Lié

Playing a dark, aggressive brand of punk rock, Lié (pronounced "lee-ey") are a Vancouver-based trio whose angular, confrontational music is matched by lyrics full of bold, uncompromised commentary about politics, feminism, and society. Building their songs around throbbing basslines, jittery guitars, and fierce, metronomic drumming, Lié first made a name for themselves outside the Western Canadian punk scene with their debut album, 2014's Consent, and while their basic style didn't change much with time, the precision of their attack did, as evidenced by 2020's You Want It Real.

Lié was formed in 2012 by guitarist and singer Ashlee Luk and drummer Kati Jenson. After briefly playing out as a duo, Lié became a trio with the addition of bassist and vocalist Brittany West, and in early 2013 the group cut a demo that was issued as a cassette-only release. In July 2013, the trio brought out a four-song EP, Masters, which was recorded in Vancouver by veteran punk studio hand Jesse Taylor. After extensive touring in Canada and the United States, they found a supportive fan base in Texas, and the Southwestern punk label That's Cool Records stepped forward to release Lié's first full-length album, Consent, which appeared in late 2014. After more road work and Luk taking time to work with her electronic side project Minimal Violence, Lié delivered a single in August 2016, "Truth or Consequences" b/w "Failed Visions." The single was a preview of their second album, also called Truth or Consequences, which was recorded mostly live in the studio during a busy five-day session. In 2018, Lié struck a deal with the successful Canadian indie label Mint Records; that year, Mint would reissue Consent as well as bringing out their third album, Hounds, which was recorded in Austin, Texas with producer and engineer Ian Rundell. For album number four, Lié joined forces with producer and engineer Jesse Gander; the result, 2020's You Want It Real, was a more technically polished effort with a more introspective lyrical perspective, though the music was no less punishing than before.