Lush: From Reluctance to Reunion Interview | Under the Radar Magazine Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Tuesday, April 16th, 2024  

Lush — 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., September 21, 2016

Lush photo sets

9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., September 21, 2016

News

Lush Documentary Short Film Released by The Criterion Channel; Watch the Trailer

A Far From Home Movie Features Super-8 Tour Footage Shot by Bassist Philip King

Apr 01, 2024

A Far From Home Movie is a new short documentary film on 1990s shoegaze icons Lush based on Super-8 footage filmed by bassist Philip King during their tours from 1992 to 1996. The film has debuted today on The Criterion Channel. Here is the film’s trailer, released by the band’s label 4AD. More

Miki Berenyi of Lush and Piroshka Announce U.S. Tour Dates with Her Trio

Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee to Support

Jan 22, 2024

Miki Berenyi—the former singer/guitarist with 1990s shoegaze, dream pop, and Britpop sensations Lush and also more currently a member of Piroshka—has announced some U.S. tour dates with the Miki Berenyi Trio. They will be performing both Lush and Piroshka songs, as well as some new Miki Berenyi Trio originals. More

Under the Radar’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide Part 5: Music Reissues and Vinyl

Featuring Lush, The Beatles, Prince, Billy Joel, Tom Waits, Charlie Parker, Air Miami, Beastie Boys, and More

Dec 14, 2023

Welcome to Part 5 of Under the Radar’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide. As you might expect from a music website, here we highlight some of the best music reissues, on both vinyl and CD, from the last year. More

Oct 14, 2023

Emma Anderson, the co-founder of shoegaze icons Lush, is releasing her debut solo album, Pearlies, on October 20 via Sonic Cathedral. Now she has shared the album’s third single, “The Presence,” via a lyric video. More

13 Best Songs of the Week: Art Feynman, Emma Anderson, Steven Wilson, Devendra Banhart, and More

Plus bar Italia, The National, Wings of Desire, CHAI, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Sep 22, 2023

Welcome to the 30th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week Andy Von Pip, Caleb Campbell, Marc Abbott, Scott Dransfield, and Stephen Humphires all helped me decide what should make the list and we settled on a Top 13. More

Sep 20, 2023

Emma Anderson, the co-founder of shoegaze icons Lush, is releasing her debut solo album, Pearlies, on October 20 via Sonic Cathedral. Now she has shared the album’s second single, “Clusters,” via a music video. More

Lush Co-Founder Emma Anderson Announces Debut Solo Album

Pearlies is out on October 20 via Sonic Cathedral

Jul 20, 2023

Emma Anderson, the co-founder of Lush, has announced details of her debut solo album, Pearlies. More

Jul 11, 2023

1990s shoegaze, dream pop, and Britpop sensations Lush have announced vinyl reissues of all three of their full-length studio albums: Spooky (1992), Split (1994), and Lovelife (1996). More

Under the Radar Announces Special 20th Anniversary Double Issue

Issue 69 Has Two Cover Group Shots Featuring Grandaddy, CHVRCHES, Kamasi Washington, Bat For Lashes, Weyes Blood, The Divine Comedy, Elbow, Nilüfer Yanya, Miki Berenyi, The Horrors, and Rose Elinor Dougall

Dec 21, 2021

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, which is our special 20th Anniversary Issue. It’s a double issue celebrating two decades of the magazine (our first issue came out in December 2001). The issue has shipped out to subscribers and stores and can now be bought from us directly here. The issue features two special covers, each featuring a different group of musicians together. More

12 Best Songs of the Week: The War on Drugs, Penelope Isles, Indigo De Souza, Piroshka, and More

Plus Big Red Machine, Ora the Molecule, Low, illuminati hotties, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jul 23, 2021

Welcome to the 28th Songs of the Week of 2021. It was a nice week for new music, with some strong new singles (some connected to album announcements) and some wonderful album tracks we’ve long wanted to share with our readers and can now that the albums are out. We had enough tracks for a Top 12 this week, but many of the honorable mentions are worthy too. More

Piroshka – Stream the New Album, Watch the New “Loveable” Video, and Read Our Interview with Them

Love Drips and Gathers Out Now on Bella Union; Band Features Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, and Moose

Jul 23, 2021

Piroshka have released their second studio album, Love Drips and Gathers, today via Bella Union. Now that it’s out, you can stream the album here. Also, today they have shared a video for the album’s “Loveable” and today we posted our new interview with the band’s Miki Berenyi and KJ “Moose” McKillop. More

Piroshka Share Intriguing Video for New Song “V.O.” Inspired by Late 4AD Designer Vaughan Oliver

Love Drips and Gathers Due Out July 23 on Bella Union; Band Features Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, and Moose

Jun 16, 2021

Piroshka are releasing their second studio album, Love Drips and Gathers, on July 23 via Bella Union. Now they have shared the album’s second single, “V.O.,” via an intriguing video for it. The song is a tribute to the late Vaughan Oliver, who was 4AD’s in-house designer and responsible for many iconic album covers for the label, including ones by Lush, the former band of Piroshka singer Miki Berenyi. More

Piroshka Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song “Scratching at the Lid”

Love Drips and Gathers Due Out July 23 on Bella Union; Band Features Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, and Moose

Apr 27, 2021

Piroshka have announced the release of their second studio album, Love Drips and Gathers, which will be out on July 23 via Bella Union. They have also shared a new song from the album titled “Scratching at the Lid,” via a video for it. More

Mar 25, 2021

4AD just shared the third set of songs to be featured on their upcoming compilation album Bills & Aches & Blues, which celebrates the label’s 20th anniversary and will be out on April 2. The new song set features Future Islands covering “The Moon Is Blue” by Colourbox, Jenny Hval covering “Sunbathing” by Lush, Dry Cleaning covering “Oblivion” by Grimes, and Bradford Cox covering “Mountain Battles” by The Breeders. More

Piroshka Tackle the History of Protest, Brexit, and Phone Addiction in the Video for “What’s Next?”

Band Fronted by Lush's Miki Berenyi; Brickbat Out Now via Bella Union

Feb 15, 2019

Piroshka have released their debut album, Brickbat, today via Bella Union. You can stream it here. Now they have shared a video for “What’s Next?” Bunny Schendler directed and designed the animated video, which was animated by Schendler, Sofja Umarik, and Jonathan Hodgson (Hodgson also edited it). More

Piroshka (Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, Moose) – Stream the New Album

Band Fronted by Lush’s Miki Berenyi; Brickbat Out Now via Bella Union

Feb 15, 2019

Piroshka (which features members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, and Moose) have released their debut album, Brickbat, today via Bella Union. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing here. More

Piroshka (Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, Moose) Share New Song “What’s Next?”

Band Fronted by Lush's Miki Berenyi; Brickbat Due Out February 15 via Bella Union

Jan 14, 2019

Piroshka are releasing their debut album, Brickbat, on February 15 via Bella Union. Previously they shared the album’s first single, “Everlasting Yours” (which was one of our Songs of the Week), as well as a video for the song. More

Piroshka (Members of Lush, Elastica, Modern English, Moose) Share “Everlasting Yours” Video

Band Fronted by Lush’s Miki Berenyi; Brickbat Due Out February 15, 2019 via Bella Union

Nov 30, 2018

Piroshka are releasing their debut album, Brickbat, on February 15, 2019 via Bella Union. Previously they shared the album’s first single, “Everlasting Yours” (which was one of our Songs of the Week). Now the song has a video. Martin Andersen and Chris Bigg directed the video, which is a colorful collage of different images and childhood drawings. Piroshka features members of various other iconic British acts. They are fronted by former Lush singer Miki Berenyi (vocals/guitar) and also include former Moose guitarist KJ “Moose” McKillop, Modern English bassist Mick Conroy, and former Elastica drummer Justin Welch. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: The Good, The Bad, & The Queen; Piroshka; Cherry Glazerr; and More

Plus Murray A. Lightburn, Julia Jacklin, Nilüfer Yanya, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Nov 09, 2018

There might still be nearly two months left in 2018, but 2019 album announcements have been coming hard and fast of late. The Top 10 of this week’s Songs of the Week is packed with first and second singles from albums due out next January or February, although not our #1, that album is due out next week. More

Piroshka (Members of Lush, Elastica Modern English, Moose) Announce Album, Share “Everlasting Yours”

Band Fronted by Lush's Miki Berenyi; Brickbat Due Out February 15, 2019 via Bella Union

Nov 06, 2018

Piroshka are a new band that features members of various other iconic British acts. They are fronted by former Lush singer Miki Berenyi (vocals/guitar) and also include former Moose guitarist KJ “Moose” McKillop, Modern English bassist Mick Conroy, and former Elastica drummer Justin Welch. More

Lush Breakup Again, Issue Statement and Confirm Final Show

The Shoegazing Legend's Reunion Is Over

Nov 15, 2016

Well, it was fun while it lasted. 1990s shoegaze legends Lush reformed last year with the core lineup of Miki Berenyi (vocals/guitar), Emma Anderson (guitar/vocals), and Phil King (bass), with former Elastica member Justin Welch stepping in for the late Chris Acland on drums. More

Oct 18, 2016

Phil King may not have been a founding member of recently reformed 1990s shoegaze legends Lush, he didn’t play on the band’s early singles and debut album Spooky, but he joined in 1992 just before Spooky was released. Alas, he has now left the band and the band has been forced to cancel some shows. More

Sep 23, 2016

1990s shoegaze legends Lush recently reformed and released a great new EP, Blind Spot, in April. This year the band have also been playing their first U.S. shows in 20 years. More

Under the Radar Examines Music and Politics with the 2016 Protest Issue

Special Issue Takes On Sexism and Feminism in the Music Industry, Tackles the Election, and Features Amanda Palmer on the Cover

Sep 09, 2016

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our 2016 Protest Issue (out September, October, and into November), which is out now both digitally and on newsstands. We’ve done a Protest Issue every U.S. Presidential election year since 2004 and as before this issue features articles examining the intersection of music and politics and photo shoots with musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Then in mid-October we will be launching our charity Protest Auction, in which we auction off all the protest signs in the issue, with all profits going to the American Cancer Society. More

Under the Radar Announces May/June 2016 Issue with M83 on the Cover

Issue 57 Also Includes Interview with Lush, Primal Scream, John Carpenter, Frightened Rabbit, Underworld, Yeasayer, Frankie Cosmos, Julien Baker, Cat's Eyes, School of Seven Bells, Parquet Courts, Fear of Men, Minor Victories, Kevin Morby, and More

May 06, 2016

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our May/June 2016 issue (out May, June, and into July), which has shipped out to subscribers and stores and will be on all newsstands soon. It will also soon be available digitally via Under the Radar‘s app, and the magazine apps Zinio, Readly, and Readbug. The issue features M83 on the cover. More

Feb 19, 2016

Brand new Lush music! The moment fans of the ‘90s shoegazing legends have been waiting two decades for is here. Lush have shared their first new single since 1996. Below is the video for “Out of Control.” It had previously been revealed that the reunited band were releasing a new EP this spring and now said EP has been officially announced. More

Lush Announce First U.S. Tour Dates in 20 Years

Chorus Box Set Due Out in America This Friday

Jan 20, 2016

At the end of September shoegazing legends Lush announced they were reuniting and some shows in London (May 6 and 7 at the Roundhouse) and New York (September 14 at Terminal 5) were announced. Some other shows and festival appearances (including Coachella) have been announced since then, but now the band has announced a full on U.S. tour. More

Coachella 2016 Announces Line-up Featuring LCD Soundsystem, Guns N’ Roses, Lush, CHVRCHES, and More

Plus M83, Wolf Alice, Beach House, Grimes, Sufjan Stevens, Foals, Deerhunter, Bat For Lashes, and Others

Jan 04, 2016

Coachella has announced the line-up for their 2016 festival, which goes down in Indio, California over two weekends in April (with the same bill each weekend). Friday and Saturday are headlined by two newly reformed bands, LCD Soundsystem and Guns N’ Roses (featuring the reunion of Axl Rose and Slash). Calvin Harris headlines Sunday night. More

Reformed Shoegazers Lush to Release Brand New EP Next Year, Working on New Album

Chorus Box Set Due Out December 4 (U.K.)/January 22 (U.S.), Tracklist Confirmed

Nov 20, 2015

At the end of September shoegazing legends Lush announced they were reuniting and some shows in London (May 6 and 7 at the Roundhouse) and New York (September 14 at Terminal 5) have been announced. This week the band announced an additional show at the Manchester Academy in Manchester, England on April 30, 2016. More

Lush Announce First U.S. Reunion Show, at New York’s Terminal5

Chorus Box Set Due Out December 4 (U.K.)/January 22 (U.S.), Tracklist Confirmed

Nov 10, 2015

At the end of September shoegazing legends Lush announced they were reuniting. The band had previously announced that on May 6, 2016 they are playing their first ever show in almost 20 years at London’s Roundhouse (which is now sold-out, so they’ve added another show on May 7). Now the band has announced their first U.S. reunion show, on September 14, 2016 in New York City a Terminal5. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 13. More

Sep 28, 2015

As the band hinted at last week, and as we predicted was likely, shoegazing legends Lush have confirmed their reunion today. The band have announced that on May 6, 2016 they are playing their first ever show in almost 20 years at London’s Roundhouse. They are also releasing a box set in December and reissuing their best of collection on vinyl. More

Shoegazing Legends Lush Might Be Reforming

Band Launches New Website and Facebook Page

Sep 22, 2015

We can’t tell you that shoegazing legends Lush are definitely reforming, but they’re sure up to something and signs point to a reunion. The band have launched a brand new website (www.lushofficial.com) and a new Facebook page that includes up to date contact info for publicists, booking agents, and a manager. More

Under the Radar Announces September/October Issue with alt-J on the Cover

Issue 51 Also Includes Interviews with Arcade Fire vs. Peter Gabriel, Interpol, Jessie Ware, Foxygen, Caribou, Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, Terry Gilliam, Gotham's Ben McKenzie, Zola Jesus, and More

Sep 12, 2014

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of the September/October issue, which is on newsstands now. It features alt-J on the cover. Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry does a joint interview with Peter Gabriel. We talk to Lush‘s Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson about their 1996 album, Lovelife. More

Watch: Lush’s Miki Berenyi Make Rare Stage Appearance

Performs Alongside Punk Band Hard Skin

Oct 08, 2013

Next to My Bloody Valentine, UK four-piece Lush were one of the most prominent shoegazing bands of the early ‘90s. More



Interviews

Emma Anderson on “Pearlies”

The former Lush singer, songwriter and guitarist talks about her debut album and future plans

Nov 04, 2023

Former Lush singer, songwriter, and guitarist Emma Anderson talks about her debut album and future plans. More

Jul 23, 2021

Piroshka rose from the aftermath of the long-awaited Lush reunion, which came to a spectacular and somewhat uneasy ending in 2018. But despite tensions, Lush’s former guitarist and frontwoman Miki Berenyi had no regrets about Lush’s reformation and enjoyed her return to the live stage much more than she had anticipated. It was Justin Welch the former Elastica drummer who played one Lush reunion tour, and Modern English’s Mick Conroy, who replaced Phil King for the final Lush show, who persuaded Berenyi that they should continue to work together on a different musical project. More

My Favorite Album: Miki Berenyi of Piroshka on The Shangri-Las’ “Shangri-Las-65!”

"‘The Boy’ is one of the most moving love songs I know. I literally cannot listen to it without tearing up—and believe me, I am not the sentimental type.”

Mar 20, 2020

I’m going to bet that every artist you’ve asked to contribute to this has said that picking an all-time favorite album is ABSOLUTELY FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE so I will echo that, but I’ll concede that from age 17, The Shangri-Las’ Shangri-Las-65!has stayed up there in my top 10. More

May 03, 2019

In 2016, U.K. shoegaze four-piece Lush reformed, 18 years after the band’s dissolution in the wake of the suicide of its beloved drummer, Chris Acland. The band, featuring original members Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, and Phil King, and with former Elastica drummer Justin Welch in place of Acland, released an EP, Blind Spot, toured the world, and generally basked in the excited response from critics and fans alike. More

16th Annual Artist Survey: Piroshka

Miki Berenyi, Michael Conroy, KJ "Moose" McKillop, and Justin Welch on Climate Change, Artificial Intelligence, and Surreal Experiences

Mar 17, 2019

For Under the Radar‘s 16th Annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to the last year, plus some fun personal questions. More

2016 Artist Survey: Miki Berenyi of Lush

Berenyi on Trump, Brexit, Self-Driving Cars, Scary Movies, Parenting, and Her Favorite Movie

Feb 16, 2017

For Under the Radar‘s 14th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2016. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2016 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. More

Feminist Firewall

How Women in the Music Industry Are Using Social Media to Confront Sexism and Misogyny

Dec 28, 2016

A Conversation with Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry, Lower Dens’ Jana Hunter, Lush’s Miki Berenyi, Beth Martinez, Amanda Palmer, Natalie Prass, Perfect Pussy’s Meredith Graves, Tegan and Sara’s Sara Quin, and Chelsea Wolfe. More

Lush

From Reluctance to Reunion

Jul 01, 2016

Back in 2014, when Lush’s Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson spoke with Under the Radar about the band’s seminal albums Split and Lovelife, the idea of getting the band back together was something of a pipe dream. More

Lush - Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson on Their 1994 Album “Split”

"We were so penned in, like caged animals, in this bloody studio in France. We'd sort of lost all touch with reality." - Emma Anderson

Apr 29, 2015

Lush never really fit in. Formed in London in 1988, the band—guitarists/vocalists Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson, bassist Philip King, and drummer Chris Acland—went on to release three proper full-length albums. More

Lush - Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson on 1996 Album “Lovelife” and the Last Days of the Band

"Lush was so tied up with Chris, and without him, it's just really, really difficult to consider [a reunion]." - Miki Berenyi

Apr 28, 2015

The year was 1996. Lush had released its third full-length album, Lovelife. Although their shoegaze-crossed-with-pop songwriting never truly fit into Britain’s chart-centric musical atmosphere, the band was finally getting its due, with Lovelife cracking the Top 10 on Britain’s album charts and spawning three charting singles, “Single Girl,” “Ladykiller,” and “500 (Shake Baby Shake).” More

Miki Berenyi

Lush’s Former Singer Reminisces on Britpop

Oct 02, 2007

Amid the heaps of visual flash and sonic flair displayed by British musicians over the years, Miki Berenyi’s cherry-red mane and featherweight falsetto remain unforgettable. More


Reviews

Apr 26, 2016

Lush are finally back in Los Angeles after an almost 20-year absence! “It all comes full circle,” said lead vocalist/guitarist Miki Berenyi as she reminisced about the first time the band played the legendary Roxy Theatre even further back in April of 1991. More

Apr 22, 2016

When Lush disbanded in 1997 after drummer Chris Acland’s tragic suicide, it was assumed that a reunion would be impossible, especially with Miki Berenyi out of music since then. More

Jan 06, 2016

Ethereal (or “Etheriel”), that was always the word back then. But Lush‘s celestial shimmer represented only one element of their overall sound. The lower depths of the Lush bass and drums joined in to propel those chiming guitars and sweet yet haunting voices outwards, even taking the whole to some unforeseen places. More