Myriam Adams - LA - Track Review
Harry Mcilroy
Myriam Adams
"LA"
Hailing from Birmingham, Myriam Adams are a self-dubbed “post-emo pop” band. Forming in 2019 as college best friends, the band is part of the UK’s burgeoning live-oriented indie-rock scene, and have been slowly building a following through high-octane live performances ever since. This mode of being for these bands became impossible after the pandemic hit, which is a problem addressed in the wonderful and affecting mini-documentary “year two” (linked below) which the band released earlier this year. It addresses the myriad of problems touring bands have had with covid, as well as the general strain on mental health the lockdown has caused. During this time away from live shows Myriams Adams have honed their songwriting skills, which is evident on their new track, LA.
From the very first second, you can tell that this is going to be a crowd pleaser. Wasting no time with an extended intro, the band bursts into an emotive, driving melody that practically begs you to get off your feet and join the mosh pit. Harking back to bands like Two Door Cinema Club and The 1975, frontman Jacques Hete’s emotive, anthemic vocal lines meld fantastically with its positively exhilarating hook. Super tight and packed with enough detail to retain a high replay value, you can tell by the first listen that this is a band that hones their sound through live performance. When the track stops for a second and all that's audible is a dejected “oh forget it”, it’s obvious this is a band that knows how to have a good time and not take themselves too seriously. If I were to nitpick, my only gripe with the track musically would be that occasionally during the hook it’s lead vocals are mixed a little loud, somewhat drowning out the instrumentation and backing vocals I find so enjoyable.
Throughout the song we're hit with lyrical motifs of running away, waiting, wanting to smile, all themes that fit perfectly with how we’re all feeling during these tumultuous times. I really appreciate that Myriam Adams can write a track that could be understood in so many ways. For example, I interpret the titular line “I want to run away with LA'' as a possible double entendre. It could more generally refer to the fantasy of running away with a loved one, or the very relevant covid-fuelled hunger to “run away” to a far away place (in this instance being Los Angeles), leaving behind the pain and isolation the pandemic has brought on all of us. Overall LA is a great and addictive track, really showcasing the band's talent for structure and melody. I am very much looking forward to whatever comes next.
“year two” documentary
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