Lejeune (DC)

Lejeune is a Washington, DC quartet dedicated to writing and performing romantic pop music.

LEJEUNE Sam Bishop Vocals/Guitar Greg Gendron Drums Odysseus Leonard Bass Matthew Richardson Guitar Lejeune is a Washington, DC quartet dedicated to writing and performing romantic pop music. Though Lejeunes songs have been described as a soulful and velvety mix, blending the sounds of indie and pop icons like Luna, Bowie, and early R.E.M., its members have created something uniquely their own. Certainly much could be attributed to singer Sam Bishops well-written lyrics delivered via mature and melodious vocals, as well as guitarist Matthew Richardsons bold and sometimes Knopfler-esque fret board stylings. There is no denying, however, the solidifying impact Lejeunes rhythm section has on its music. The coordination of and interplay between bassist Odysseus Leonard and drummer Greg Gendron only work to further expand the dynamism of Lejeunes songs. Lejeune formed in late summer 2003, and played its inaugural show that Halloween in Richmond, Virginias historic Hotel John Marshall. Making rapid progress in the days that followed, members of Lejeune focused on penning a steady stream of new songs while simultaneously honing their craft on the stages of DC and Baltimore. By late February 2004, band members felt the time was right to commit the fruits of their collective labor to tape. Having maintained a fondness for the site of their first show, Lejeune returned to the spacious Hotel John Marshall to record what they fully expected to merely be a demo of their music. However, DC-based sound engineer Dennis Kane, who the band secured to helm the recording process, thought they had the makings for something much more. So after three days in late March holed up in a multi-room-suite-turned-recording-studio on an unoccupied floor of the hotel, Lejeune had the promising beginnings of what would ultimately become their first commercial recording. After the Hotel John Marshall sessions, Lejeune finished up recording and mixing in Kanes DC-based Feline Five studio. From there, the band turned over their music to the capable handsand earsof Jim Chapdelaine. Chapdelaine, of Multi-Music Services in West Hartford, CT, has mastered numerous projects for Rykodisc and is a former student of mastering legend Greg Calbi (Yo La Tengo, The Strokes, Interpol). In the meantime, the search to find the perfect cover art for their debut CD put Lejeune in touch with DC/NYC photographer Susanna Thornton, whose dreamy images seemed to correspond wonderfully with the bands atmospheric sound. Now, eight months after starting the recording process, Lejeune is poised to release its self-titled CD. Alternately forceful and delicate, melancholy and upbeat, Lejeunes eight-song debut is an apt chronicle of the bands eventful first year. Lejeune will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, November 16th through Amazon.com, iTunes and selected record stores in the Washington, DC area. Lejeune can be reached via email at Poste@LejeuneMusic.com.

www.lejeunemusic.com