European trek. This time, they are better prepared for the complexities of touring overseas as an indie act, as Weinberg humorously noted, "We're getting a tour manager this time. So no one can stop us."