ST. LUCIA ANNOUNCES PART TWO OF DOUBLE LP ‘FATA MORGANA: DUSK’ OUT DECEMBER 5

Acclaimed synth-pop alchemists St. Lucia have announced the release of their new album, Fata Morgana: Dusk, set to arrive on December 5th via Nettwerk. The highly anticipated record from husband-and-wife duo, Jean-Philip Grobler and Patti Beranek, serves as the second chapter of the band’s expansive double album, Fata Morgana, and is a vibrant, modern counterpart to this year’s earlier release, Fata Morgana: Dawn.

Accompanying the album announcement, is the band’s vibrant new single, “Crimes of Passion,” along with its mesmerizing music video co-directed by Xander Ferreira and Jean-Philip Grobler and featuring dancers, Nicolas Laubscher and Weronika Kamiñsk. Influenced by South African ‘Shangaan Disco’ and ‘Kwaito’ music as well as early 90’s pop rave / house classics like 2 Unlimited “No Limits” and Culture Beat’s “Mr. Vain,” the dynamic track, which features vocals from both Grobler & Beranek, offers a potent taste of the danceable, electronic-leaning sound explored on Dusk.

Detailing the creation of the new single “Crimes of Passion,” Jean-Philip Grobler explains, “This song was written on a writing trip with our friends Aly & AJ, who featured on ‘Campari Lips & Soda’ on our last album Dawn. The idea came to me when I was on the flight to LA, as many great ideas seem to. I’ve spoken about it many times, but there’s something about being on a plane and being squished into this little seat and having no access to any gear that I find inspiring. It’s funny how limitations can have that effect, it’s totally counterintuitive but it works almost every time. So anyway, I sketched the idea on my laptop and when I got into LA I had a bit of time to work on the idea, and I fleshed it out a little bit more. It all came together quickly and easily, most of what took the time was working on the lyrics but after a few hours we had it. It felt right that the lyrics are plainly spoken and not trying to be poetic, like a conversation between two lovers who are in a difficult situation but they’re both trying to be mature and honest about it. Without really trying to be or planning to be it feels like this is a bit of a female empowerment anthem.”

St. Lucia shares this on their music video, “The ‘Crimes of Passion’ video visually portrays the song’s theme of a couple experiencing both conflict and connection, summarized by the lyric ‘we walk alone but we move together.’ It features dancers Nicolas Laubscher and Weronika Kamiñsk whose movements embody this dramatic tension. It was filmed at night in South Africa to differentiate it from the ‘Dawn’ portion of ‘Fata Morgana,’ as the video incorporates a 90s-inspired black and white aesthetic with strategic color use, a look we feel is among our best visual work, due to the skills of our amazing post-production team, editor Oli Chen and colorist Andrew Francis.”

Mixed by Chris Zane (Jack Antonoff, Passion Pit, The Walkmen), Fata Morgana: Dusk is the product of a deep period of musical exploration, showcasing a distinct yet interconnected experience with its vintage-leaning predecessor, Fata Morgana: Dawn. While Dawn delved into sounds reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s with a more experimental and introspective approach, Dusk embraced infectious rhythms and electronic textures, leaning into the pop sensibilities that have become a hallmark of St. Lucia’s career, while still honoring their experimental roots. This double album project has allowed the band to fully explore the two core sides of their musical personality – the poppy, danceable, and electronic alongside the more experimental and band-in-a-room feel – presenting them in two cohesive, yet individual, bodies of work.

Regarding their forthcoming album, the band reveals, “‘Fata Morgana: Dusk’ is the latter half of our double album, ‘Fata Morgana,’ primarily comprising songs written after their previous album, ‘Utopia.’ While “Dawn” (released in March) leans towards rock, psychedelic, and experimental sounds, “Dusk” is a dance/pop record influenced by 70s, 80s, and 90s dance music. The decision to split the larger body of work into two distinct yet reflective parts mirrors the multifaceted nature of our music, which oscillates between contrasting elements like introversion/extroversion and dark/light. This project marks the first time we’ve intentionally separated these aspects of their musical personality onto two interconnected records.”

St. Lucia will be performing at this year’s Bourbon & Beyond festival on September 14 alongside the likes of Phish, Jack White, Noah Kahan, Khruangbin, and more. Stay tuned for more new music and news from St. Lucia this year.

LISTEN TO “CRIMES OF PASSION”:
https://stlucia.ffm.to/crimesofpassion

WATCH “CRIMES OF PASSION” MUSIC VIDEO:

Tour Dates:
9/14 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Festival

Fata Morgana: Dusk LP Tracklist:
1. Oh Daddy
2. Crimes of Passion
3. Lights Off
4. People Change
5. Giving It Up
6. Summer Nights
7. Into the Sky
8. The Universe Explodes
9. Out of the Ashes
10. Something’s In The Way