On November 3rd, anticipate the release of “In The Black,” the latest album by The Lunar Laugh, courtesy of Big Stir Records. Already gracing our ears is the enchanting single “Born Weird.” The band’s musical prowess has been on display across three albums, and this one, the fourth, stands out as their finest effort yet.

However, their consistent excellence across their discography has always been a delightful feast for the ears. Don’t take their talent for granted; The Lunar Laugh deserves your undivided attention. Mark November 3rd on your calendar and set a reminder to have “new The Lunar Laugh on Repeat.”

In a recent exchange, Jared Lekites shed light on The Lunar Laugh’s exciting new journey and what lies ahead.

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Be sure to catch ‘Born Weird’ featured on the ‘The Best Power Pop of 2023‘ Spotify playlist.

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With this fresh collection of songs, how do you envision connecting with both your existing fan base and new listeners? Are there specific emotions or messages you hope they’ll resonate with?

I would hope our fan base isn’t the type to expect a certain type of sound from us. I do think that our fans expect a certain level of quality in our work that we take the time to build from the ground up. Overall, I would hope what comes across in the new songs is that we enjoyed making them. Our last studio album was in 2019, so we also wanted to make sure it was an album worth waiting that long to hear.

Within this collection, do you feel that the best song you’ve ever written finds its home? If not, what distinguishes this record’s essence from your prior work?

“Stranger Than Oz” is probably my favorite of the songs I wrote on this album. I would rank it among my personal best work. I also think “Born Weird” and “So So Long” might be the best co-writes I have had the pleasure of sharing.

Imagine you could collaborate with three co-writers of your choice for new songs. Who would you select, and what qualities or dynamics draw you to them?

If we are talking in the realm of famous and well-known, I’d love to work with Annie Clark, AKA St. Vincent, because I love how she structures, or rather de-structures her songs. Harry Styles because I truly dig his songs, and I would be happy to help in his fledgling career in the music business. I’d also like to work with Willow Smith, who has a lot of talent and I am super impressed by. I am trying to stick with writers that I feel have more of a youthful appeal. But I’d also be up for writing with Paul McCartney in the worst way.

Among the compliments you’ve received, is there one that remains etched in your memory? If so, what made it particularly unforgettable?

When we played a show in Burbank a while back, Stephen Kalinich happened to be in the crowd. I made it a point to go up to him and introduce myself after the show, and I, of course, told him how big a fan I am of his work, particularly with Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. I named “A Time To Live In Dreams” and “Little Bird” as two favorites. Without a blink, he was quick to tell me that he loved my song “Work In Progress.” That blew my mind. This guy is a genuine poet who has walked alongside giants in the business. I will never forget the grace he showed to me in that moment.

Lyrics often carry profound meaning. Are there particular lines you hope listeners will always remember from your songs? If so, what’s the significance?

There are a few on this album, but there is one line in “Born Weird” that says, “Influencers you follow will fall out of style and wind up as dust collectors on a shelf.” It was actually a line that I had written in one of my older legal pads from around the time I was writing the songs that wound up on the Mama’s Boy album. I like it when you go back to something you wrote a while ago, and it has seemingly more significance now than it did then. That happened again in the song “Picture Perfect.” Campbell and I wrote that before the pandemic and before my father and brother passed away. But the lyrics took on a completely different bend by the time we reached the end of making the album. It was a bit prophetic in an odd way.