It’s sometimes forgotten in their history, as they were Los Angeles based by the time their career really took off, but eclectic alt rock and indie pop outfit LANY actually first came together right here in Nashville, where founding members Jake Goss and Les Priest were based with their prior group WRLDS (frontman Paul Jason Klein was pursing a solo career in LA at the time, before all three met up in 2014 and began making music together in Nashville, putting their respective projects on hold). In retrospect, it’s pretty incredible how much LANY achieved before even dropping their eponymous debut LP. Those first few years included four buzzed out EPs, a platinum single, a major label deal, viral online fame, and tours with big names like Halsey, Troye Sivan, Ellie Goulding, and John Mayer, not to mention festival appearances at the likes of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Firefly, and more.
By the time they did release their debut full-length, in 2017, the group (whose name is pronounced “lay-nee” and is an acronym for Los Angeles New York) were already breakout stars, resonating widely with their stylish, modern, electro-laced, dreamy indie pop meets alt rock sound. Sophomore effort Malibu Nights, a more introspective and intimate meditation on heartbreak, arrived in 2018, widening the band’s global audience and finally beginning a new chapter apart from their early singles and EPs. After two major collaborations, “Okay” with Julia Michaels and “Mean It” with Lauv, LANY experimented with a rootsier and less electronic sound with 2020’s Mama’s Boy, before returning to full-on electropop on 2021’s extremely modern and hook-laden gg bb xx, which would mark their last release before the departure of founding member Les Priest.
Remaining prolific, the now-duo released their fifth LP and first without Priest (and also first through their own Virgin Music Group imprint, Sunset Garden), A Beautiful Blur, in 2023, landing as both a familiar slice of the band’s signature synth pop, but also feeling very much like a phase of creative transition. And that new chapter continued with the pair’s latest album, Soft, a moodier, more contemplative and ambitious work, which lands as one of the strongest efforts in their whole discography, and was expanded recently with a deluxe edition called Soft 2. With their earnest writing style, honed visual aesthetic, and ’80s pop meets ’90s r&b meets modern indie rock sound, not to mention a captivating live presence, LANY have become a staple on the festival circuit over the years, and have maintained a passionate following, leading them to headline stages around town like The Ryman, Ascend Amphitheater, and, most recently Municipal Auditorium.
In support of Soft, the group are set to return to town on April 18, this time at The Pinnacle, along with alt/indie artist Aidan Bissett and alt pop singer RIAH (who’s married to LANY’s Jake Goss). Tickets are still available right here while they last, but we’re thrilled to announce that we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky fan! Preview the lineup and enter below.
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LANY, Aidan Bissett, and RIAH will perform Saturday, April 18 at The Pinnacle. The show is all ages, begins at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), and tickets are available for $79.85.