Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke with electro-pop duo Living Dead Girl about their recent single ‘Still Life’.

“Still Life focuses on the idea that daydreaming about the life you want is not enough to sustain happiness. It is a poor substitute for the real thing, but can be an alluring trap to fall into, much to your own detriment. I tend to begin the writing process and realise midway through what the song is actually about. This particular theme had been on my mind, so it came out in Still Life.

We were lucky enough to have the song produced by Paul Ressel (Lana Del Rey, Lark, Faithless) and engineered by Max Heyes (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Jamiroquai). We had wanted to work with Paul for some time as he’s been involved with a number of bands that we really admire, and he definitely made the song sound better than we could have hoped. For the first time we were able to record live strings and drums as well, which really improved the record.

I find with songwriting that you can be much more honest than you ever would be in real life. It’s nice to be able to release a song and maybe reach other people that might be experiencing the same thing. This is definitely the slickest production we’ve had to date, so it’ll also be nice to show the progression.”

 Lyrics: 

When have you begun to sleep for the dream

Float in the breeze on dandelion seeds

And it’s so clear from here

I decline so I’ll climb to the emerald green

Night has spun slow motion stars wheeling

Satellite feelings down mezzanine

Visions of you amid fine fallacy

Animate me won’t you animate me

I don’t need in another story

Dreaming in the flowers is not enough

Fifteen hours of faking glory

When did you become so easily mazed

Circling blue thieves hours of you

Dream ends are trails of a feathered wing

They dissolve in

To your love

Wake me softly beyond the pine tree

Animate me

I don’t need in another story

Dreaming of the flowers is not enough

Fifteen hours of faking glory

I’m mad for you

I lose my blue to white

Imbue my view I try

Folie à deux ain’t right

In saturated light

I don’t need in another story

Dreaming of the flowers is not enough

Fifteen hours of faking glory

Animate me oh you animate me

I’m so tired of sleeping, what a pretty painting I’m in

Living Dead Girl are a multi-instrumental two piece who produce layered, atmospheric electronica with a dark twist. Jonno Lloyd (guitar, bass, synth, programming, and backing vocals) and Jessica English (lead vocals, synth, piano, and programming) merge their unique styles effortlessly to create industrial strength pop with a delicate charm.

 ‘Still Life’ follows hot on the heels of the bands last single, ‘Autumn’. This new cut is out on September 1 and utilises the distinctive fusion of ethereal vocals and electronic rhythms that the couple have since become known for. They’ve spent time both in the studio and on stage honing their sound in order to take it to the next level. Both in terms of production and songwriting Living Dead Girl have excelled themselves, ‘Still Life’ boasts an epically anthemic chorus and a glossy finish.

English has always been adept to writing with a sense of drama, and in the band’s latest output this is used to full effect. B-side ‘Killing Time’ weaves a theatrical tale against a gothic soundtrack. Capturing this fell squarely on the shoulders of producer Paul Ressel. And as guitarist Jonno Lloyd tells us, this was something of a dream come true for the band:

“The decision to reach out to Paul came very easily, I simply went through my CD collection release by release to see who'd produced the music I love the most. When I came to South African electronic band Lark, I already knew Paul Ressel had been behind the production and electronics, the meeting of styles and sounds in that band had in fact laid a framework for how I thought Jess and I could work together musically early on. Working with Paul was a great experience, we'd always had difficulty letting anyone else into the process with our songs, but we seemed to be on the same wavelength right away and we all had the same goal in mind, whatever was best for the song.”

 Both growing up in a creative atmosphere, English was classically trained in piano and vocals, while Lloyd took guitar into successful industrial rock groups such as Ventenner. The two would work together for the first time in 2014, finding common ground somewhere between trip-hop, rock and electronic music. This unlikely meeting of styles would lead to the creation of the group’s dark yet accessible pop, delivered with themes that move between fantastical escapism and pained reflection, leaving a classically haunting aftertaste. Expertly merging ‘80s new wave influences with the likes of Massive Attack and Portishead, Living Dead Girl are treading their own unique path, one they intend to do so all the way to the top.