Optometry’s sophomore album, Lemuria, is a self-described sci-fi musical diary—a deeply personal record that processes the year’s events through introspection and creative exploration. Diverging from the approach of their debut album, After-Image, this time the entire project was crafted in person, with John Tejada and March Adstrum sharing the production process equally.
The writing unfolded spontaneously, as Adstrum drew lyrics from her surreal diary entries, shaping a collection of songs that explore themes of rebirth, loss, and closure.
At its core, Lemuria is a response to anxiety and uncertainty. Faced with upheaval in their personal lives, the duo built their own imaginative world—a refuge from fear and unease. The album’s vulnerability shines through its storytelling, reflecting a journey of letting go and finding resolution.
forging new possibilities
“Fear (is the Mind Killer),” represents a cathartic attempt to break free from feelings of entrapment. “Another Shield” memorializes Adstrum’s grandfather, while “99” delves into a dystopian narrative, rejecting nostalgia in favor of forward motion.
The latter uses the metaphor of vanished businesses to underscore the necessity of growth and change. A line from Breakfast at Tiffany’s served as a guiding inspiration for Adstrum: “thinking about the future while talking about the past.” This sentiment threads through Lemuria, offering both closure and a fearless embrace of the unknown.
Themes of creation and destruction intertwine, particularly on the track “Comets,” which examines how endings and beginnings often mirror each other, forging new possibilities.
embracing experimentation
Musically, Lemuria is as dynamic as its themes, seamlessly merging classic electronic and indie rock influences. Adstrum’s evocative vocals, along with the duo’s intricate guitar and drum work, are transformed through digital manipulation. Listeners will hear a range of moods and tempos—from the contemplative depths of “Target Practice” to the vibrant energy of “Bon Voyage.”
This sonic juxtaposition is also evident on the third single, “99,” where Adstrum’s bit-crushed guitar riffs, backed by Tejada’s breakbeat-chopped drum track, oscillate between decay and reinvention.
The album’s soundscape is unpredictable, moving across styles and embracing experimentation at every turn. Tejada and Adstrum’s chemistry thrives in this fluid environment with each track offering a fresh perspective.
Beyond the music, Lemuria carries an intimate visual identity. After the tragic passing of their collaborator Simone Ling earlier in the year, Tejada and Adstrum chose to handle all the album’s design elements themselves. The result is a project that feels deeply personal and intricately connected to the duo’s journey.
Artist: Optometry (John Tejada & March Adstrum)
Album: Lemuria
Label: Palette Recordings
Release Date: Feb 21st, 2025 (limited vinyl, digital, all platforms)
About the artists:
Optometry…
Is a Los Angeles-based music duo comprised of electronic musician John Tejada and singer March Adstrum. The band focuses on themes of life, love and loss, weaving seductively melancholic textures together with synths, drum machines, guitars and bass.
Adstrum’s ethereal voice brings the electronics to life with heartfelt expression and emotion, while Tejada’s use of vintage rhythm boxes, synths and effects provide a solid sense of authenticity.
John Tejada…
Is a Vienna-born, Los Angeles-based electronic music composer, DJ, and professor at CalArts. Tejada’s professional output of music began in 1994 and has never let up, including five albums for the revered label Kompakt, plus releases on Pokerflat, Cocoon, Plug Research, Seventh City, Playhouse, Defected, and his own label since 1996, Palette Recordings.
Tejada has also been responsible for remixing more than 100 songs for acts including Orbital, The Postal Service, Télépopmusic, The Field, Bomb the Bass, Way Out West, Kevin Saunderson, Plaid, Psychic TV, Gui Boratto, Simian Mobile Disco and many others.
March Adstrum…
Was raised by two Baroque violinists, first influenced by the orchestral works of J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Friedrich Handel, among others. From the age of 6 months she traveled backstage with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Musica Angelica, and Portland Baroque Orchestra. At the same time she was being raised in a fishing village located in a temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest.
Her family taught her to value human connection, nature, and kindness. As she learned about the state of the world, she realized that she wanted to bring something with a good heart into being that could maybe help others feel less alone. At the age of 18, she moved to Los Angeles to study at California Institute of the Arts, where she discovered a great love for punk music, electronics, indie rock, and the D.I.Y. community.
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