You’re Not Invited | True Lions | EP

Though the tongue-in-cheek title of True Lion’s latest EP might leave you feeling excluded, the band’s upbeat positivity and dedication to inclusivity will certainly turn that feeling around. Alison Hawkins and a lineup of some of Kansas City’s finest musicians debuted “You’re Not Invited” last Saturday to a crowd of enthusiastic fans, friends, family members. 

The four-track EP was written, composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered in Kansas City, a community effort rallied around Hawkins’ lyrics and melodies. That community felt present at the EP’s release party, where Hawkins, the band, and a few special guests played through all four songs, as well as a few tracks from the group’s debut EP, released earlier this year. Though most of their lyrics tackle heavy topics, like misogyny in the music industry and inane copyright battles, their melodies are light and punchy, silly and danceable. Something about the band’s presence and authenticity allows their audience to dive in with them to a euphoric and affirming state of being.

While True Lions is inspired by Riot Grrl roots and 90s low-fi indie pop, the band’s instrumentation explores a range of instrumentation and tones, folding in saxophone and cello alongside synth melodies and guitar riffs. Seven musicians played on the EP, a work intentionally created by a line-up of non-men artists. Hawkins and other musicians on the EP carry this same dedication for supporting female, non-binary, and trans musicians in their work with Bandwaggn, Kansas City’s chapter of the Girls Rock Alliance, which is planning on launching programming in the summer of 2020. 

Follow True Lions on Instagram to find out about upcoming shows and future releases!