ADAM LYTLE – ALTARS/”LEAD ON DESIRE”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM/VIDEO PREMIERE
Today, indie rock singer-songwriter, and visionary “technician of the sacred” Adam Lytle invites us into his wise and mystical world with Altars, his sophomore album exploring themes of devotion. Following tracks, “Black Masses,” “Heaven,” and “Sister Wave,” Lytle is sharing the album’s focus track, “Lead on Desire,” — a sensual, funky jam infused with a bold sense of rock-ability.
Recorded at Figure 8 Recording by Jonathan Schenke (Parquet Courts, Liars), “Lead On Desire” is a defiant and spirited offering in which Lytle declares, “I want, I need my fix,” and pleads, “Float me free of these spires, lead on, desire.” The track blends rock, funk, and soul elements with lush, sultry textures that frame Lytle’s evocative vocals. In keeping with Altars’ overarching themes—exploring the darker regions of the heart and invoking religious and spiritual imagery—Lytle’s use of the word “spires” evokes the towering peaks of church architecture, drawing on their symbolic grandeur to reflect an inner struggle and longing. Guitarist Cameron Kapoor delivers an epically electric solo, coupled with percussionist Mauro Refosco’s (David Byrne, Jessica Pratt) driving, textured beat, deepening the track’s intensity and enhancing its emotional impact. “Lead On Desire” encapsulates the album’s core themes of exploration, introspection, and transcendence.
In describing the track, Lytle explains, “Lead On Desire is all stomp and swagger. It was the first song that came together during the recording sessions for ‘Altars’ and became the standard by which the rest of the songs were measured. It’s the perfect example of why I love collaborating with my co-producer Jonathan Schenke. The way he recorded and mixed the interplay of William Logan’s drums and Mauro Refosco’s playful percussion dramatically expanded what I thought was possible for this song.The accompanying live video was recorded at Power Station by Glenn Forsythe and features my ferocious live band, Cameron Kapoor, Felix Ambach, and Julian Cubillos.”
Altars is out via all DSPs.
Adam Lytle
Altars
(Independent)
Release Date: May 2, 2025
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