Lake Street Dive, renowned for their genre-bending sound, released their highly anticipated album, Obviously, on March 12 via Nonesuch Records, marking a significant step in their evolving musical journey. This album sees the band deliberately pushing their creative boundaries, venturing into new sonic territories by embracing what could be described as musical hypotheticals.
For Obviously, Lake Street Dive collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Mike Elizondo, celebrated for his work with hip-hop icons like Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent, as well as acclaimed artists such as Fiona Apple and Mary J. Blige. Elizondo’s diverse expertise, combined with the permanent inclusion of keyboardist Akie Bermiss, who had been touring with the group since 2017, has infused Lake Street Dive’s signature blend of pop, rock, R&B, and jazz with a fresh and cohesive energy. This collaboration presented a hypothetical scenario: what would happen if they merged Elizondo’s hip-hop sensibilities with their established sound? The answer is Obviously.
Alt text: Lake Street Dive band members Rachael Price, Bridget Kearney, Mike “McDuck” Olson, Akie Bermiss, and Mike Calabrese posing together, promoting their album Obviously.
“We’ve been a band for so long that we didn’t want to just become a feedback loop of our own ideas,” explains Bridget Kearney, the band’s bassist. Recognizing the risk of stagnation, Lake Street Dive proactively sought external input to invigorate their creative process. Bringing in Elizondo was a calculated move, a hypothetical leap into the unknown, designed to disrupt their established patterns and foster growth. Kearney further elaborates, “It felt like a really good time to bring another person like Mike [Elizondo], and he really opened us up.” Elizondo’s influence encouraged the band to experiment with bolder arrangements, take calculated risks, and explore uncharted musical landscapes, effectively testing their own creative hypotheticals in real-time.
Alt text: Obviously album cover by Lake Street Dive featuring retro-inspired typography in bold blue and white on a dark background.
Lake Street Dive’s origin story traces back to 2004 at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where Rachael Price (lead vocals), Mike “McDuck” Olson (trumpet, guitar), Bridget Kearney (bass), and Mike Calabrese (drums) first joined forces. The addition of Akie Bermiss on keyboards has solidified the band’s current lineup, enhancing their instrumental palette and contributing to the richer sound explored in Obviously. Their journey from conservatory classmates to established recording artists is a testament to their enduring collaboration and shared musical vision.
Throughout their career, Lake Street Dive has consistently built upon their musical foundation, releasing six studio albums prior to Obviously. Their self-produced 2018 album, Free Yourself Up, achieved significant commercial success, debuting at #4 on the Top Album Chart and reaching #8 on the Billboard 200. The single “Good Kisser” from Free Yourself Up became a radio hit, reaching #5 at Americana radio and the Top 20 at AAA radio, underscoring their growing popularity and critical acclaim. Known for their captivating live performances, Lake Street Dive has graced the stages of major music festivals worldwide, including Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz Festival, and Newport Folk Festival, and has shared bills with notable artists such as T Bone Burnett, The Avett Brothers, and Jack Johnson. With Obviously, Lake Street Dive continues to build on this momentum, confidently answering their own musical hypotheticals with a resounding and innovative collection of songs.
