Lord Huron – An Indie Folk Band With a Cinematic Flair

Lord Huron of Michigan-bred indie folk outfit Lord Huron draws its mythology from wide open spaces, the spirit of travel and dream imagery to form its unique storyline. Led by Ben Schneider and composed of percussionist Mark Barry, bassist Miguel Briseno and guitarist Tom Renaud.

Prior to their sold out performance at The Mish, Long Lost dropped by The Current for an in-studio session with us to talk about their latest album and its theme of storytelling through song. Watch their entire in-studio session below.

Love Like Ghosts

Lord Huron is an award-winning band that creates music out of their imagination, drawing influence from Fleet Foxes, Neil Young, The Band and My Morning Jacket among others. Their cinematic flair recalls Fleet Foxes, Neil Young, The Band and My Morning Jacket songs while their music can also be found on films and TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, 13 Reasons Why and A Walk in the Woods.

TikTok users may already be familiar with Lord Huron’s song “The Night We Met”, one of the most beloved tracks on their platform and used in numerous ad campaigns.

Lord Huron weaves an intricate story through their songs throughout this album, using imagery such as icy plateaus and rocky coasts, palm trees on Machu Picchu, rivers running backwards, etc. Additionally, easter eggs interweave within other songs through references – for instance in “Lonesome Dreams”, there’s reference to an author named George Ranger Johnson who doesn’t exist!

Strange Trails

Ben Schneider of Michigan created Lord Huron as a solo visual and musical project four years ago, which has grown immensely over time – appearing at Coachella and South by Southwest last year (noticeably in a Zales advertisement!).

On Strange Trails, LA-based quartet featuring mid-Michigan natives Mark Barry, Tom Renaud and Miguel Briseno continue their exploration of a fictional Western universe reminiscent of those found in old VHS tapes or yellowing books found around cabins along the lakeshore. On its face this realm may look authentic; on closer examination however it could just as easily have come straight out of your childhood Jane Fonda VHS collection or dusty volumes from cabin corners at the lakeside.

Underneath these sepia-toned landscapes lies a darker tale: unrequited love and foolish mistakes leading to heartache, as well as the mourning for something precious lost. Each listen reveals new layers in this captivating narrative – further enhanced by vocal reverb and electric guitars with occasional twang, intricate arrangements and choir choirs creating an air of mystery which brings each track alive like radio drama.

Vide Noir

Los Angeles-based band has added dramatic flair to its sepia-toned music by drawing inspiration from classic film soundtracks, taking cues from Grey’s Anatomy, Vampire Diaries and 13 Reasons Why as well as their appearance in A Walk in the Woods (2015) film.

Ben Schneider, the soft-spoken digital artist who founded Lord Huron four years ago, knows when and how to restrain and unleash his musical palette. On “Time to Run”, sparse vocal reverb gradually builds into a burst of jangled guitar and an infectious beat that makes this track truly captivating.

The song from Vide Noir film ties directly into its plotline of Buck Vernon searching for his missing fiance Lee Green while under the influence of Cosmic Ash, an in-universe drug which can transport you into astral plane. This track likely describes Buck Vernon’s hallucinations while searching through LA streets to locate Lee Green; its lyrics don’t reveal too many specific details but suggest this might be one of two perspectives from which this tale unfolds.

Long Lost

Lord Huron returned in 2021 with Long Lost, an album that feels as if you have been drifting through time since birth. Its cover art recalls retro adventure books found at charity shops or sitting unread in your grandparent’s attic.

Whispering Pine Studios was chosen as an aesthetic choice that plays into their worldview, purchased off Craigslist by frontman Ben Schneider and renovated by him and his bandmates.

Long Lost has created music with lyrics drawn from fictional books or movies that sometimes veer towards creepiness; part of their charm lies in this. Long Lost explores love and death from an ethereal perspective in their song ‘The Yawning Grave’; an incredible track that sounds almost like the end of an adventure!