Minnesota Indie Stars Landon Conrath and Ber Join Forces on New Single “Funeral Home”
August 18, 2023 BY Jason Currell
Minneapolis indie-pop artist Landon Conrath is excited to share a new collaboration with his friend and fellow Minnesotan Ber. The sparse, atmospheric “Funeral Home” focuses on relationship anxiety when your mind thinks the worst. Landon and Ber embody each partner’s viewpoint on death and trauma. The subject ties into the larger themes of paralyzing anxiety and fear of death that appear throughout Landon’s new EP I’m Alive… So It’s Fine.
“Funeral Home” is available on all digital retailers (here)
Landon explains the origins of “Funeral Home”: “I wrote this song after seeing an Olivia Rodrigo concert. Gracie Abrams was the opener, and I was immediately inspired to write a stripped back pop song after hearing how she weaved intricate lyrics over delicate guitars and soft drums. The song focuses on this idea of relationship anxiety. Specifically, anxiety surrounding the death of your partner. It talks through each partner’s differing views on the subject; how one of them is constantly worried about the other dying and how one of them is admittedly a bit too apathetic about it all.”
Ber had this to say about working with Landon, “Landon is one of my favorite artists. He’s this incredible writer that I met while looking for band mates here in the Twin Cities, and after spending way too many hours in the car together while on tour with Sigrid, I think it’s safe to say he’s the most genuine, funny, daring and unpredictable person I know.
Landon showed me this song in the car one day and asked if I’d be willing to finish it with him. It brought tears to my eyes, and I just remember my jaw dropped. It’s this beautiful tale about the fears and insecurities that come with loving someone deeply, and writing this verse with Landon was one of the easiest things ever and I’m very honored to be a small part of this very special song.”
“Funeral Home” follows “Deep End,” “November,” and “Broken” as Landon continues to push the boundaries of his sound, experimenting with new recording techniques, and adding a depth to his songwriting. Ones to Watch has described the new music as “Midwest-folk-emo-adjacent-pop.”
In addition to sharing the new song, today Landon kicks off a headlining tour through select Midwestern cities followed by support dates alongside The Ivy. See the full list of dates below and find ticketing information at https://landonconrath.com/.
Watch & Share “Funeral Home” Official Music Video:
https://youtu.be/oPMnRLpdd98
On the back of his debut album, Nothing Matters Anyway, and after nearly a year of touring with artists like Yam Haus, Windser, and Ber, Minneapolis songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Landon Conrath is gearing up to release his EP I’m Alive… So It’s Fine. Unsurprisingly, fans are already singing along to recent singles like “Broken” word for word. As the song title suggests, the EP was born out of an explosive writing period during a tumultuous time for Landon. “The entire project came from a singular, but painful, experience,” says Landon. And while “it wasn’t cool to go through” the power that it gives to the work is evident in every song.
What you will recognize in I’m Alive… So It’s Fine is Landon’s distinct sound of hook-based indie-pop. His smooth vocals, deeply personal lyrics, signature melodies, and simple but ear-sticking beats have defined his style and drawn in listeners by the millions. But like all happy accidents that gleam their iconic meaning in retrospect, it wasn’t a conscious choice. “Your sound should be what’s available to you,” says Landon, “Initially, we didn’t have enough mics to record drums, so we used samples. It was a crutch at first, and now it defines my sound.” Since those early sessions, Landon’s production skills have evolved with intricate layers and experimental vocal effects. “November” juxtaposes glitchy electronic trills with earthy acoustics and a bouncing bass riff. Lyrically, Landon unpacks an uncertain relationship and feelings of regret – a theme that runs through the project.
While many artists, understandably hunger for viral moments and streaming playlists, Landon is concerned about building a community. It’s no wonder, then, that his goal of being an artist who can move thousands of tickets wherever he goes is quickly becoming a reality. That’s not to say that he isn’t also pulling numbers. Landon’s first run of Nothing Matters Anyway vinyl sold out in one hour. He has over 200k views on YouTube, his single “2AM” is now past 14 million streams on Spotify, and he’s got over 3 million monthly streams. He’s also received critical acclaim from Ones to Watch, The Current, MPLS Magazine, MN Daily, Variance Magazine, and many more.
Landon Conrath 2023 Headlining Tour Dates:
Aug 18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Var Gallery
Aug 19 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
Aug 20 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
Aug 22 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Aug 23 – Des Moines, IA @ xBk Live
2023 Tour Dates Supporting The Ivy:
Aug 24 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
Aug 25 – Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz
Aug 27 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s
LANDON CONRATH IN THE PRESS…
“…Indie-pop’s hook aficionado… moves with the distinct melancholic fluidity of Midwest-folk-emo-adjacent-pop, cycling through a constant melody that contrasts and supports the vocal simultaneously.”
– Ones to Watch
“…Conrath’s breezy indie-pop songs are catchy and ultimately uplifting, keeping true to his personal style.”
– MSP Magazine
Song of the Day
– The Current
“…writing catchy hooks… the 23-year-old Minnesotan has music in his bones…”
– MN Daily
“A palpable energy reflecting a quick heartbeat and reminiscent memories of driving recklessly with friends.”
– Early Rising