US emo mathcore quintet Kaonashi have announced their long-awaited, highly-anticipated debut LP.
Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year will be released 21st May via Equal Vision Records/Unbeaten Records (USA) and Rude Records (Europe).
Pre-order: https://kaonashi.lnk.to/evening
The album serves as a follow-up to Kaonashi’s 2018 concept EP, Why Did You Do It?, continuing the story of their character Jamie and the people they interact with through Lemon House High. The first glimpse of the album comes with the chaotically impassioned single ‘An Evening of Moving Pictures With Scooter Corkle’, out now.
Stream: https://kaonashi.lnk.to/evening
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywqXXtKB9tg
The video for the song, directed by Jesse Korman (The Number Twelve Looks Like You), introduces Jamie, alongside the characters Morgan and Casey, and shows how their personalities intertwine.
On the single, vocalist Peter Rono commented: “When it came time to pick a single, I wanted to choose something that fully explained us as a band. It’s a song about love and the doubt that comes with it. We wrote this song together and I think it really shows, it’s also my first time really singing outside of a chorus. This will be a lot of people’s first impression of Kaonashi and I couldn’t be more proud of it.”
Philadelphia’s Kaonashi want to create change. The quintet — Peter Rono (vocals), Ryan Paolilli (drums), August Axcelson (bass/vocals), Alex Hallquist (guitar/vocals), and Roger Alvarez (guitar) — aspire to generate compassion, understanding, and empathy through art. They understand that music is and has always been a force for bringing people together. They’ve made it their mission to leverage the platform that music provides to change the world around them for the better.
Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year continues the story-building efforts of Kaonashi’s 2018 EP, Why Did You Do It?, by expanding on the character of Jamie, the androgynous protagonist of the group’s catalogue. As the teen enters their final year of high school, Jamie feels the pressure to succeed and make something of their life. The record follows Jamie through their first day of school, romantic relationship with Casey, and the turmoils that come with being an American teenager.
“We want this record to make people anxious,” says Rono. “We want them to feel a sense of urgency. If they catch themselves thinking that they could do something to change the story of the album, then maybe — just maybe — they will take steps to make a difference in the world around them.”
The heavy storyline on the album is accompanied by an expansive sound, jumping off the band’s self-coined genre of “emo mathcore.” While those math rock driven moments and cathartic lyrics are still prominent, the band adds in elements of post-hardcore, progressive rock, and even an acoustic ballad, making for a diverse listen. The writing process was a collaborative experience as the group locked themselves away in a cabin in Maine for two weeks, later returning back to the state to record with producer Evan Sammons. Among the band’s groove-heavy chaos found throughout Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year, there is a clear, resounding message that Kaonashi hopes their audience will take to heart: it’s all about listening.
More from Kaonashi:
Tracklisting:
1. T.A.Y.L.O.R.
2. Fuck Temple University
3. An Evening of Moving Pictures With Scooter Corkle
4. Market Street (Chardonnay, Diamonds, & Me)
5. Broad Street (Take Me Home)
6. The Counselor’s Office: A Present Example Of Past Procrastinations
7. Run Away Jay
8. A Recipe for a Meaningful Life
9. The Underdog I: Blue Pop
10. The Underdog II: Fight On The 40 Yard Line, What’s That In Kilometers?
11. The Underdog III: Exit Pt. IV (A Self Fulfilling Prophecy)