Son Lux shares new track ‘You Don’t Know Me’

Experimental pop composer Ryan Lott’s Son Lux has shared ‘You Don’t Know Me’, the second track to be taken from his forthcoming LP ‘Bones’.

Having spent last year collaborating with the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Lorde, Ryan Lott’s return to his Son Lux moniker has seen expansion for the first time, with him adding drummer Ian Chang and guitarist Rafiq Bhatia for the follow-up to 2013’s ‘Lanterns’.

Speaking to Consequence of Sound, Rafiq Bhatia explained that ‘You Don’t Know Me’ finds its roots in the midst of ongoing civil rights struggles around the world: “’You Don’t Know Me’ calls out the appropriators of dogma. It’s an open letter to anyone who misuses political and religious philosophies to subjugate and oppress their sisters and brothers.

“This track is also a great illustration of the ephemeral collaborative process that birthed this LP. Ryan had bronchitis when he recorded the vocals, which were originally meant to be a placeholder take, but we had to keep them because their rawness serves the song. The drums uncannily mimic Ian’s playing, but were programmed by Ryan. The bassline that anchors the outro came from a single take of me improvising on octave-dropped guitar. We had Moses Sumney stack a million layers of vocals mimicking a part created on a Japanese flute synth patch. Hanna Benn arranged and sang the outro choir parts after a phone call touching on Bach chorales and Mariah Carey. And, once we heard the new D’Angelo record, we realized that the track wouldn’t be complete without electric bass from Jack Hill.”

With these themes in mind ‘You Don’t Know Me’ is jarring, unsettled and conflicted. Lott’s bronchitis ridden vocals seem to gasp for air as they struggle against the backdrop of clashing guitar rhythms and battling percussion.

‘Bones’ is out 22nd June via Glassnote Records alongside a massive North American tour, before Son Lux heads to the UK for London’s Visions Festival on 8th August.

Listen to ‘You Don’t Know Me’ below.