Emerging from the isolation of his quarantined apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dylan Gallimore found the spark for his new music project, The Lower Aetna. After his previous band, Honeyjar, went on indefinite hiatus, Gallimore turned to songwriting as a creative outlet while battling the novel Coronavirus.
Wrapped in an afghan knitted by his mom, he launched this new adventure, inviting his childhood best friend and bandmate, Kayla Rae Molocznik, to join him. Inspired by a lake from his South Jersey upbringing, The Lower Aetna quickly became a refuge for artistic exploration. Their debut album, *Waiting For God To Turn On The Lights*, tackles the heavy theme of online conspiracies tearing families apart, showcasing their knack for storytelling. The upcoming album, *Pine*, promises to delve deeper into Gallimore’s experiences as a queer man in the Pine Barrens, blending various genres like folk, alt-country, and classic rock.
With their latest single, “Blood Moon,” the band embraces a moody alt-country vibe. The song, influenced by Gallimore’s own teenage struggles for connection while working on a farm, resonates with themes of loneliness and desire. Recorded in a DIY style across homes in Philadelphia, “Blood Moon” features rich instrumentation and soulful harmonies, capturing the essence of The Lower Aetna’s evolving sound. It’s a powerful reminder of how art can flourish in the most unexpected circumstances, turning personal experiences into universal stories.
