Lemuria

Lemuria were an American rock band formed in 2004 and originally based in Buffalo, New York. After starting with singles, splits, and EPs, they moved into full-length albums between 2007 and 2017, touring across the U.S. and internationally along the way.

The band’s last release was Recreational Hate, recorded with producer and engineer Chris Shaw and released on their own label, Turbo Worldwide. The album was announced on December 11, 2017, and landed with a twist, since many fans had already unknowingly bought it through a “secret LP” listing on the band’s website months earlier. Digital release arrived in December 2017, with physical copies following in February 2018.

Lemuria have cited influences that stretch across punk, power pop, and guitar rock, including Jawbox, the Lemonheads, Superchunk, Leatherface, Thin Lizzy, Archers of Loaf, Texas Is the Reason, Fleetwood Mac, and Pixies.

Early lineup and the first wave of releases

Lemuria began in the summer of 2004 with drummer and vocalist Alex Kerns, guitarist and vocalist Sheena Ozzella, and bassist Adam Vernick. They started writing quickly and put out a five-song demo recorded at Watchmen Recording Studios, which also kicked off a long working relationship with engineer Doug White.

After a handful of shows and the release of that early demo, the band split with Vernick. In March 2005, Jason Draper joined on bass, and the trio of Kerns, Ozzella, and Draper became the group’s core for the next stretch.

Art of the Underground and the singles-and-7-inch era

With Kerns, Ozzella, and Draper in place, Lemuria recorded a steady stream of singles, splits, and 7-inch releases. Many of those early records came out through Art Of The Underground, an indie label owned and operated by Alex Kerns. This period included the demo, the self-titled 7-inch, a Lemuria/Frame split, an Art of the Underground Single Series entry, and “You’re Living Rooms All Over Me.”

During these years, the band toured heavily, letting the material and the live set grow before committing to a full-length album.

Get Better takes shape

In 2007, after years on the road, Lemuria pointed to the lack of an earlier full-length as a benefit, saying it gave them time to grow and find their sound. They returned to Watchmen Recording Studios to begin work on their first album, later titled Get Better and released on Asian Man Records.

The album carried a contrast between lyrics and music. Much of Alex Kerns’ writing went darker, shaped by the death of his father, while the songs stayed bright and upbeat in the playing and overall tone. That push and pull fed directly into the album title.

Touring expands and the band’s profile grows

After moving into album mode, Lemuria began appearing on bigger tour packages and headlining more often. Their first European tour happened in fall 2007, followed by the release of Get Better in 2008. They toured the U.S. and also played Puerto Rico, the UK, Canada, and beyond, including an Asian Man Records tour alongside The Queers, Bomb the Music Industry, and Andrew Jackson Jihad.

The band also became a recurring presence at The Fest in Gainesville, first appearing in 2006 and continuing to return year after year through this era. Touring was not treated like a necessary evil, it was a major reason the band existed in the first place.

A lineup change and a new bass player

In fall 2009, Alex Kerns and Sheena Ozzella parted ways with bassist Jason Draper, who shifted focus to Failures’ Union. Kyle Paton stepped in on bass, and the band kept touring, with songwriting increasingly centered on the Kerns and Ozzella partnership.

Signing to Bridge 9 and recording with J. Robbins

In April 2010, Lemuria announced they had signed to Bridge 9 Records. Soon after, in July 2010, they recorded their first full-length for the label with J. Robbins in Baltimore at Magpie Cage.

During the mixing process, Kyle Paton ran into border-related legal issues and had to leave the band. To keep commitments, Lemuria brought in Max Gregor on bass, who traveled in and began rehearsing immediately. From that point forward, the lineup of Kerns, Ozzella, and Gregor became the band’s steady core through the rest of their active years.

Pebble arrives and the road stays busy

In early 2011, Lemuria released the digital single “Chautauqua County,” followed by the album Pebble. They supported it with a month of headlining shows and kept playing consistently through the year, including tours in the U.S. and Europe alongside acts like The Thermals, Screaming Females, and David Liebe Hart.

The Distance Is So Big and years of touring worldwide

Closing out 2012, Lemuria recorded again with J. Robbins. Those sessions became the band’s third full-length, The Distance Is So Big, released in June 2013 on Bridge Nine. With their most consistent lineup, they toured heavily in support of it across Canada and the U.S., including time at SXSW in Austin.

In 2014, touring stayed intense, including a stop at Riot Fest in Chicago and shows across Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Across these years, Lemuria shared stages and tours with a wide range of artists, including Ted Leo, Aimee Mann, Tigers Jaw, Kind of Like Spitting, and The Menzingers.

The “secret LP” plan and Recreational Hate

In 2017, Lemuria revisited their debut album era by reissuing Get Better in a limited run and touring the U.S. and UK to play it front to back. At the same time, they prepared their next release, Recreational Hate, putting it out through their own label, Turbo Worldwide, with licensing through Asian Man Records in the U.S. and Big Scary Monsters in the UK.

The rollout was built around a surprise. Months before the official announcement, a “secret LP” appeared for sale on their website. Fans who bought it had no idea they were pre-ordering a brand-new studio album. When the band announced Recreational Hate on December 11, 2017, many people realized the mystery item they had already purchased was the new record. The band framed it as a trust-based release approach, thanking supporters for taking the gamble and explaining that the early purchases helped make the release possible, including working with Chris Shaw.

Recreational Hate became available digitally in December 2017, with physical copies released in February 2018.

Last tours and the pause that never ended

Lemuria toured briefly in support of Recreational Hate, including a week opening for Jeff Rosenstock. On October 17, 2018, however, the band canceled their fall tour with Bethlehem Steel, stating that personal matters made touring impossible at the time.

After 2018, the band has been inactive, with no new music or live shows. Alex Kerns and Max Gregor focused on solo work, while Sheena Ozzella formed an a cappella trio with Anika Pyle and Augusta Koch called Sheena, Anika and Augusta. Their EP Simple Pleasures was released in 2019.

Members

Final line-up

• Sheena Ozzella – lead and backing vocals, guitar (2004–2018)
• Alex Kerns – lead and backing vocals, drums (2004–2018)
• Max Gregor – bass, backing vocals (2010–2018)
• Tony Flaminio – lead guitar, backing vocals (2017–2018; touring musician)

Former members

• Adam Vernick – bass, backing vocals (2004–2005)
• Jason Draper – bass, backing vocals (2005–2009)
• Kyle Paton – bass, backing vocals (2009–2010)

Discography

Albums

• Get Better (Asian Man Records, 2008)
• Pebble (Bridge 9 Records, 2011)
• The Distance Is So Big (Bridge 9 Records, 2013)
• Recreational Hate (Turbo Worldwide, 2017) (Big Scary Monsters, UK & EU)

EPs

• Self Titled 7"/CD (Art of the Underground/All Things Ordinary, 2005)