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How Michigan's polar vortex influenced Lac La Belle's new album

http://www.laclabellemusic.com/

Lac La Belle is an acoustic duo that's bringing music of Appalachia and early Americana to the Motor City.

Stateside’s Emily Fox sat down with the duo to talk about their latest album.

You can listen to their conversation here:

Nick Schillace and Jennie Knaggs are the couple who make up Lac La Belle. Their new album, "A Friend Too Long," was released Nov. 8 in Detroit.

Schillace says when they wrote the album they tried to “work with characters and draw away from ourselves.”

Knaggs says Detroit "does have its place in our music,” noting past songs they’ve written that are specifically about Detroit. They say this new album is more about stories and ideas than actual places.

Schillace says the belief that a new art renaissance is occurring in Detroit isn’t quite an accurate portrayal.

"The city has been really consistent in a lot of ways that are positive and creative and we want to make sure it stays that way as Detroiters,” Shillace says. Knaggs says the recent view of an art renaissance is actually attention being drawn to what has always been there.

Schillace and Knaggs say they recorded their latest album during last year's "polar vortex." They were stuck in their house for several days as the cold temperatures gripped the state. They said the forced isolation allowed them to be focused and organized during the recording process, and it led to a connection being made between "A Friend Too Long" and their house. 

You can learn more about Lac La Belle at their website.

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