By Charlie Maybee
Contemporary Christian electro-pop musicians, Lee Marie, are gearing up for the release of their debut album Crowns. Comprised of a wife and husband duo, Kaylee and Dustin Griffith, the band pulls inspiration from pop acts like Kari Jobe, Owl City, and Midnight Kids while bringing their faith into the mix of their songwriting.
Thematically playing on a story of a ruined kingdom, Lee Marie conceptualizes a ruler who is thwarted at every attempt to better his home. Ultimately, he comes to find that “he can only succeed by laying his crown at the feet of the King of kings, Jesus”. From there, the duo takes cues from specific stories, texts, and scriptures to fill out their lyrical inspiration.
Upon hitting a writing block early in the song-writing process for their early singles, the band recalls the moment of inspiration for the concept of the album: “[“All About Jesus”] came to Dustin on a day he had designated to write music, but for a long time it seemed like nothing came. After hours of brainstorming with no success he asked God, ‘Why are all my friends and people I know making music and it just doesn’t come to me?’. Immediately the lord challenged him with the words ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT DUSTIN’”.
Lyrically, the collection of songs acts as an extension of the family’s worship with songs like “You are God”. The songs are well crafted and is produced with the intention of “spreading the good news of God’s love to anyone who hears them”.
All 5 of Lee Marie’s singles are available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Find this and more new music on our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist on Spotify.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
