Lungs and Limbs

They had me at the opening thumping beat under a light twinkling and first few lines from vocalist Karina Rousseau on EP opener “So Sweet”. There is a revamped late 80s early 90s alt rock power. Not a facsimile but like when you read a book as does your mate and you have opposing theories on chapter 12. It is great to meet in the middle and let the properties work themselves out. As does San Francisco’s DIY Lungs And Limbs on their ultra-plush pop-rock Lifelike, a self–release. Plush is too soft perhaps due to the guitar work working enough retro know how ranging from Genesis, Yes and pick a track from your fave Talking Heads’ album. There is genius in this as with the electro side bringing or taking the participant back to the days when you knew you loved a film because of the soundtrack. This isn’t a weird album; it is inviting and comfortable with plenty enchantment in and out of strong lyrics telling familiar tales. You will dig this; go get lost in it for a spell. - Global Texan Chronicles

Lungs and Limbs is a four piece band making upbeat synth pop that makes you want to move. The band has been spending most of its time making music and playing gigs around Oakland and San Francisco. Front woman Karina Rousseau definitely belongs on the festival circuit with her soaring vocals, not to mention her backing band’s way of creating the perfect musical landscape for it to explore. They have a tight, clean sound that is refreshing to hear in a sea of lo-fi garage rock that seems to sometimes dominate the local music scene in SF. Their debut EP, Lifelike, doesn't come out until November 13th, but we have the exclusive first listen below. We chatted with Karina to find out more about the band and her life as a musician in the Bay Area.


Check out the exclusive premiere of their brand new Lifelike EP, plus enter to win tickets to their release show on November 12th with EagleWolfSnake, Jet Trash, and Vinyl Spectrum at Bottom of the Hill! - Do The Bay

The old saying goes that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Love and longing at a distance also makes for great pop songs, as San Francisco indie-pop upstarts Lungs and Limbs highlight on their new single, “Signs Of Life”.

Chronologically speaking, the band’s sound makes “Signs of Life” the perfect jam for your fun during the last few flickers of summer that fade into autumnal coziness. A little bit of summery, glistening pop, a dash of warm synths, and flange-y guitars make up the strong foundation of the track, officially out October 9.
Frontwoman Karina Rousseau has a certain Jenny Lewis-in-the-throes-of-Under The Blacklight quality to her voice that shines brightly here. The song, complete with sing-a-long chorus of oohs and ahs, feels like an ode to longing for someone, somewhere, far away. This is Lungs And Limbs’ debut single, and feels like the first step in the right direction for a young, up-and-coming band. The tune is a radio-ready piece of music that would reside comfortably on the end of your summer mixtape. - Vanyaland

Today we get a sneak peak at a new track from San Francisco-based Lungs and Limbs ahead of their official release show next Friday at Hotel Utah.

Here in San Francisco we know that October isn’t too late to release a fun summer jam, it’s actually probably the height of summer for us. Today we have “Signs Of Life” a new light and airy indie rock track with plenty of toe-tapping bass drum, and a repeating vocal hook that will get stuck in your head. The local act is made of of Karina Rousseau, Nick Tudor, Matt Power and Chris Casey. Vocalist Rousseau layers her lyrics with plenty of ‘ohs’ and is playfully mirrored during in the chorus by quick plucks of the guitar. A smooth bass line and synth tones accent the galloping pace of the drums to fill out the sound. - SF Critic

Lungs and Limbs became a band when they collectively converted an old horse stable in the woods outside of Occidental into a recording studio. After the concrete dried, they recorded their debut EP, Lifelike (dropping November 13th), including the single “Signs Of Life.” Filled with vivid guitarwork, soothing synths, and a sticky refrain, the song is a solid poptastic hit. - Free Bike Valet

Santa Rosa indie pop band Lungs and Limbs have a mantra they live by: Make it work. They even named their self-built DIY recording studio, carved out of an old horse barn on the outskirts of Occidental, Make It Work Studios.

Born in that studio, the band's dazzling debut EP,

Lifelike, is released next month. This week, Lungs and Limbs offer a taste of the record with the release of their first single, "Signs of Life," on Oct 9.

Writing songs together for the last four years, vocalist and keyboardist Karina Rousseau and guitarist Nick Tudor went through a few lineups before landing on bassist Chris Casey and drummer Matt Power two years ago.

"Our idea was to do pop music from the beginning," says Tudor. "Just what we thought that meant was a little different at first."

"It was also a little more singer-songwriter-based," adds Casey. "As we played together, it became more about the production of the music."

That focus on production came about when the band took over the barn and created Make It Work Studios. Tudor, self-taught and meticulous in his process, is the brains behind the recording.

"That's really how we started developing our sound," says Rousseau. "And I think we achieved what we set out to do."

Over the course of the EP's six tracks, the band goes on an interstellar musical journey, piloted by Rousseau's enchanting vocals and propelled by a steady, pulsing pop sensibility throughout.

"I just saturated myself in all of the modern production that I love," says Tudor, citing artists like St. Vincent and alt-J as inspirations. Conversely, he also listened to records he knew he did not want to emulate.

"I do love a lot of lo-fi records, but we decided it wasn't what we wanted our modern music to sound like," says Tudor.

The single, "Signs of Life," is a grabber, catching the ear with an infectious guitar hook and upbeat rhythm. Rousseau's voice soars as if it's in zero gravity with plenty of poppy oohs and aahs in the chorus to sing along with.

Rousseau says the electronics-heavy track "Kaleidoscope" came about after reading Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles. Indeed, the entire Lifelike EP resonates with a sci-fi mystique that's both radio-ready and atmospheric—though not necessarily our own atmosphere. - Northbay Bohemian

Lungs and Limbs are from San Francisco, CA. Lifelike is their first EP.

I’ve been listening to it on and off for a few days now. I keep drifting back to it as a palate cleanser. It’s pop music, light enough to encourage repeat listening, but there’s some thudding drums and reverb in there to add some weight and texture. - Now This Sound is Brave

"...Led by the alluring voice of Karina Rousseau, the spirited ensemble describe themselves as Pink Floyd meets the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Based on their shiny demo songs, it’s hard to argue with them..."
-Charlie Swanson, City Sound Inertia July 16, 2015 - City Sound Inertia