When Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher first met, their
connection was instantaneous. That bond still fuels their art.
As GEMS, they self-released the Medusa EP in 2013, a debut
with a remarkably mature sound. On Medusa, Lindsay’s
haunting and deeply emotive vocals provide the backbone
for Clifford’s dark and dreamy production, balancing gauzy
atmospherics with emotional heft. That mix finds new tension
and release on GEMS’ first full-length album, Kill the One You
Love. The record more deeply indulges in the group’s
evocative shadow pop, influenced by R&B production and
shoegaze. At the core of GEMS’ music is existential longing.
Lindsay and Clifford try to capture the intangible and they
arrive closest with Kill the One You Love. “Music is a
never-ending process of learning and growing and reaching,”
Clifford says. “Of stepping outside of what is familiar
and moving into a place where there aren't answers.”