by mariah estran
photo by tyler krippaehne
A single Instagram post initiated the return of Little Image. The Dallas-based, alt-pop band captioned the red-hued, group photo: “We’re back,” signed with a small emoji heart. Met with excitement; fans were ecstatic to know the wait was over.
It was 2020 — a new beginning was brewing. The band went on tour and released an electrifying single titled “WORTH IT.” They were gearing up for what they thought would follow a preconceived plan. Yet, as the pandemic hit and solitary took hold, they took a step back.
“Our comeback in 2020, which looking back on it, we just were not ready for,” vocalist Jack Simmons explains. “The pandemic gave us the opportunity to figure out what we wanted to do.”
In a sense, there was no way to avoid a session of reevaluation. There were no live shows, and at the time, the outlook of in-person performances was shotty. So, filling that void consisted of full awareness of their creative vision. “It just felt like we finally had the time we needed, in some ways, to grow up,” bassist Brandon Walters explains.
They met in high school and, by 2017, released their first record, Musings. A ten-track piece that showcased their talents; through garage-band-like guitar and drum energy, coinciding with tender lyricism. It’s an album that began to report that potential for versatility as it experimented with a charming concoction of light and heavy notes.
Now, it's clear that as years passed following the inaugural release, there is room for more change.
Recounting the recent evolution of Little Image, Walters notes, “It was a different shift within the band, and we are better because of it, even though it was hard.” Similar to the rest of the world, the three had to navigate how to work at a distance. One might be in Dallas, while another is in New York. It was an obstacle that induced a much-needed dose of reflectivity. “We learned how to communicate better. We were able to dive into the songs a lot deeper because we had so much time on our hands,” Walters explains.
Unpacking those pent-up emotions — the observations of solitude gave way to new singles that pack a punch. By the fall of 2022, “LUNGS BURN” was dropped into listener's hands. Opening with a jolt of synthesizers, unveiling a new-found dance-inducing tone. As Simmons sings: “I can feel it in my bones / Things are getting pretty cold / Boy across me got no soul / And he's on the phone.”
“Our music is always open for interpretation, you know? But for us, it’s kind of this small lens on our view on certain things,” Simmons says about the song. There’s a hint at societies’ attachment to digital reassurance. The music video, directed by Sawyer Skipper, depicts the band members staring into hypnotizing, brightly lit phone screens. “We live in such a world of technology and self-image — we struggle with it as well,” the vocalist adds.
“LUNGS BURN” quite literally holds a mirror to a detached way of living, this feeling the band saw themselves beginning to dissect while making new songs. “I feel like we are missing a human connection — that’s the biggest theme we are trying to communicate,” Walters further explains. Yet, as they share this discourse through their current singles and upcoming ones, they are rekindling a form of connection. “To have people come up to you and tell you what that song means to them — that’s the cool part about music,” he says. They’re developing a connection with their listeners.
Working with producers Chad Copelin and Jeremy Lutito, their music is transforming into this multi-layered sensation. It’s not only grabbing you through thought-provoking lyricism but gripping energy. It feeds the impulse to hit replay. If a listener isn’t sifting through the witted words, there’s a chance they’re sonically immersing in the alt-pop kick.
“Jeremy was the first to kind of push us into steering away from the classic guitar and drums, bass band thing, but still being true to ourselves,” Simmons says about working on their sound. “We were able to take what we learned with Jeremey and bring it over to work with Chad and create something special.”
Opening two shows for Panic! At The Disco last fall, that special sound found its way to more ears. Attendees even sharing their praise through YouTube comments on their newest tune, “BLUE.” Some mention seeing them in concert and falling in love, as more profess that they “get all the vibes right.”
That engagement, that admiration towards “BLUE,” is heartwarming to observe. The band grew with this song over the last couple of years. They explained that it took several transformations after being written pre-pandemic. There were production alterations and new elements incorporated, such as the bridge. They share that this was the song that aided them through the unpredictable state of the pandemic. “It’s funny that music can help you get through things,” Walters says, as Simmons nods in agreement. “Very rarely is it your own music that’s helping you get through something.”
Little Image – as with the rest of the industry – was aware of how long it might take for things to feel normal, for that bond between listeners and musicians to return. Yet, it never derailed what the band could be or what they could develop.
2022 proved how they overcame their hurdles. They have entered a new era, yet it is only the beginning. "LUNGS BURN," and "BLUE" are just the preface. The whole story, the album is soon to come. That search for connection pushed them onto a new playing field — one which is inching towards higher fates.
The new year already includes a tour with Colony House. Walters reflects on what’s happened and what’s to come, “The whole thing with us is we want human connection — this gives us a little bit.” His sincerity rang through a closing note, “When we are able to meet people when we can, it’s a special part of being a band.”