Luli and the Innocents
Hartford, Connecticut, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Sometimes bands don’t need to be playing together for years in order to create great music. Sometimes the stars align and the music Gods bring a group of talented musicians together in order to form a beautiful piece of art. That was the case with Luli and the Innocents. Forming in January 2012, the four individuals released their first studio album, Car Tunes, by July 2012, and won a local radio contest in their home state of Connecticut in April 2012.
Car Tunes is a five track album full of a variety of styles of music that will remind you of artists such as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Garbage, The Civil Wars, or Fiona Apple (just to name a few). Luli and the Innocents keep you guessing what will come next and will have you wanting more. Andrea “Drea” Strunk’s lead vocals are sultry and powerful. She has a way of forcing the listener to feel the words she’s conveying along with the music. Strunk and band members, Travis Salad, Nick Powell, and Brian Quagan are a musical powerhouse who will be continuously playing on your iPod from now on.
Car Tunes starts off with “Little Black Raincloud” which is dark, haunting, and full of heavy rock sounds like guitars full of distortion. Strunk sings of a relationship gone wrong and compares it to stormy weather throughout the entire song. You can hear the fear and pain in her voice as she sings about this “Little Black Raincloud.”
At first listen, you may think you’re hearing the stylings of the duo, The Civil Wars, when you hear “Love in a Fire.” This track has an Americana feel to it with brushes on the drums and an acoustic guitar. Midway through the song, a trumpet appears and then you may get the impression that this sounds like an updated version of a Johnny Cash style of music. Like Cash, you can hear the emotions not only through the vocals, but the music, as well. It seems as though the song is about love gone wrong (again) and it’s time to get out of the relationship. Strunk gets that point across by repeating the lyrics, “I can do much better than you,” over and over for the last two and a half minutes of the song.
On the last track, “Tell You Something,” Strunk channels her inner Alanis Morissette and Liz Phair with a song that will have the boys running for cover. She is clearly calling this guy out on his lies and she is tired of dealing with him. This is bound to be one of those great break up songs you will add to your angry playlist. It has some powerful guitar solos and you’ll be head banging along with the rock beat.
Luli and the Innocents have something great going and their career together has only just begun. This is a band all music lovers can appreciate because they showcase so many different sounds. You will definitely be writing on their Facebook wall asking when they’re releasing new music after listening to Car Tunes. Lead singer, Andrea “Drea” Strunk, took some time to answer questions for IMR about how the band got together and their long list of influences. - Indie Music Reviewer
We love promoting female-fronted bands whenever we get the chance. For pure pop-folk, check out Florida-based friends Andrea Strunk Trio, fronted by the aforementioned Strunk, a guitar-wielding pixie with a sweet voice to boot. Rounding out the trio are bassist Jonathan Isenhower and drummer Reid Arnstein, whose Orlando-via-Seattle sound will tour the country in December to promote their debut The Grey Bird EP. “Obsession” showcases Strunk’s breathy pipes and playful melodies, Isenhower’s control, and Arnstein’s folk-funk percussion style. - Elle Magazine
Discography
Car Tunes - Summer 2012
Folks - Summer 2013
Photos
Bio
Formed in early 2012 and based out of Hartford CT, Luli and the Innocents is a Rock/Americana/Indie band on the rise. The group is comprised of five members: Andrea "Drea" Strunk from Washington State and Travis Salad, Nick Powell, Brian Quagan and Chris Brown, all of whom come from Northern Connecticut.
Since the early 2000's each one of them had been playing music in various projects before settling into this killer lineup that spans across many genres. They have been compared to the likes of Grace Potter and the Noctournals, Fiona Apple, Rilo Kiley and Garbage.
In April of 2012, they came in first place in radio 104.1's Talent Warz competition which has gained them widespread attention. Shortly after, they released their first studio EP "Car Tunes on July 14th 2012. This quickly caught local radio stations attention such as New Haven's 99.1, Hartford's 104.1, and college stations around the country.
The band was also showcased for a RAW Hartford event in July 2012. Their performance was greatly received and they were nominated for RAW Hartfords musician of the year.
The band has had the great pleasure of opening for the national touring powerhouse Bronze Radio Return, well known for their latest record "Shake Shake Shake", as well sharing the bill with other big names such as Max Creek, The McLovins, The Alternate Routes, and Caravan of Thieves.
The band began the recording process in mid-Winter for their second record to be released in Spring/Summer 2013. The vision for the record was to continue to showcase Luli's signiture energetic and gritty rock n' roll, alongside some fun, danceable tunes as well as a few heartbreaking ballads.
It has already been described as " Reminiscent of the 70's while providing something new and refreshing."
The bands influences include Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Heart, The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, Grace Potter and the Noctournals, Nirvana, Jewel, The Black Keys, Led Zepplin, Mark Knopfler, Fleetwood Mac, and many many more.
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