The members of LVVRS would never call themselves iconic. For one thing, they’re far too young for that. But their casual confidence makes it clear that they possess what it takes to be so. They understand the power that iconic status confers, and they're ready to chase the glory. "Iconic," their aptly-titled new single, sounds big and sleek, catchy, punchy, and immediate; it's a sonic expression of extreme self-confidence.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
River Gibson (Vocals, Guitar)
Brenon Wilson (Drums)
Austin Dore (Guitar)
Robbie Buisson (Bass)
What bands were you guys a part of prior to LVVRS? How long has the band been around?
I fronted a regionally successful rock band called Tandem from 2012-2014 and appeared on American Idol in 2015. After that, I performed live as a solo act for a brief time. Brenon played drums for me in this group. Austin formed Myka, Relocate in 2007 and played guitar for that internationally touring metalcore band. Robbie played in several touring rock groups, most notably The Colour You. I started LVVRS on Valentine’s Day 2018 with Brenon, and the other two joined the band officially in the winter of 2019.
What’s the origin of that name?
I wanted a band name that would be really simple to say and to remember, but still be a little edgy and unconventional in its approach to stand out. I wanted to call it something like “lovers” because I’d been writing a lot of love songs at the time. It just fit so well with what I was doing. And I took inspiration from artists like Anderson .Paak, PVRIS and the Weeknd. All simple names to say, but the way their name looks when it’s written out isn’t at all what you’d expect.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
I’m always keeping voice memos and notes on my phone. Generally, I’ll go into the studio with melodies, lyrics and an instrumental skeleton of a song. Then Austin and I will work together on filling everything out, making appropriate changes, totally fleshing out the track. He’s a very good producer and instrumentalist, and we’ve built and maintained a fantastic working relationship.
It’s really fun making this music. It’s exactly what I want to be doing. A lot of the lyrical content is rooted in my own life experiences. I do think the writing tends to relay feelings or fragments of emotion as opposed to storytelling. But they’re honest pop songs. There’s no hidden or political agenda behind them. The whole beauty of the band is that there’s no definitive formula or blueprint that we have to follow. There are no rules for what this band can sound like and evolve into.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I love that Dua Lipa is doing this disco revival right now with her new record. The Weeknd, too. He dove deep into 80’s synth sounds on his new album. Music is cyclical. I’m also loving the new Harry Styles record and Maggie Rogers’ last album. And I’m on a bit of an Eagles kick.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” inspired me to start playing when I was younger. I listened to their album American Idiot hundreds of times. I think it’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for them, I may not have set out on this path to begin with.
What do you do to prepare for a show?
We have rehearsals, of course. We’ll eat and get coffee on the way to the venue. Then we arrive at load-in on time, because we’re OCD. Usually, the headliners are running late or behind schedule, so we plan to scope out the area a little bit until we finally get our soundcheck – which always happens right before doors open. By the time we’re done with that, stress is running high and we have to race to cool down, change and freshen up. But that’s show business, baby.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We were honored to be nominated for a few awards in 2019 at Offbeat Magazine’s Best of the Beat Awards in New Orleans. We also opened up for The Struts in New Orleans around the same time. That was really cool. They’re the most “high-profile” act we’ve supported. Out of all our music releases so far, “Iconic” is the song that we’re proudest of. The response to this one has been immensely gratifying.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
The Weeknd ‘cause I love the dark vibe and the energy there, The 1975 because they have a truly wild fanbase, and Shawn Mendes because why not. Past bands we would’ve probably fit really well on a bill with are The Eagles, David Bowie, The Police, Genesis, Madonna, just to name a few.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think we’re living in a tremendous time for new artists and songwriters. People are looking for a sense of escape right now, more than ever before. And songs are extraordinarily powerful tools. People listen to music to feel something. We as songwriters have the power to make someone’s day a little brighter in two-and-a-half minutes. It’s a beautiful thing, and we don’t take that for granted.
We hope you enjoy the music. And we’ll see you down the road.
Website/Socials:
www.facebook.com/lvvrs
www.twitter.com/lvvrsband
www.instagram.com/lvvrsband