Her Shadow Crown spells their name wrong on purpose, which is the first sign this Melbourne duo isn't really interested in doing things the "right" way. Their new track 'All That I Want' is about three minutes long. It politely nods to the 60's, but it's not a throwback.
Lida does the vocals and she says she’s always liked weird melodies. “I’ve spent a lot of time listening to 60s psychedelic pop, people like The Zombies and The Velvet Underground,” she explains. “I love the warmth in those songs, but also the strange edges, there’s always this dreamy quality that pulls you in but feels a bit off-kilter.” She’s also really into 90s British bands like The Smiths and Broadcast. You can hear that in their sound, but it's not just about trying to sound old. Lida says, “I think what I’m trying to do is bring those feelings together, something warm, melancholic, a little surreal. The melodies are always the focus, and lyrically it’s more personal, reflective.”
The band started in a bit of a messy way. Lida and Alex met in a cover band years ago where she sang and he played guitar. They liked working together, but it didn't really click until they moved to Melbourne. “Back then, we wrote these straightforward, hooky pop rock songs, but they didn’t feel like the full picture yet,” she says. Once in Melbourne, she embraced the '60s psych scene and the decade's relaxed atmosphere. “That was the moment I felt the urge to create again, but in a way that felt more personal. I’ve always had to express something, whether it’s drawing or making music. Over time, I realised music is the best way for me to capture what’s going on inside me.” That's how Her Shadow Crown started, just a need to make music that felt honest and a bit different.
'All That I Want' is pretty upbeat and catchy, but the lyrics are actually darker than they sound at first. “I’ve always loved when music feels light but the lyrics cut a little deeper,” Lida says. “This song has that contrast. At first, it sounds like a simple love song, like someone confessing how they feel. But pretty quickly, it takes on these other layers, it touches on lies, emotional uncertainty, and this fear that maybe love doesn’t last.” It makes the song more interesting than your typical pop track.
They’ve come a long way since their first single 'We Don’t Regret, We Just Forget' in 2020. Lida says she writes differently now. “It’s changed a lot,” Lida admits. “In the past, I would only write when inspiration struck, but now I try to work on music every day, like keeping a small journal of ideas. It’s helped me shape something more personal and recognisable.” Even her singing style has changed. “I used to sing in a pop rock style, more polished, but now I aim for something softer, conversational, something that feels more like sharing than performing.”
Production-wise, Alex and Lida have been trying out new sounds. It's not just the basic instruments anymore. “We used to stick pretty close to the basics, guitar, bass, drums. Now we’re adding synths and subtle details,” Lida says. “I always describe it as crystals growing on wood. There’s still that warm, earthy foundation, but with these small shimmering layers on top.” The song 'All That I Want' actually feels like it's having fun, which isn't always the case with psych-pop.
Melbourne has a lot to do with their vibe. Lida talks about walking down Brunswick Street and feeling a certain way. “The record stores, the old bookstores, the groovy atmosphere, it all feels connected to the spirit of 60s psychedelic culture in a way that’s very tangible. It clicked for me when I was here, like the music I loved started to make sense in a bigger way.” The way they mix happy melodies with sad lyrics feels very "Melbourne" to me. It's that DIY thing where bands just mix whatever they like.
They have an album coming out in May called Obscura. Lida is still figuring out exactly how to describe it. “Musically, it’s got that warm organic foundation, but with these crystalline details layered on top. Theme-wise, I keep coming back to the same emotional core, the desire to be seen, childhood memories, making peace with myself.” It sounds like they're going in a cool direction.
Listen to "All That I Want" by Her Shadow Crown on Local Sounds: https://localsounds.com.au/song/her-shaddow-crown/all-that-i-want