5 Q&A With Lemon Generation
How does "Space Garden" reflect your musical journey and growth as a band?
“Space Garden” is a cornerstone of our journey - it was one of the first songs we ever wrote, and has evolved alongside us. We’ve given it the most time and care of any of our songs, refining it over the years as our sound and vision have matured. When we first wrote it, it was simple—a handful of chord variations and a straightforward structure. But as we grew as musicians and collaborators, we kept layering in textures and nuances, turning it into something much more expansive. That evolution reflects how we approach music now - never settling on a song’s initial form. We take our time, experimenting and pushing beyond the core five-piece band arrangement we use for live shows. “Space Garden” also deepened our trust in each other as songwriters, allowing us to carve out our own parts while still creating something cohesive. That spirit of collaboration is something we carry into everything we make.
How did you approach the arrangement and composition of the music for this single?
Like many of our songs, “Space Garden” began as a raw demo—just guitar chords, lyrics, and a melody. From the start, it was a deeply collaborative effort. Caroline wrote the verses and pre-chorus, while Brie wrote the chorus and bridge, drawing from poetry she had written about a breakup. Handro crafted the lead guitar parts, including an epic solo, while Jordan shaped the drums and Phoebe laid down the bass.
Over the years, the song kept evolving with new harmonies and deep piano chords. After recording and moving to San Francisco, we realized it had room for even more textures. Our new guitarist, Andrew, added a dreamy slide guitar part, and our new bassist, Udit, introduced a harmonica outro that felt like the perfect send-off. It’s our most collaborative song ever—every member has left their mark, shaping it into something bigger than we ever imagined.
What impact do you hope "Space Garden" will have on your audience?
“Space Garden” is the lead single from our upcoming sophomore album, Music for Cowboys, which tells the story of a lonesome Space Cowboy and his misadventures. Through the metaphor of a distant space society, Brie explores a lot of deeply personal and universal themes—heartbreak, capitalism, climate change, childhood trauma—all wrapped in a sci-fi narrative with a cast of characters. This song, in particular, takes the perspective of the Space Cowboy’s scorned lover as she processes the heartbreak of him leaving her behind.
More than anything, we want “Space Garden” to be a cathartic experience. Whether someone connects with the heartbreak in the lyrics or simply wants to feel swept up in the emotional waves of the music, we hope it resonates. There’s something powerful about letting yourself feel big emotions through a song, even if they’re not your own.
Can you tell us more about you as a band?
We like to think of ourselves as your gay uncle’s favorite indie rock band. Lemon Generation was born in Isla Vista, California, raised on house shows and downtown bar shows, and now calls San Francisco home. Our sound lives somewhere at the crossroads of indie rock, emo, and folk—blending sweeping melodies with raw, heartfelt lyricism. We want our music to hit you right in the feelings, whether that means nostalgia, catharsis, or just the urge to belt along.
Our upcoming album, Music for Cowboys, takes that emotional depth and channels it into storytelling, following the journey of a lonesome Space Cowboy—a man haunted by his past, living in solitude on the moon with only his beers and his Space Cadillac to keep him company. It’s a record full of big themes—love, loss, existential dread—all wrapped in shimmering guitars, soaring harmonies, and cinematic soundscapes.
The current lineup of Lemon Generation is Brie (guitar/vocals), Caroline (vocals), Jordan (drums), Andrew (guitar), and Udit (bass). We each bring our own unique influences and strengths to the band, but at the core, we’re just a group of friends who love making music together. Whether it’s in a packed venue or a tiny living room, we aim to create something immersive—something that makes people feel.
Can you share an instance where you felt a strong connection with the crowd during a show?
“Space Garden” has given us some of our most powerful moments on stage. The way it shifts the energy of a room is something we’ll never take for granted. After a set full of punchy, upbeat indie rock songs, this one starts off mellow and atmospheric, and you can feel the crowd settle into it. People stop moving. They listen. Then, as the song builds into its huge crescendo, there’s this collective tension and release that fills the room—it’s electric.
Even back when we were playing backyard house shows in Isla Vista, people would stop what they were doing just to listen to this song. We’d have strangers and neighbors wander over, drawn in by it. Those moments are special because they remind us why we do this—to create something that pulls people in, that makes them feel. Seeing an audience fully immersed in something we made together is pure magic.
