PVRIS: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Music
Originally started as a metalcore band named Operation Guillotine. PVRIS made their stance in the 2010’s pop-punk scene with the debut album titled, White Noise. Frontwoman Lyndsey Gunnulfsen working alongside her bandmates, Brian MacDonald (bass) and Alex Babinski (keyboard); PVRIS made their mark on what would be a journey of self-discovery and artistic expression through a decade of experimentation.
- White Noise (2014–2016)
“I’m always really inspired by dark things and the supernatural for some reason,” Lynn Gunn explains to DIY MAG back in 2015 as the main creative concept for their debut album. White Noise launched PVRIS to the forefront of the punk scene in the early 2010’s. A rock album infused with pop and electronic production focused on the themes of death, heartbreak, religion, and ghosts (of course). Debuting at number 88 on the Billboard 200 and with the help of producer, Blake Harnage, White Noise would raise the stakes and expectations of what PVRIS is as a band. A deluxe of White Noise was released on April 22, 2016.
The opening track, Smoke, details Gunn struggling to let go of a relationship in which she rather “…get covered in flames and play games with the smoke”, admitting she rather ignore the signs that it’s time to abandon ship and rather stay with her partner. Halfway through the album, Holy shows Gunn tackling sexuality and religion at the forefront. For example, calling out the hypocrisy on people who wear crosses, “I think that chest be heavy from that cross on your neck, you only wear ‘cause you’re weary of what comes next after your death”. On the title track itself, White Noise talks about Gunn receiving mixed signals and struggling to comprehend her lover. She wants to talk to her lover but can’t seem to be heard or noticed, “open my mouth, all that comes out is white noise and incomprehensible sounds”. Although the production might be for the majority of music listeners, White Noise provides an existential therapy lesson for those willing to listen.
A strong debut for a band who has every intention of speaking nothing but the truth and setting flames to expectations. As for a debut, this album is as strong and powerful as the lessons you’ll learn when you listen.
Ranking: 8/10
Top tracks: My House, Holy, You & I
2. All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell (2017)
PVRIS takes the second album title from a poem by Emily Dickinson which ties into the theme of the album; duality. Dealing with the aftermath of a breakup from longtime girlfriend, Alexa San Roman, Gunn struggles with the repercussions of the breakup and dealing with fame. This is as if White Noise was on steroids.
Working alongside Blake Harnage (who also produced White Noise) and recording in an allegedly “haunted” church, PVRIS’s critically acclaimed sophomore album topples the expectations and pushes the boundaries from their first album into a darker, heavier, cohesive sound.
Taking themes from death, resurrection, loss, and heartbreak. On Heaven, Gunn compares about losing her lover or “heaven” in a failed relationship, “I think we were cursed from the start, second I let you into my heart”. On the banger, What’s Wrong; Gunn talks about how two years of touring has taken a toll on her mental health and perception of people, “two years gone, came back as some bones and so cynical…”. On the album closer Nola 1, Gunn copes with changes since her rise to fame and how she has changed as a person. Mentioning how it has taken a physical toll on her body; Gunn sings, “…my body didn’t like the way it felt last June, and it haunted me the whole year then turned into thinking I was dying, wouldn’t pull through to see twenty-two”. Gunn’s introspective and clever songwriting shows that she is a force to be reckoned with and that despite the negatives of fame, she will not let that stop her from growing and evolving as an artist and person.
Delivering metaphoric and cheeky lyrics on top of powerful vocals and heavier production, PVRIS’s sophomore album would be the manuscript for anyone looking for a way to relate to their feelings.
Ranking: 9/10
Top tracks: Heaven, What’s Wrong, Winter
3. Use Me (2020)
After the release of PVRIS’s second album, AWKOHAWNOH, PVRIS signed to major label, Warner, which garnered Lynn to take creative control and become the center of the band. Releasing an EP in late 2019 called Hallucinations, the direction of the band’s sound would be centered around dance-pop and less of the hard-rock sound that the band’s was known for. Use Me was to be released on May 1, 2020, but was delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the album was ultimately released on August 28, 2020. Alex Babinksi would then depart from PVRIS due to allegations of sexual assault. This is the first time PVRIS has had collaborations on their albums, featuring 070 Shake and on the deluxe track, Thank You, the British singer-songwriter, RAYE. This is the first time Gunn has co-produced music for PVRIS with help from producer, JT Daly.
Straying away from the hard-rock and heavy production of the album’s predecessors, Use Me leans towards dance-pop, rock, EDM, and acoustic sounds. This is the first era PVRIS did not use black and white style music videos. On Stay Gold, Lynn wants to preserve the innocence of her lover and in hopes her lover’s image doesn’t become tainted, “don’t wanna sing you to a sea of blurry strangers, want this crystal clear and sincere, can’t let them change you…”. On the dance-pop smash, Death of Me, Gunn makes her move on a love interest and is willing to fall all in, “…maybe I’m crazy, I know you’re danger, baby, you could be the death of me”. The album closes on a high note, Wish You Well, a lesson of letting go and wishing the best for someone; Gunn sings, “wish you well, I hope the next one doesn’t hurt, I know one day you’ll learn to face the things, that turned your heart to stone”. Opting out for just metaphoric songwriting, Gunn tackles the subject and her feelings directly.
Becoming a new turning point in PVRIS’s career and Lynn’s path toward more creative control; Use Me showcases the growth of PVRIS as a band.
Note: 070 Shake does not have a feature on the physical editions of the album.
Ranking: 9/10
Top Tracks: Stay Gold, Death of Me, Use Me
Honorable mentions (EP): Nightmare, Things Are Better
4. EVERGREEN (2023)
Departing from Warner due to creative differences, PVRIS signs to Hopeless Records and Gunn has complete creative control of PVRIS and is now the face of the band. Evergreen is the first album completely controlled by Gunn; a fight she has been in since the band’s first album. The album themes around ego-death, feminism, and a reclamation of power.
In an interview with NME in 2023, Gunn said, “Evergreen is a reclamation of control in our post-pandemic culture, posing a complex discussion on fame, technology, spectacle, and female autonomy.” Gunn’s goal for this album was not to be held down to the trends of pop-culture or to fit in a box of nostalgia. PVRIS has always had a fine line between each album cycle; while staying true to the dark atmosphere of their eras, Evergreen offers a more humorous and lighter presence while balancing gritty rock and atmospheric pop. The album cover depicts Gunn headless with greenery coming out of the neck being held by her own hand. Meaning that Gunn is going through an ego-death.
On the album opener, I Don’t Wanna Do This Anymore, Gunn stresses about her future and what could happen if things don’t change, “Tell me can you feel a breakdown? Does the pressure ever phase out? I don’t ever wanna find out, what happens if we never slow down”. On Goddess, Gunn tackles misogyny and feminism at the core with raging guitars, “this shit is so exhaustin’” … quite literally. On the title track, Evergreen, the topic of death is not new to Gunn, the album closes with an anthem about living life and embracing death, “…I don’t care what they say about me ’cause I’m gonna be evergreen…” A track that was solely produced by Gunn.
Expanding into more of a organic color palette with greenery being the visual inspiration, Evergreen is their most daring work yet. Creative control has always been the goal of Gunn since the day of WN but it wasn’t until the making of Evergreen that she had the confidence to take control. Although the album is short in terms of runtime… the album makes it mark as a statement of power and confidence.
Ranking: 9/10
Top Tracks: Hype Zombies, Senti-Mental, Love Is A…
5. F.I.L.T.H (MIXTAPE) (2024)
After the release of Evergreen, Gunn embarked on several tours and in between started self-producing songs for an upcoming mixtape, F.I.L.T.H. A mixtape produced solely by Gunn featuring an all queer/female cast. The first single, Burn the Witch, featured Alice Longyu Gao and Tommy Genesis. Gunn then released Oil & Water and a song with LIGHTS, The Blob. Not much is revealed about this project other than that Gunn is the main producer on it with a female team behind her.
PVRIS’s evolution through their career is one to be remembered. Lynn Gunn made her mark as the frontwoman and forerunner of the band, which has not been easy for her. Label struggles and self-doubt has kept Lynn from achieving her potential as the heart of the band until now. A decade into music has changed not only the band members but the fanbase (ironically called CVLT). Being a queer woman in a male dominated industry has made it hard for Lynn, but nonetheless she will forever be driven by her fans and friends in the industry to keep pushing boundaries.
DISCLAIMER:
This is a complete opinionated essay of PVRIS. A band that has piqued my interest since 2020. This is to be taken with a grain of salt and with an opened mind. All sources are embedded into the quotes.
PICTURES ARE FROM GOOGLE IMAGES.
https://www.google.com/images
Thank you for reading,
xoxo, CAM