KUNZITE just released “LEMON SWAYZE,” the summer-ready track from upcoming album VISUALS. In addition to the new song, the duo — Mike Stroud (Ratatat) and Agustin White (Abuela) — announced the August 20 album release via Lowly. / Wilder Records, and have unveiled album details including the track listing and cover art.
 
“‘LEMON SWAYZE’ was created with the mission of bringing listeners to their feet, dancing in exaltation while on a crazy joyride,” note KUNZITE. “The track’s title was inspired by a vision Agustin had of lemons as spaceships, induced by the consumption of a favorite cannabis strain, Lemon Cake.”

The track was recorded between Stroud’s upstate New York barn studio and White’s Oregon dome-shaped studio — a place that resembles adobe dwelling like where Luke Skywalker grew up on Tatooine. Agustin stood in the middle of the dome and felt the channel of energy via the light coming in through and sang the first thing that came out of his mouth, which is what you hear on the final track today… including a nod to a Cyndi Lauper megahit.

The duo have taken listeners on a journey around the cosmos with early singles “JUPITER,” “SATURN,” and “NOVAS” which were the first sonic reverberations from VISUALS. Most recently, KUNZITE released the infectious and breezy “FROSTY,” paired with a sun-soaked video filmed in Venice Beach, befitting the warm, sunny vibe of the track and featuring local surfers and skaters including members from the all female-identifying crew GRLSWIRL. KUNZITE additionally released a psychedelic animated video for “FROSTY,” which nods to “LEMON SWAYZE” with a lemon spaceship.

VISUALS is out via Lowly. / Wilder on August 20, 2021.