Though it may appear to be quite the opposite, “Sister Wave” is meant to be a celebration of life.
“It’s a recognition of impermanence,” says its creator, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Adam Lytle. “When we accept our state of impermanence, we become open to wonder. The certainty of an end is what makes life beautiful.”
Even when accompanied only by a nylon-string guitar, Lytle’s haunted vocal delivery has an understated capacity for near-theatrical depth. It’s no wonder he’s drawn comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Scott Walker. “Sister Wave” was among the songs Lytle wrote during an extended winter stay in France this past year.
“During my time in Paris, I was living in Montmartre, a few steps away from the Sacré-Cœur,” he says. “My daily walks took me down the same cobblestone streets that gave birth to Impressionism and Surrealism. I was inspired to break free from the standard singer/songwriter instrumentation and begin incorporating new sounds beneath my lyrics.”
Available May 2, the self-released Altar is an often ferocious full-band affair—especially when measured against its more intimate and ornate 2023 predecessor, This Is The Fire. The new album was coproduced in New York City by Jonathan Schenke (Liars, Parquet Courts) and features notable contributions from guitarist Cameron Kapoor (Torres), drummer William Logan, bassist Kevin Copeland and others.
“I didn’t set out to make an album about spiritual exploration—I generally write based on what’s happening in the world around me,” says Lytle. “What I’ve seen over the past few years is a world where everyone is raising a flag. We have the rise of individualism, where each of us is urged to define ourselves in monolithic terms—as if we’re static beings and we lack the capacity for change. I found biblical symbolism and apocalyptic sounds to be a useful way of addressing some of these issues.”
We’re proud to premiere Adam Lytle’s “Sister Wave” video.
—Hobart Rowland
See Adam Lytle live.
