Lotus Crush

Music connects everyone. It's the ultimate bridge, bringing people together regardless of background and experiences. In fact, a conversation about favorite artists actually served as the genesis for Lotus Crush.

In 2006, Scotland-born Terry McDermott was fronting Driveblind who just dropped their self-titled major label debut. Invited to support multiplatinum alternative rock luminaries Candlebox on tour, he forged an instant bond with Candlebox's six-stringer Peter Klett and drummer Scott Mercado, sharing a love for Pink Floyd, The Verve, and other British heavyweights.

After Driveblind disbanded, Terry settled in New Orleans. On a whim in 2010, he reached out to Peter about doing a project together. Peter called bandmate Scott. The musicians, now known as Lotus Crush, recorded their first effort, 2011's Half Light Morning. Unforgettable gigs at SXSW followed, and the group began to build a significant fan base of its own.

However, their "day jobs" called. As Peter and Scott returned to Candlebox, Terry got a call to join Season 3 of NBC's The Voice, eventually becoming a runner-up on the show. Still, Lotus Crush loomed in the back of their collective consciousness.

"We were on the cusp of something special," explains Terry. "It was a real evolution for me. We didn't have a label or any support the first time around, so it wasn't able to sustain itself. It just wasn't the right time back then."

The "right time" happened to be in 2014. CaviGold Records contacted the band about performing a special reunion one-off at the iconic Robert Lang Studios—the site of classic albums from Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and more. That same night the label offered Lotus Crush a deal.

"They believed in what we do," the singer affirms. "It validated all of the blood, sweat, and tears we put into this, and we got the chance to do things the right way."

The band holed up in Robert Lang Studios with producer Todd Burman and began crafting what would become their sophomore effort, Rabbit Hole. A marked evolution occurred this time around, as everything expanded sonically.

"We like a lot of layers and colors," says Peter. "The melodies are quality, and this band has something for everybody across the board. We can explore anything we want. We had a true vision of where we wanted to go for this record."

"We were working out who we were on the first album," adds Terry. "We had years to reflect on who what Lotus Crush is and can be in between. The passage of time brought another dynamic to this. It feels like a new band. It's like a rock 'n' roll record by an indie rock band."

The first single "Hearts and Minds" builds from a melodic clean guitar into an unshakable refrain punctuated by Terry's dynamic vocals. In between the hook, Pete lets out an impressive guitar lead.

"There's a new element of freedom here," exclaims the vocalist. "I wanted to write songs that encompass my view of the world we live in. It can be a fairly oppressive place, and it's a difficult landscape for a kid to grow up in or a man and woman to live in. We're pushed and pulled in all different directions by media, politics, and an ever bleaker-looking future. There's a perpetual conveyer belt of elements trying to get into our heads for attention. It's a battle for our hearts and minds. That's what the song is about."

Ultimately, Lotus Crush create the same kind of music that brought them together in the first place. "This has been a labor of love and art," Terry leaves off. "I hope it gives everyone an experience when they listen to it."

"I'd love people to feel what we did," concludes Pete. "If they experience that same emotion, that's the best thing we could ask for."

Lotus Crush's Rabbit Hole is schedule for release on April 14, 2015.