———————————————————————————————

I first came by Lane Moore years ago in a classic single-woman-in-NYC kinda way: I was hungover in line at a Bed Stuy coffee shop one morning, halfway through a walk of shame, when through my sunglasses I saw a print ad for her book How to Be Alone in a stack of flyers by the cash register. Before my almond latte was ready, I had already gone online and ordered it.

But while the discovery starts with a book, it certainly doesn’t end there.

As I noted in, fine, another book (that would be Bands do BK), it seems almost impossible for artists to limit themselves to one medium. The emotional energy is too endless. The urge to create and connect, explore and express, simply can’t be contained.

As a fan, this is an amazing phenomenon. It’s another way to see/hear/feel from a perspective you appreciate. Another window into an artist’s world and a bonus backstage pass to their head and their heart. So after finishing Lane’s book (as a new Lane fan), I was delighted to discover that she was not the exception to what might be my favorite rule. That, along with being an author (three titles total now to her name) and a performer/comedian (catch her swiping on stage as the creator of Tinder Live), she is also a musician. And this year—seven years after How to Be Alone hit bookshelves, coffeeshop counters and, soon after, my bedside table—the multi-hyphenate hero and her band It Was Romance have released their newest EP: Final Girl.

“This is a record about getting knocked down and surviving somehow,” Lane shared of the band’s new record, which dropped on Valentine’s Day. “It’s about finding hope, even when it seems like there’s none. It’s about turning to yourself when you feel like no one understands you. And also dancing. A lot.” 

We could all use some hope—and a whole lot of dancing—right now. And you can get it all when Lane Moore & It Was Romance hit the rooftop stage THIS WEDNESDAY alongside Sam Zalta, Go Home and Parks Department for the last-ever Bands do BK show at Our Wicked Lady before the venue closes its doors. </3

GRAB YOUR TIX HERE. Then read on for a few words from Lane on each of the EP’s four songs: a collection defined by chaotic depth, danceable melancholy and running-in-the-rain rom-com faith— plus, the very essential soundtrack for your Hot Girl Revenge. (Really, what more do you need?)

Final Girl —TRACK BY TRACK:

“Playing Records”

“I wrote this song in my bedroom and I sent it to my bandmates that same night, saying, ‘I think I just wrote a really great song that people are gonna wanna listen to when they’re feeling happy and when they’re feeling sad, so they can immediately feel happy. What do you think?’ and I immediately got back emails from everyone saying ‘THIS SONG IS FIRE!’ The album opens with that energy. It’s definitely the song that people keep telling us, ‘I’ve had this song in my head nonstop since I heard it! I listen to it on repeat.’ A really great pop song, that has depth, and a little bit of chaos, a little bit of sadness, is one of the best things in life.”

“Final Girl”

“I’ve been obsessed with horror movies since I was a kid and I relate so much to the Final Girl — the character who almost dies like 27 times, but she still survives. This song is about that, and how meeting someone who seems to be great can feel terrifying. Is this love, or will it kill you? You don’t know. I love playing this song live so much, we all do. This song goes so hard, and I get to really shred and dance and channel all the ‘last scene in a horror movie that’s terrifying and exhilarating’ energy this song has. I love watching people at our shows lose their shit once the beat drops like, ‘Oh hell yeah.’ It’s a great song to drive to and feel like you’re on your way to get Hot Girl Revenge.”

“TBA”

“If you heard the demo from when I first wrote this song in my room, it’s kind of funny how sad it sounds compared to the final version. Now it’s this burst of energy, synth pop song. That’s so much of why bands like New Order are great. Melancholy with a danceable beat is heaven. I wrote this song about the push pull between wanting and needing help, and not having people around you who are helping. So you have to become the person you need. It’s also a great song to listen to when you’re walking around the city and wanna feel like you’re in your own movie.”

“Ending Up With Me” 

“This song feels so cinematic to me. It sounds like the song playing at that peak moment in a romantic comedy where the love interest runs in the rain to finally get the girl. And you’re watching like ‘Ahh, go go! You’ve got this! I hope they get together!’ It’s about wanting things to work out with someone, but you know they’re scared, and you’re scared, and wanting to believe it’s all gonna work out anyway. I love playing the ending of this song live so much. There’s a push and pull throughout the song, this uncertainty and then it just ends in this burst of hope. Even if something doesn’t work out the way you want, you survive and you try again.”

—

Like a book hits the brain, let these tunes move your body.

Have a little hope. We’ll see you on the dance floor~

———————————————————————————————

Follow Lane Moore at @hellolanemoore and It Was Romance at @itwasromanceband. Add the songs to your Spotify playlists.

Feature image (provided by the band): Shervin Lainez

Flyer: @laurel_works3