PARLOUR TRICKS

BMW 3 Series Diesel commercial
Featuring "Belle Gunness" by Lily & The Parlour Tricks - BMW USA

BMW is introducing a 3 Series that will run on Diesel fuel. When I think of Diesel, I think of power. That's mainly because I think of huge trucks driving down the highway. But a BMW evokes imagery of style and beauty. So what can you use to evoke both power and beauty?

Lily and the Parlour Tricks, that's what.

BMW did exactly that in the commercial for their 3 Series Diesel. Lily Claire's voice is the embodiment of everything they are looking for: strong and powerful yet beautiful all at the same time. You don't need to sacrifice one to get more of the other in both cases. And the song that accompanies the ad, “Belle Gunness,” is the perfect display of these qualities. There's an ominous feel to the rhythmic drumming and methodic bass, then Claire chimes in with those pipes. If that song doesn't sell some cars, I don't know what will. - Charged.fm

New York City indie-pop group PARLOUR TRICKS is gearing up to dominate the music marathon that is known as CMJ Week with their eclectic and infectious tunes. In celebration of their two upcoming shows at CMJ week, the group has released a minimalistic yet vibrant and fun DIY video for their latest single “Lovesong.” In regards to the video, lead singer Lily states, “We didn't know a lot going into it. All we knew was that we wanted to be naked, body-painted, and singing. So that's what we did.” - EARMILK

The lovely three-part harmonies of Lily and the Parlour Tricks are so big and bold and powerful they could knock down buildings. Thankfully the sextet has decided to instead use its powers for good, and on songs like the slinky, sexy "Lovesongs" and swagtastic "Requiem" you'll find them in spades: punchy, infectious, danceable rhythms, clean guitar, dirty synth, and heavenly voices. The sound is a little bit '50s-era swing mixed in with '90s alt-nostalgia, but it manages to remain thoroughly modern. (Spotify describes it as "vintage pop for the future.") The group performs all over town; make sure you catch 'em - Village Voice

New York pop band Lily & the Parlour Tricks is working on a new recording project for release later this year, but in the meantime the group has made a video for their song “Requiem” that premieres today on Speakeasy.

The clip shows the musicians moving tentatively through a series of dance steps, as if they were just learning them. That’s pretty much exactly how it went, frontwoman Lily Claire says by e-mail. Band members Brian Kesley and Angelo Spagnolo came up with the first few steps during downtime before a gig—“Because what else do you do when you’re bored?” Claire asks—and the rest of the group seized on the concept for the video.

“We spent February recording in Nashville, and every day before we went to the studio we’d wake up early and film a little in different locations around the city,” says Claire, who cites the Andrews Sisters and Nine Inch Nails as influences on the band’s robust music. “Although our original idea had been simply a ‘Band Doing a Dance,’ it became evident that it was much more about a band learning a dance. Learning to dance, even.”

After the band finished shooting, they sent the footage to Cody Duma, a friend at Afloat Design Group, who added in oddball scenery that Claire refers to as “buried treasure.”

“Every few frames a little something peculiar might catch your eye and make you want to go back, wondering whether you actually saw it or it was just your imagination,” she says. “It’s a fever dream-reality show of a music video.”

The group released “Requiem” as a single in February. Another single, “Belle Gunness,” accompanied a BMW ad last year. What do you think of the video for “Requiem?” Leave your thoughts in the comments. - Wall Street Journal Speakeasy