On their debut single “Two Shoes,” Sydney four-piece Locked In Lummo introduce themselves with a bang. From its ethereal synth and guitar tones, to the seismic falsetto of singer Hayden Smith, Two Shoes pitches uplifting, catchy hooks against deeply introspective lyrics – swelling into a beautiful crescendo where every element soars together in perfect synchrony.
Finding the right balance between performance and production, Locked In Lummo entered Linear Recording with Birds Of Tokyo bassist Ian Berney, and left with something spectacular – a 4+ minute vignette of indie-rock perfection, transcendent of the genre’s creative limitations. Outside this bubble, Two Shoes hits a deep pocket that illuminates the band’s strengths and potential.
Citing raw emotion as their fifth member, the band have poured their soul into Two Shoes – creating a song that reveals considerable insight into its creators. “It’s about getting to 23 and not being where I thought I’d be in life,” explains Hayden Smith, “watching my friends get ‘real jobs’, and being sick of doing the same thing every day.”
“The lyrics in the song are personal and raw, and I chose to write about ordinary parts of my every day that I think most people also experience,” he says. “It’s the first song I’ve been proud of writing because it’s honest and authentic to what message I was trying to convey. Ultimately it’s about feeling spread too thin, and how that takes its toll on the things you are trying to achieve.”
This level of self-awareness and willingness to go deep is part of what makes Locked In Lummo a powerful act. Each member of the lineup has played in previous bands, garnering experience that would eventually lend itself to something new. Aside from Smith’s impressive vocal presence, the band flaunts serious musicianship courtesy of guitarist Jake Bragutsa, and rhythm section brothers, drummer Stuart Macpherson and bassist Robbie Macpherson.
Coming together in 2019, the personnel took their previous five years of writing and performing in various acts and concentrated it in a form that has elevated them all. Two Shoes shows just how electrifying they are as a collaborative unit. Teaming up with stage and studio veteran Berney was the final piece in unlocking and enriching the band’s unique sound. Fully charged and inspired by the results, Locked In Lummo are now looking forward to an exciting, limitless year ahead.