Trace of Lime
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | SELF
Music
Press
As the indie grunge quartet once sang, "Fuck your tradition!" In full Trace of Lime fashion, their latest bound-to-be-a-hit "Haunted House" kicks off the Friday weekly song releases for the rock & roll fantasy's fourth collection, Control. Including year-old killer "Creature of Habit" and the resurrection of 2019 creations "Business" and "Of Gods and Goddesses," the punk monsters continuously mesh numbing electric riffs with subtly obvious lyrics, masking life's hardships with head-banging rhythms. Sure to be a fright, "Haunted House" prepares us for seven weeks of spine-chilling deliveries. – Morgan-Taylor Thomas - The Austin Chronicle
Trace of Lime is a 4-piece rock band based in Austin, Texas. The band is a collection of the toughest guys on planet earth hailing from the vibrant music scene of Macomb, Michigan. The band relocated to Austin in 2017 and performs regularly at notorious Austin venues such as Cheer Up Charlies, Hotel Vegas and Mohawk. The band is known for high energy live performances and has become a reoccurring sight on lineups across the city.
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/47e5HzlFbzjEhSBEwpQ6eB?si=35K2CEu7SH2ABE8uSnoF2A&dl_branch=1
SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/traceoflime/haunted-house
EPK
The group continued to work in the recording studio when covid shut down the live performing world. They put their focus into making a record that bleeds energy, hates haircuts, and has a deep passion for chaos. A record so dirty that its arch nemesis is soap.
The band is overwhelmed with excitement to release their 4th studio record, Control.
Heavily influenced by ‘Cartoon Cartoon Friday’s’ on Cartoon Network, the band has chosen to release this record like a television season with one new song coming out every Friday.
The series of releases will begin on Friday, July 30th with their first new song, “Haunted House”, and will continue every following Friday. Follow the group on social media for more! - Rock N Load Magazine
The weather’s finally getting nicer out. Can I offer you a Trace of Lime in that drink while you go lounge on the patio? With it starting to feel more like summer, Austin, Texas’ Trace of Lime have dropped their brand new tune “Creature of Habit,” a song fit for the changing of the seasons, with its fun, bouncy rhythm and positive-sounding vibes. This is the first single to come from Trace of Lime this summer, following up their two single releases last year not to mention 2018’s full-length release, The Unforgettable Tales of an Insignificant Life.
The indie-rock influenced “Creature of Habit” centers on a person who’s caught up in their ways and incapable of accepting the reality that things are rapidly changing around them. It’s a fact that touches us all at one time or another, either in our own reluctance to make a change or seeing someone else go through the same process.
Commenting on the way in which he views the song, lead singer Jordan Karam said, “The song reflects on my own struggle to accept an end and serves as a reminder that nothing can be done to stop it from coming. I find a lot of inspiration from progressive ideas and admire the people that push the boundaries of what is regular. I’m a big fan of an underdog and their come-up in the scene. The words slipped out somewhere between 2 am and 6 am and were written onto the wall of a hot shower.”
It’s a funny but true fact that Trace of Lime originally took their name off of a bag of chips. While their musical style has evolved slightly from indie rock to pop-punk through their near ten years together, one thing has remained true; they are dedicated to using exciting and dynamic instrumentation. The band members refuse to allow themselves get pulled into the modern indie rock closet where they are going to get lost among all the competition. This may have something to do with Trace of Lime’s frequent relocations, which has seen them start in the suburbs of Macomb, Michigan in 2011 to now calling Austin, Texas home for three years now.
To get our hit of Trace of Lime, we spoke with lead singer Jordan Karam a little more about the release of “Creature of Habit,” other new material, and their regular moves around the country.
The meaning behind your new single “Creature of Habit” is fairly self-explanatory but, if you will, please indulge us in how you came up with the lyrical ideas and thematic structure of the song.
Jordan Karam: “Human behaviour is such an interesting thing to me. How we cling to what we know, and fear what we don’t. The lyrics make change sound very rude if it had a behavior. I don’t think that’s really how change is, but it’s easy to think that way about the unknown. The arrangement of the song came first, the lyrics were sprinkled over top.”
Artwork for “Creature of Habit” by Trace of Lime
“Creature of Habit” sounds like just about the perfect song to be released upon Memorial Day Weekend. It’s got a very summery sound, with sunny vibes all around. Tell us more about the situation in which you wrote the song and your mental state of mind. My guess is that you were feeling happy that day…
“Most ‘Trace of Lime’ lyrics were written in the middle of the night. I’m usually still lost in thought about something while the sun is coming up. I wrote some of the lyrics on the wall of a shower because a marker was the closest thing to me when the thought popped in. I struggle with the idea of change, but I love the idea of progress. This song is a reminder to myself that change is inevitable, for better or worse, and to enjoy the ride while you’re on it.”
How recently was “Creature of Habit” written? Did you all have to track your own parts and then send them around to each other’s houses to piece the song together that way?
“‘Creature of Habit’ has been an idea for quite a while actually. The song was written last summer and recorded in July in the same session as our previous two singles. The song’s main guitar riff and chord progression have been ideas without a home for years actually. We completed the music video right before the Corona shutdown and that is set to release on June 12th.”
Now, I understand you guys have been working on new material aside from “Creature of Habit.” Is this song going to serve as one of the singles on an upcoming record?
“We have plans for a new record but we aren’t going to be able to get into the studio until the quarantine is lifted. We’re using this time to work on new songs for the record and a new live set. If you listen to our last three singles compared to the rest of our music, the new stuff is a lot more aggressive. We’re trying to focus on making things more direct. ‘Creature of Habit,’ along with ‘Business’ and ‘Of Gods and Goddesses,’ represents what we’re going for with the new record.”
You originally come from Michigan, but Trace of Lime has relocated a few times, most recently to Austin, Texas. Why did you select Austin and what’s the band’s thinking behind your frequent relocations?
“Japan was an option, but it got outvoted by the group. We all grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and had been living in a band house in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the past three years. We were looking for a new adventure. Austin was attractive to us because of the live music scene. So we packed a van and drove across the country. There really is nothing like Austin’s live music scene. There are so many great acts here and always something to see to inspire you to be a better musician. That was three years ago and we have stayed in Austin since.” - V13 MEDIA
We are excited to premiere the fun and colorful video from Trace Of Lime called “Creature Of Habit” today at P&W. The Austin based indie-rock band, known for their catchy licks, memorable lyrics and hi-octane live shows; bring us a zany video for their newest single that is rife with dazzling colors, comedy and a ska-esque hook that makes us want to dance. Directed by Dusana Risovic and Jordan Karam, the video shows the band (except Jordan) in different colored Zentai suits whirling around while changing the atmosphere and providing Jordan with drinks and smokes. Not often we get a whacky and well thought out video that perfectly meshes with the original song and that makes this one of the year’s best tracks.
We really look forward to a full album out later this year and will be following along closely to this rising band. Until then check out their 16 track masterpiece, The Unforgettable Tales of an Insignificant Life’ that was released in 2018, over at Spotify.
Image: Dusana Risovic
“The Creature of Habit cannot accept the nature of existence: all that lives, must die. This natural enemy of progress let’s his comforts define him; raging against the change as his fragile world inevitably collapses beneath his feet. In a world changing too quickly to find solace, you better get with it or get out of the way.” – Jordan Karam
Follow Trace Of Lime on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify - Pancakes & Whiskey
Do you remember when The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt were on the radio? When music videos were full of bright colors, weird angles, and sometimes flannel? Trace of Lime has achieved a nostalgia usually only brought on by watching a 90s hits playlist on Youtube. From the first second the video "Creature of Habit" started till the last, I was drawn in to both old memories and admiration for the new music this amazing city is harboring. It's bands and music like this that made me want to start writing about them, and Trace of Like has only anchored the hope I've held for what Austin bands can bring us all.
These guys are fun, energetic, creative in every video from "Business" with a unique twist on the fable of "The Three Little Pigs" to the out right blatancy of color in "Creature of Habit". There's always an obvious yet fun statement being made with every video they seem to do. "Creature of Habit" is "about dealing with things inevitably changing around you" the band says. A topic all too familiar today with Austinites dealing with Covid and our evolving city.
The video was written and directed by Jordan Karam, Trace of Limes lead Vocalist, who you see submerged in a solid world changing around him in the video. Dusana Risovic directed the video after hashing out the details with the band. "We wanted something visual to move the story, and chose red and blue because of their dynamic differences." In my personal opinion, this was an absolutely brilliant way to convey the message and keep up the pattern of fun play the band seems so good at doing.
Currently Trace of Lime are not playing any live shows, which has me screaming louder into the Universe to "PLEASE GIVE US LIVE SHOWS BACK!!!!!" It is an absolute travesty that a band so good as these guys, has to be quarantined away, fearfully until 2021. They are however, planning to finish work on their current album and have already started planning out the next fun video for us all to enjoy. Until then, check out "Creature of Habit" on YouTube, follow the guys on the social places @traceoflime, and keep your fingers crossed that we all get to see these guys play live again soon. - The Deli
Discography
July 2021
Control
recorded at The Orb studios & The White Room in Austin TX
Dec 2018
The Unforgettable Tales of an Insignificant Life
recorded at Fifth Street Studios in Austin, TX
May 2017
Lost in the Zoo
recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, MI
March 2014
I know it's nothing, but I'm happy it's something
recorded at Sidewinder Studios in Romeo, MI
Photos
Bio
Trace of Lime is a filthy, wild, high energy rock band that guarantees a good time. Known for their explosive live shows, catchy hooks, and dangerously good looks, they've made a name for themselves on the planets such as earth.
The group formed in the suburbs of Detroit around 2011. They were still in high school, but it didn't stop them from playing at any bar that believed their lie about being 21 years old. Practice took place in their parent's garage until the accumulation of noise complaint citations became overwhelming. They started booking several times a week and made the stage their practice space. Written in high school and dressed from head to toe in dynamic psychedelic rock symphonies, the band debuted I know it's nothing, but I'm happy it's something in 2014.
Out of high school, the gang moved to a house together in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Some world renowned rock shows took place in its 100 year old, Dr. Suess-esk basement. They loved the house and the house loved them back. A painting of it was used for the cover of their second studio release, Lost in the Zoo.
The boys bought an old wheelchair van, painted it to look like an ambulance, and toured the country for the first time on the I Need Help tour.
After the release of #2 and the end of their lease, the group loaded up the van and moved to a new house together in Austin , Texas. They took any opportunity they could to play and quickly became a regular on line ups across the city. Immediately upon arriving, they started working on the next record. Everyday, songwriter Jordan Karam, went out to find inspiration, write lyrics and music, make the song, record a demo, and then go to bed. A new song every day for a few months. Listening to only classical music (besides live local bands), the record was inspired by composition and harmony. A year later, they released their whopping 16 song LP The Unforgettable Tales of an Insignificant Life.
The team really started investing its time into making music videos. Everything from writing the script and designing the wardrobe, to filming and editing the final cut. They started releasing new songs as singles and accompanied them with music videos. Covid took away the live performing world but the group took advantage of the space to make some full scale music videos in their home during that time.
In 2021, they released their 4th studio record, Control. 10 songs recorded live by the band. The idea was to try and capture the high energy and chaos of their live performance. In order to keep it raw sounding, the band limited themselves to only a few takes in the studio. That meant that the songs had to be well rehearsed before they got there. Inspired by Cartoon Network, the band released one new song off the record every Friday for 3 months.
Over the last year, Trace of Lime has added a new member and has been hard at work adjusting itself. New live performance, new material, new videos. new ideas. They are very excited to kick off the next phase of the band fresh 2023.
Band Members
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