Lord Huron

Lord Huron is an American indie rock band that originated in Los Angeles, California. The project was initially a solo endeavor by its founder, Ben Schneider. Schneider, who was born and raised in Michigan, drew inspiration from his time spent around Lake Huron, which is where the band's name comes from. In 2010, after relocating to Los Angeles, he began writing and recording EPs on his own, including "Into the Sun" and "Mighty". As demand for live performances grew, Schneider recruited his childhood friends Mark Barry (drums, percussion), Miguel Briseño (bass, keyboard, theremin), and Tom Renaud (guitar) to form a full band. The members had played music together since they were young.

Musical Style and Themes

Lord Huron's music is often characterized by its cinematic quality, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and evocative imagery. Their sound is a blend of indie folk, indie rock, country, western, and surf rock, with influences from new age music and film soundtracks. The band is known for its narrative-driven songwriting, often creating fictional worlds and characters within their albums. Themes of travel, adventure, love, loss, and the supernatural are central to their lyrics. Their work has been compared to artists like The Band, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, and Fleet Foxes.

Discography

Lonesome Dreams (2012)

The band released their debut full-length album, "Lonesome Dreams," on October 9, 2012. The album was conceived as a series of adventure tales, influenced by pulp fiction. To accompany the album, the band created a series of music videos with a 1970s Western aesthetic. The album debuted at number 5 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.

Strange Trails (2015)

Their second album, "Strange Trails," was released on April 7, 2015. This album continued the band's narrative-focused approach, with songs that tell interconnected stories. It features one of their most well-known songs, "The Night We Met," which gained significant popularity after being featured in the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" and was certified platinum. The album received positive reviews from critics.

Vide Noir (2018)

Lord Huron's third album, "Vide Noir," was released on April 20, 2018, and marked their major-label debut with Republic Records. The title is French for "Black Void," and the album's themes were inspired by frontman Ben Schneider's nocturnal wanderings in Los Angeles. The album has a darker, more garage rock-influenced sound compared to their previous work and was mixed by Dave Fridmann, known for his work with The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala. It became their highest-charting album, reaching number nine on the Billboard 200.

Long Lost (2021)

The band's fourth studio album, "Long Lost," was released on May 21, 2021. The album was praised for its poetic lyrics and somber, refined production. It features a duet with singer Allison Ponthier on the track "I Lied." "Long Lost" continues the band's tradition of creating a rich, atmospheric world, this time centered around a fictional recording studio called Whispering Pines.