Lucid Express, a Hong Kong-based band that established itself as a fusion of shoegaze and indie pop, has embarked on its second tour throughout the U.S. this April. Hitting 13 cities, the tour starts in Seattle and wraps up in Brooklyn for the Slide Away shoegaze festival.
Formed in 2014 under the name Thud, the band was introduced to shoegaze through My Bloody Valentine’s iconic 1991 album, Loveless, along with indie influences like Slowdive, DIIV, Whirr, and Yuck.
In their early days, Thud performed cover songs and released EPs. It wasn’t until nearly a decade later, in 2021, that they rebranded as Lucid Express and dropped their self-titled album, featuring two hit singles, “North Action” and “Hotel 65.”
In an interview following the album’s release, the band’s vocalist and synth player, Kim, shared that their unique sound comes from an amalgamation of each member’s interests and inspirations, giving them a distinct audio aesthetic that transcends shoegaze genre boundaries.
Through a decade of musical exploration, the band has preserved its signature sound of hazy and sticky vocals. Kim explained, “Vocals should be treated as an instrument. We want to blend the vocals with the instruments and put them in a more background position.”
True to their namesake album, the band remains lucid and vibrant amidst Hong Kong’s high-density metropolis and neon-lit streets. They bring forth an ethereal new wave sound that’s full of color, distortion, and the dreamy whirr of noise pop.
As they complete their second tour of the U.S., Lucid Express is gearing up for the release of their next album. This time, they are steering slightly away from shoegaze for a more acoustic and even dreamier soundscape.
Don’t miss the chance to catch Lucid Express in the U.S. – an unforgettable experience for noise pop lovers!
All image via Instagram/@lucid_express.
