For the time being at least there’s a blanket of obscurity over L!FE UNDERGROUND, much as if the threesome were indeed perpetrators of whatever fiendish heist the convincingly dark video to their new single I Miss The Comfort, portrays. We can at least guess, with some confidence, that without masks they might be easily recognised from prior false starts, and that on NZ On Air Music reckoned their grungy alt rock track deserves airplay enough to be included on the July NewTracks compilation.

What are your given names and what instruments do you play?

Andrew Morrison (vocals), Jim Marshall (guitar) and Kevin Roberts (drums)

Are there other projects that we might know any of you from?

Flirting With Disaster, Snakes Of Iron, New Ending

What’s the background story of how L!fe Underground came to be?

We started writing music as a form of therapy not knowing where it would head, or if the songs would even leave the room. We had kept the music real close to just and our inner circle.

How and when did you come up with the project name?

As we were writing songs together a lot of the themes came from the dark places we were in, or have been at some time. Our disillusionment at the world, feeling like we were speaking from the depths or the underground.

It’s not easily searched online. Has that been problematic or of benefit?

There is another band with the name, so we decided to throw the ‘!’ In there. We liked the name and didn’t want to change it.

You seem to keep the visual imagery and info very indistinct too. Creating mystique or something else?

When we started making music again together after such a long time it was a different thing for us. We didn’t want to be associated with what we had done in the past and for people to judge this project on its own.

How has your music evolved within this L!fe Underground project ?

At the time we wrote some of these songs, we were in a pretty dark place collectively. None of us had really put ourselves out there the way we did with this music. Maybe that’s because we didn’t expect the songs to ever leave the room. It felt more like a therapy session than anything else. Over time, the writing evolved. We started by processing where we were at personally, and now we’ve come through that with something to say about the state of the world.

Aside from this release, what’s been the highlight to date? 

For the most part, we’ve been focused on writing and recording, letting the music take shape behind closed doors. The process itself has been a big journey and hearing how the songs evolved over time has been a real highlight for us. One of the biggest moments was playing our first showcase for this project late last year to friends and family. For some of us, it was the first time back on stage in years.

What made I Miss The Comfort stand out for you as a single?

This song feels like it has a nostalgic ’90s feel to it, a bit of a nod to bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, and it’s a song that’s the bridge from our earlier songwriting to where we have evolved to.

What is the story behind I Miss The Comfort?

This started out as an acoustic track and has since evolved from there. The song stems from the feeling of helplessness. We talk about the sunken place a lot, the place where it’s so bad you feel like you can’t get out. This song also explains the idea that how the comfort in emotional pain can be addictive, or like Stockholm Syndrome – in many ways it’s up to us to move forward from things that happen in our lives and to use any pain or suffering to grow as individuals. The title is a lyric from a Nirvana track from ‘In Utero’.

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

We are really proud of how the production turned out on this one. There are personal touches woven through the song (one line even referencing Andrew’s daughter). From the early writing sessions right through to the finished track, it’s been a process we’ve loved seeing come together.

Who did you record/produce the single with and where? 

We recorded the track with Chazz Hill-Hayr, he has become a very important aspect of this band through the recording process. It’s great to be able to bounce ideas and have fresh input on the songs. And Ash Wills jumps up with us to play bass and really makes these songs feel full.

What would you like listeners to take away from this song?

We would love people to have their own interpretation of the song and what it could mean for them. For us, this song comes from a dark place, but it offers the listener hope. We believe that in some way, everything happens for a reason. If you can make it out the other end there is usually a lesson or personal growth to be had. This is hard to see in the depths of it, but this is something that is important to remember.

Can we expect some more singles in 2025?

We are always writing and recording, and working on our album.

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your song.

Blindspott – Phlex
Bleeders – Out Of Time
Like A Storm – Break Free

Have any of your previous single releases been included on NewTracks?

This is our first for this project.

Are there any musical blogs or podcasts you’re super into?

Artist Friendly by Joel Madden

What are your main marketing methods?

We are just promoting on social media platforms at this stage

How can we find you on social media?

instagram.com/alifeunderground
tiktok.com/@alifeunderground
youtube.com/@aLIFEUNDERGROUND

Any last words?

We appreciate anyone taking time to connect with the music