Greer - Lullaby For You

Since forming in fall 2018, Southern California-bred alt-rock band Greer have moved forward with incredible momentum, fueled by their immaculate songwriting and unguarded sincerity. Originally joining forces for a one-off gig at a high school homecoming dance, Greer played their first official show at L.A.’s iconic D.I.Y. venue The Smell a month later, then quickly self-released their magnetic debut single “Song for Me.” As “Song for Me” and follow-up single “Bittersweet” earned the band a devoted fanbase, Greer soon landed a deal with Epitaph Records and set to work on their debut EP Lullaby for You—a five-song project that transforms moments of profound heartache and romantic angst into massively catchy pop songs.

Produced by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Kurt Vile, Beck), Lullaby for You showcases the pure sensitivity at the heart of Greer’s music, each song brightened by their summery melodies and charismatic energy. All in their late teens, the band bring their sophisticated musicality to tracks like “Aeroplane”: a tender reflection on longing and regret that slowly unfolds as a string-accented epic. On “Bye Bye Baby,” Greer prove the depth of their musical knowledge, drawing inspiration from ’60s doo-wop and delivering a breakup anthem both heavy-hearted and infectious. And on “Understand,” Greer reveal their gift for dreaming up complex yet commanding guitar parts, the track’s hypnotic riffs infinitely amplifying its moody urgency.

Based in Costa Mesa, Greer linked up through the local music scene, where Seth and Corbin’s previous band had played in local clubs for several years. After Lucas turned up backstage at one of their shows, he and Seth began writing songs together. Once they’d brought Josiah into the fold, the trio accepted an offer to perform at a homecoming dance just weeks away. Quickly looping in Corbin, the band felt an immediate chemistry and wrote a complete setlist in two weeks’ time. “The first time we ever played with Corbin it all just clicked.  The guitars and harmonies and everything just fell into place,” says Josiah.

When it came time to pick a name, the band chose to pay homage to Lucas’s former girlfriend Emma Greer DiBiase, who died at age 16 from a rare form of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.  With Emma based in North Carolina, the two first connected via social media in 2015 and soon began traveling cross-country to visit each other. Although Emma was in remission at the start of their long-distance relationship, her cancer returned in early 2016, leaving her with only two months to live. “The thing about Emma was she was so strong the whole time, and never let it get to her,” says Lucas. “Even when she was so sick, she’d be the one trying to comfort everyone and make them feel better—that’s what made her happy in her last moments. She had such a huge impact on my life, so it just felt right to name the band after her.”

With their homecoming gig an undeniable success, Greer next posted a video of a four-song acoustic set performed in a friend’s bedroom. That set caught the attention of a manager, eventually paving the way for their signing to Epitaph. As they began preparing for the making of Lullaby for You, Greer embarked on a tour with The Regrettes, an experience they describe as highly formative in shaping their sound. “We’d only ever played maybe ten shows before that, and going on tour was huge in terms of helping us find our groove,” says Lucas.