Article by Angelina Hazzouri. Photos by Christopher Petrus
The first time I saw Chanel Beads live was at Sundownstairs in January 2023 on an unassuming Thursday night. I remember watching the set and thinking, does everyone know about this? More people should definitely know about this. I genuinely had never heard anything like it.
If you haven’t heard of Chanel Beads, meet the experimental electronic project of Shane Lavers, with support from bandmates Maya McGrory (vocals) and Zachary Paul (violin). On May 1, they celebrated the release of new album Your Day Will Come at a sold-out show at TV Eye in Ridgewood. As I was walking up to the venue, I overheard someone greet her friend saying, “I don’t have a ticket, but I need to get in somehow.” Everyone who wanted to be there was there.
Inside, I felt the anticipation and excitement of the night around me, noticing people of all ages—not just the usual DIY scene—there to see the show. I ran into a few friends who had seen Chanel Beads live before, and all of us agreed this show felt different than previous. Lavers’ project has gained quite the momentum in the last several months since the November release of his single Police Scanner—a dreamy, atmospheric song with powerful lyrics that evoke a sense of longing and hope. It’s the kind of song you’d hear in a soundtrack to a coming-of-age indie film, and I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t make it into one by the end of next year.
In between opening sets by Fernette and More Eaze, I ran into Lavers and McGrory whom I’ve hung out with a few times at parties and shows. Two of the most humble people I’ve met in the scene, they both expressed their gratitude for our friends being at the show and asked if we’d want to come hang in the greenroom before their set. I felt lucky to watch More Eaze’s set from backstage with Lavers and McGrory and a handful of our mutual friends. It was a reminder that no matter how big Chanel Beads gets, we’re all still here to support each other’s art.
After experiencing More Eaze’s beautiful set, I wished Lavers and McGrory luck (they don’t need it) and went back into the bar area to grab a friend of mine who had just arrived. We headed into the GA area of the venue—which had become totally packed—and shifted our way to the middle of the crowd, sandwiched between Chanel Beads fans discussing the new album and putting in earplugs and asking “Do you have room?” and “Can you see?”
Around 10:15, ethereal sounds of nature and instrumentals began playing, and we watched Lavers take the stage with his bandmates for what was about to be an incredible show. Saying few words and rather focusing on the music, Chanel Beads played several songs off Your Day Will Come against a deep blue, glittering backdrop, and the crowd was completely entranced in the sound. I noticed that very few phones were up during the set—people were truly there to listen to the music, and it’s hard not to. Chanel Beads has such a unique sound that it’s difficult to even consider putting them into a genre—they’re creating one of their own. With often cinematic instrumentals that blend elements of different genres and profound lyricism, Chanel Beads’ music completely immerses the listener into a mesmerizing experience. This show was a testament to that, as the crowd was totally engaged, and it felt special to be sharing the emotive nature of Chanel Beads’ beautiful new record in that intimate space.
During Police Scanner, everyone sang along. My first time hearing it live, I made a note in my phone, “police scanner such a banger knew it on the first listen.” As the set progressed, the energy became more buzzy, more electric. For 2022 hit single Ef, one fan crowd-surfed as everyone else in the room scream-sang with Lavers and McGrory, Paul’s violin sounds searing the atmosphere. They ended with True Altruism, and it seemed that no one in the room wanted the set to be over. I could watch a Chanel Beads show forever.
Your Day Will Come is out now on Jagjaguwar.