Chattanooga-based indie rock quartet Lenox Hills have released two new electric singles, “Girls ‘Round Here” and “I Feel It Coming On.”
The band, which is composed of brothers Luke Mullin, (vocals, guitar) Packy Mullin (guitar), Kyle Swenson (drums), and Kameron Dunn (bass), started writing these new tracks back in 2019, and have been meticulously refining and tweaking ever since. Working with producer Logan Matheny, who has worked with artists including Jack White, Judah & The Lion, Colony House, and Brittany Howard to name a few, the group has concocted two powerhouse singles that are sure to turn heads.
“Girls ‘Round Here” tells a story of unrequited love and the struggles of romance. Behind the song’s melancholic lyrics, however, are bursts of youthful energy and endearing excitement. Luke’s powerful vocals cut and soar through the mix, while Packy’s lively and overdriven guitar injects the track with a jolt of electric intensity. Meanwhile, Dunn’s rich, Arctic Monkeys-esque bass lines and Swenson’s tight, driving drum grooves give the tune an irresistible urgency.
“I Feel It Coming On” is a lyrically rich and instrumentally dynamic track that is dripping with indie-rock goodness. This love song features loud, twangy guitars, passionate vocals, heavy drums, and punchy bass lines, which all come together cohesively. Moreover, the track’s ear-worm chorus is so infectiously catchy that it will likely take up permanent residency in your head.
We got a chance to talk with the band about their new singles, their creative process, and much more.
So what’s the backstory behind Lenox Hills? How did you guys meet and start making music?
We actually got our name from the neighborhood the four of us grew up in together in Cleveland, TN. Packy and I, being brothers, lived in the same house, Kyle was right next door, and Kameron lived up the hill. We’ve known each other since we were 2 years old and have been starting bands together since I can remember. Although I will say it wasn’t until we started this project after graduating high school that we actually figured it was time to finally learn how to play our instruments!
I was hoping you could talk about the inspiration and influence behind your two new singles, “Girls ‘Round Here” and “I Feel It Coming On.”
“Girls ‘Round Here” was loosely based on a relationship I had in the past that was always on shaky ground. It was kind of one of those things where if either one of us were to address the issues, the whole thing would’ve blown up in our faces, so we just didn’t address anything and were stuck in a sort of relationship limbo. Basically the whole song is describing the feeling of being trapped until you decide whether you’d like to know the truth or live blissfully in ignorance.
“I Feel It Coming On” on the other hand is much more lighthearted. I took a lot of inspiration from Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty on this song and wrote about meeting someone and running away with them after that very night. It was more just a fun story for me to write about than it was based on any personal experience, but was the kind of coming of age storyline that always intrigued me in songwriting from the 70’s and 80’s.
With singles like these and really any song, how does the songwriting process work within the band?
Typically I’ll kind of start the process by working out the idea of the song into something tangible enough to present to the guys. Once I bring it to them, it’s a pretty even effort from there in regards to getting the idea to a point where it can become a complete song. This includes formulating the arrangement, figuring where each part fits in the song, and lastly the lyrics. However, I will say that most of the important lyrics come very early in the songwriting process for us.
Are these standalone singles or can fans expect to see them on an EP or full length album in the near future?
These singles are the first singles off our upcoming EP, Golden Town, which will be coming out in the next couple of months. It’s looking like there will even be another single before then so stay tuned!
What’s one of the best/worst/most memorable band stories you’ve got?
Too many to count honestly! But I’d have to say one that sticks as the most memorable was the first show we ever played.
We were all underage and piss drunk and played probably the worst 5-song set of all time at some dive bar. When they found out we were all underage they kicked us out and banned us from playing there ever again. Looking back now it’s hilarious, but back then it was the end of the world since that was the only venue that would book us at the time. And I don’t blame them for doing so, I am just glad we learned our lesson and can look back on it and laugh at our stupidity!
Who’s the worst driver in the band?
That really depends on who you ask! If you ask me, I’d say Kyle because he always rides right up on people’s bumper, but he’d probably say me because I drive fast and am terrible with directions. It’s definitely between us two given Packy and Kameron both drive like grandpas.
Who’s the loudest, whether it be just in conversation or on stage?
That would probably be me. To be fair, we all four have pretty reserved personalities, but I’ve kind of grown into being more extroverted and outgoing over the years. Kyle can be pretty loud and outgoing too.
Who can’t be trusted when it comes to indulging in the excesses? Or are you all good law-abiding Christian gentlemen?
To be honest, we’re all quite laid back nowadays. We still like to have a good time and all every once in a while, but we’re definitely more focused on getting better as a band and trying to grow into the best version of ourselves we possibly can. Because of that, indulging in the excesses really isn’t of much interest to us anymore.
What does success as a band look like to you?
I think for us, success would be making a living doing what we love. We don’t really care about becoming rich or famous or anything like that, but it would be nice to be able to play music to support ourselves and our future families financially. I believe that would be a happy life in any of our books.
Do you guys have any gigs or tours lined up to close out the year/to start 2022?
As of right now we have a big New Years Eve bash planned with our good buddies Carver Commodore in our hometown of Chattanooga, TN at Songbirds. As for the rest of 2022, it’s pretty wide open for us at the moment but we are looking to play any chance we get!
