Little Stranger: New Single 'God At a Festival' & Recording Tips

Meet Little Stranger

Little Stranger, the indie hip-hop duo consisting of Kevin and John Shields, has rapidly carved out a distinctive niche in the music world with their unique sound and dynamic performances. Originating from Philadelphia and now based in Charleston, these brothers blend the gritty, lyrical prowess of hip-hop with the catchy, melodic elements of indie music, creating a genre-defying experience. Their music, often compared to the likes of Gorillaz and Odelay-era Beck, captivates with its engaging hooks and irresistible rhythms.

Since their formation, Little Stranger has been relentless on the live music scene, playing an impressive number of shows each year before the pandemic hit. Their commitment extends beyond the stage; they're known for their vibrant music videos and an original television program, LSTV, which showcases their creativity and quirky visual style. With a continuous stream of innovative music and multimedia projects, Little Stranger is not just a band to listen to—they are a multi-sensory experience to be witnessed.

New Single Release: "God at a Festival"

The latest single from Little Stranger, "God at a Festival," is a vibrant continuation of their musical journey and serves as a precursor to their highly anticipated 2024 album under Ineffable Records. This track encapsulates the essence of their recent experiences on tour and at various high-profile music festivals. Following their acclaimed album "Trip Around Saturn" and its subsequent deluxe edition, this single blends infectious melodies with lyrical narratives that resonate with festival-goers and music lovers alike.

In the past year, Little Stranger has not only headlined over 35 shows across the United States but also graced the stages of renowned festivals such as Bonnaroo and BottleRock Napa. Their performances are a testament to their growing influence and popularity in the music scene. With "God at a Festival," the duo captures the euphoric, communal spirit of these live events, making it a must-listen for their fans and new listeners. As they gear up for the Sacred Sands Summer Tour with Stick Figure and appearances at the Governor’s Ball and Hangout Fest, Little Stranger continues to expand their horizons and bring their unique sound to an ever-widening audience.

Behind the Scenes: Inside the Recording of 'God At a Festival'

Production on unique tracks like "God at a Festival" are always packed with interesting insights. So Band Pioneer reached out to John Shields of Little Stranger to learn about the band's recording process on the track, and see if he had any practical advice that could help up-and-coming musicians. Here's what John had to share:

Band Pioneer: What equipment and software do you use for producing your music?

John:

"I produce everything in Logic Pro. Ross recorded direct in on a Nord for the piano and organ. He also tracked on a Juno 6 for the synth. Probably my favorite piece of gear I own."

"Verse vocals were tracked on a Shure SM7b, and the group vocals were done on a Neumann TM103. Kanika Moore also tracked her vocals on the Neumann in a later session."

Band Pioneer: What was the recording process like for "God at a Festival"?

John:

"God at a Festival was written and recorded at my home studio in Charleston SC. Andy Frasco was in town so we lined up a writing session. Ross Bogan - keyboard player for Doom Flamingo/Wolfmask - joined us for the session along with myself, Kevin and Damn Skippy."

"Once Ross and Andy came up with the keyboard line, I pretty quickly put a beat together using some breakbeats I’ve collected over the years. On this beat, I paired the breakbeat with a big subby kick underneath it. I like to use the Trackspacer plugin, which I add a kick to a break to duck the breakbeat a bit and let the fat new kick stand out. I think this might be the first best I’ve made that is essentially a '4 on the floor'."

"I originally recorded the bass but we later replaced it with Ryan Stasik - which was so quickly an obviously good move. We tracked his bass at Coast Records in Charleston SC with Matt Zutell who owns and produces out of the studio."

Little Stranger Festival Dates

May 17-18: Garrettsville, OH @ Sunny Days Festival

May 19: Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival

May 26: Monterey, CA @ California Roots Music and Art Festival

June 8: New York, NY @ Governors Ball

June 20 – 2: Rothbury, MI @ Electric Forest

June 22: Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest

July 27: Marshfield, MA @ Levitate Music and Arts Festival

July 24 – 28: Floyd, VA @ FloydFest

August 1: Thornville, OH @ Everwild Music Festival

Little Stranger Live with Stick Figure

July 11:: Albuquerque, NM @ Sandia Amphitheatre

July 13 –14:: San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

July 16:: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre

July 18:: Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater

July 20:: Tacoma, WA @ Haub Family Field

August 3:: Mansfield, MA @ The Xfinity Center

August 6:: Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater

August 8:: Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium

August 10:: West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

August 12:: Key West, FL @ Key West Amphitheater

Little Stranger Headline Dates

September 26: St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House

September 27: Kansas City, MO @ Madrid

September 28: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's

September 29: Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club

October 4: Indianapolis IN @ Hi-Fi Annex

October 5: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall

October 11: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

October 13: Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground

October 16: Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry

October 17: Raleigh, NC @ The Lincoln Theatre

October 18: Charlotte, NC @ The Filmore

October 19: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

October 20: Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird

October 22: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's

October 23: Lexington, KY @ The Burl

October 24: Nashville, TN @ Basement East

October 25: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

October 26: Jacksonville, FL @ Dab Day Halloween Festival

View All Tour Dates