Leather & Lace is the band in which The Current’s copyeditor, Flor Ana Mireles, a junior communication major, has been a part of since their debut in 2012.
“Freedom Lines” is the debut album of Miami-based rock band, Leather & Lace, who got their start in 2012. This five-piece band — Flor Ana Mireles on vocals, William Villarreal on lead guitar, Giuseppe Mireles on drums, Andy Perez on bass guitar and vocals and Kevin Pino on rhythm guitar — created an album that is truly a hidden gem in the local band scene.
The eight song EP kicks off with the underground grungy beats of “The City.” This song sounds like a love letter to their hometown, a party anthem to those fun nights on city streets and the unknown opportunities that a “midnight in the city” might hold. It’s the perfect song for going out with friends or the drive through your own favorite city. “For the Night,” features what could be best described as a 60s or 70s classic rock mashup that tells the story of a couple on the dancefloor. Sounds simple enough, but the melody and lyrics really tie together that feeling of first love and those first dances with your beloved.
Like the rest of the album, one of my personal favorites, “Carousel,” has an air of relatability for any potential listener. It pinpoints that feeling of going around in circles and having trouble finding your way. The lyrics of the chorus, “I’ve been looking for answers but I always seem to fail, getting dizzy on this carousel” blends those frustrating feelings with the incredible rhythm of the drums and guitars and a pace that really brings the song home. The title track, “Freedom Lines,” gives me hardcore “10 Things I Hate About You” vibes — If you haven’t blessed yourself by watching this classic, please do so as soon as possible — as it transforms into a narrative love story that outlines what freedom can mean for different people with lyrics like “let the people do whatever the hell they want….let them find their own voice.” It’s an anthem to individuality in the best way possible.
Tracks 6 and 7 hit me the most. Track 6, “Missing You,” is the perfect song to nod your head to as you listen to some classically strong guitar riffs and some moody lyrics about love lost and brings comfort through the process of moving on through the dark times and painful memories that leave a mark. Track 7, “Fly,” showcases what sounds like a perfectly out of tune ukulele and a personal affirmation about those times that you let people down or feel like you are not enough. As someone who has experienced those feelings countless times before, it is one beautiful song that really makes you feel like you’re not alone in the world with those thoughts and tries to make a positive out of the negative.
Photo: F. Mireles
