Chris Lanzon | 5 tracks that influenced ‘Angel Litany’

Chris Lanzon has released his new EP ‘Angel Litany’.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the EP, Chris said: “This EP bookmarks a period of growth in my life as I cultivated deeper friendships and relationships with the people I love, and also learned a lot about my own nature and tendencies, my strengths and weaknesses. A quality I admire about myself is my determination to show up when it matters most. To be there for the people I care about, whenever they need me. The flip side of this is the pain that comes with distance and barriers. Both physical, and emotional. When you can’t be there for someone, or when they’re not there for you”.

To celebrate his EP release, Chris Lanzon shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Angel Litany’.

Elliott Smith – Angeles
The high pitched drone throughout this song is so captivating. I love how a single sustained note can create so much context and atmosphere and tension and beauty. It’s something I played with a lot in this EP. Drones drones drones!

Big Thief – Mythological Beauty
More drones and also beautiful fingerpicking patterns in this song. The drums are awesome too. Not many drums in my EP, but when they come in I wanted them to hit like they do in this song. I love the way the melodic guitar parts are layered with multiple guitars, and ambient textures throughout. It’s hypnotic. The sonic palette of Big Thief and Adrianne Lenker’s work in general was a huge inspiration for this project.

Dora Jar – Multiply
I love Dora’s project so much. This was the first song I heard of hers and I remember loving how there are no drums until the very end, and they come in so abruptly. I thought that was so cool. We didn’t pull this up as a reference when Harmony and I were writing ‘Angel Litany’ but I think it’s essence came through my subconscious when I was producing the bridge of that song.

Ryan Beatty – Ribbons
The arrangements in this song are so beautiful. The way it goes from being so sparse, to being so intimate, and building to a powerful release. The textured and warm piano, the luscious, blooming strings. This was another big sonic inspiration for the EP. After hearing this I knew I had to have violin all over this project.

Searows – I Have More Than Enough
The layering of the slide guitar in this song was super inspiring to me. Towards the end of recording this EP I bought an ebow, and recorded a lot of sustained, swelling slide guitar layers over most of the songs. It’s just such an emotive sound, it literally feels like it’s pulling on my heart, pulling me into a different dimension. Searows does it so well.

Listen to Chris Lanzon’s musical influences:

Stream Chris Lanzon ‘Angel Litany’ via Spotify below: