The sounds of GEMS
GEMS’ story begins much like the popular memoir Just Kids by Patti Smith. However, instead of the iconic duo of Robert Mapplethorpe and Smith, we are presented with a more modern, but just as raw pairing of Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher, the duo that makes up GEMS.
The first time they met, they were outside of a bar in Washington DC. Little did they know that the conversation that sprung up between them, where they thoroughly discussed music and poetry, would inspire the two to start writing songs together. They couldn’t come from more different backgrounds; Cliff was the Nirvana-inspired who was always in and out of bands, while Lindsay sang in choirs and went on to study music at the University of Virginia. The two decided to explore their individual strengths and began developing specific ideas of how they wanted to make people feel with their music. Thus GEMS was born.
With Lindsay focusing on harmony and chords, and Cliff playing melody and bass, they ultimately met in the middle, sometimes even starting or finishing lines for one another. The end result is music of great intensity. Much like the name, “GEMS,” a stone being created under tremendous pressure, their sound is hard, solid, and even a little dark. I don’t mean “hard” in an angry or loud sense either, the sound they produce is really more of a dreamy-pop feel paired with longing, poetic lyrics—yet it still carries a steely quality.
In an interview with the destined duo, they explained how their music is about emotion and difficult life experiences. They find the core of what a heartbreak, a journey, or even a night alone feels like, and translate it into art through the words and the beats that back it up. Ultimately, once you’ve listened to a few of their songs from their first full length album, Kill The One You Love, you’ll understand the raw authenticity.
The duo are about to go on tour for the release of the EP, so I felt compelled to ask about how performing live affected their music, what they wanted to get out of the experience, and most importantly, what they wanted to convey to their listeners. Cliff revealed his respect for how Kanye West performs live; how he tries to transcend the concert experience, so that it feels more like performance art.
This is what differentiates GEMS from most bands. Whereas others go up, play, maybe jump around a bit, and call it a night, GEMS desires to deeply connect with the audience. They wish to go beyond playing music and turn their live set into dramatic performance. It’s a natural aspiration when you consider their music. When you pair a late-night-driving-Kavinsky sound with explosive lyrics, it creates a sonic energy that not only pierces the audience, but swallows them whole. Their music itself begs to be performed in an unconventional way.
Maniac lovers should check out the dates and locations for their upcoming tour, because it is something you’ll regret missing. Buy music and find out more here.
Photography by Holly Burnha
