Luke MacRoberts Faces His Past on New Single ‘The Lost Boys’
For singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Luke MacRoberts, the concept of home is complicated. It’s a feeling he’s constantly seeking, yet at the same time, it’s something he’s running from.
This internal conflict is at the heart of his sophomore album, ‘Escapism,’ where he grapples with the paradox of his own transient nature.
MacRoberts describes the album as a book, with each song representing a different chapter or character. “Whether it’s in avoidance of discomfort, compulsive behavior with romance and substances, the way that I relate to my past self, or the way that I see the future unfolding, escape has been a constant plague in my life. I don’t know myself without it,” he says. This powerful self-reflection forms the foundation of his work.
After studying jazz in college, he played in a variety of bands, from the punky, proggy post-hardcore of Crime in Antarctica to the indie-psych of Flash Flash Comfort. As a solo artist, he blends these influences into something entirely his own. His songs are non-linear, often building to explosive climaxes before settling into moments of delicate beauty. This is all accented by his notable use of Brazilian percussion.
MacRoberts’ new single, ‘The Lost Boys,’ is a darkly hypnotic electro-pop track that brings to mind the sounds of Depeche Mode and MGMT. The song is a nostalgic look back at a wild youth, capturing the “bad boy nostalgia” of drinking 40s, … and spray painting graffiti near the railroad tracks.
The opening lyrics capture this rebellious spirit: “Flatten pennies on the tracks / Smell the trash mixed with the fresh cut grass / Write my name up on the wall / Yea I know, the cool kids have fun / But they don’t get to have it all.” According to MacRoberts, the song is about the lasting impact of those early, formative years. “This song is about how the uncompromising person that you decide to be in childhood sets the stage for the person you become as an adult,” he explains.
Luke MacRoberts Instagram / YouTube
