We Speak Music

The Lower Aetna Deliver Masterful Tune ‘Blood Moon’

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2024

Emerging from the quiet solitude of his quarantined apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dylan Gallimore found inspiration in the most unlikely of places. After his previous band, Honeyjar, went on indefinite hiatus, Gallimore turned to songwriting as a lifeline while grappling with the novel Coronavirus. Wrapped in the comfort of an afghan knitted by his mom, Gallimore embarked on a new musical journey, birthing The Lower Aetna—a project deeply rooted in both personal and artistic exploration.

This new chapter in Gallimore’s career sees him partnering with his childhood best friend and former bandmate, Kayla Rae Molocznik. Together, they have crafted a musical refuge, drawing inspiration from a lake in South Jersey that was a fixture of Gallimore’s upbringing. The Lower Aetna’s debut album, Waiting For God To Turn On The Lights, introduced listeners to their remarkable storytelling abilities, tackling the emotionally charged topic of online conspiracies tearing families apart. With their upcoming album, Pine, Gallimore is set to explore even deeper, more personal themes, particularly his experiences as a queer man in the Pine Barrens, all while blending genres like folk, alt-country, and classic rock.

Their latest single, “Blood Moon,” is a hauntingly beautiful entry into the band’s evolving sound. With a moody alt-country vibe, the song captures the essence of Gallimore’s teenage years, filled with struggles for connection while working on a farm. The raw emotion embedded in “Blood Moon” speaks to themes of loneliness and longing, universal feelings that resonate deeply with listeners.

Recorded in a DIY fashion across homes in Philadelphia, “Blood Moon” showcases the band’s rich instrumentation and soulful harmonies. This approach not only adds a layer of intimacy to the track but also highlights the creative resilience that has defined The Lower Aetna from its inception. The song is a powerful reminder of how art can flourish in the most unexpected circumstances, turning personal experiences into universal stories that speak to the human condition.

The Lower Aetna’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of music, where personal adversity can give rise to profound artistic expression. As Gallimore and Molocznik continue to explore new sonic landscapes, their music remains a beacon of authenticity, inviting listeners to join them on a path of discovery and connection. “Blood Moon” is not just a single—it’s an invitation to dive deeper into the world of The Lower Aetna, where every note and lyric reflects the raw, unfiltered experiences of life.

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We Speak R&B

Syd Brings the Beard Tour to the Tabernacle on November 24

Published

3 hours ago

November 4, 2026

We Speak Media

Syd performing live on stage, singing into a microphone under spotlights

Syd performing live on stage. Photo courtesy of Syd (official Instagram).

Syd’s Beard Tour plays the Tabernacle on Tuesday, November 24, a late November stop on the 22 date North American run behind her third solo album, with no opener announced and none needed.

Atlanta’s R&B fall gets its centerpiece on Tuesday, November 24, when Syd headlines the Tabernacle on the Beard Tour. The 22 date North American run opened in Vancouver on November 7 and closes at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on December 16, passing through Camp Flog Gnaw on the way, and it is built entirely around the strongest solo record of her career.

That record is Beard, her third solo album, released July 17 through Free Lunch and Warner Records, her first LP in four years and one she co-produced herself. The collaborator list reads like a roll call of modern soul: Raphael Saadiq, Big Sean, Rodney Jerkins, James Fauntleroy and Van Hunt all appear across its 12 tracks. The album folds in “GMFU,” first released as a standalone single in September 2025, produced by Jerkins with Saadiq on bass, here in a version featuring Big Sean, and it was led by “Callin,” featuring Blu June. Earlier single “Die For This,” from July 2025, was her first new song in over three years and started the whole campaign.

Syd’s standing in the culture is larger than any single billing: co-founder of The Internet, and a GRAMMY winning songwriter whose credits include Beyoncé’s “Plastic Off the Sofa.” But a Beard show is a different proposition from the résumé. No opener is announced for the Atlanta date, just Syd, the band and a room that has hosted every kind of music Atlanta loves. Tuesday night at the Tabernacle belongs to her alone.