A lot of indie bands on the verge of a breakthrough love to talk about the chemistry between members that drives their music, but Dayton, Ohio based pop-rockers Lithium Seven take this concept a step further-on their website (http://www.lithiumseven.com/), they actually explain the parallels between the science behind their clever yet spot on band moniker and the magic that happens when they're writing and performing. Vocalists and guitarists Shawn and Soren Gormley, multi-instrumentalist Jim Armstrong (vocals, bass, mandolin, keyboards, guitar) and drummer Jon Carroll introduce their unique mix of folk, alt-rock, Americana, pop and blues to the world with their debut three song EP Something Else Is Waiting. 

According to theory, lithium was one of the few elements synthesized in the Big Bang. 7Li is one of the primordial elements, or, more properly, primordial isotopes, produced in Big Bang nucleosynthesis. The band members liked the primordial element concept, because the bond that they feel with each other and the chemistry between them feels very primordial. 7Li is stable with 4 neutrons...and L7 has 4 members that keep the band balanced and stable. Due to its high reactivity, it only appears naturally in the form of compound...much like their musical creations, they are only forged through combining our individual efforts and experiences.

Lithium Seven evolved from the remains of the Gormley Brothers' previous band, Emily's Motives, whose live show was "intimate, sonically rich and deeply inspiring...The parts all gel like they've done this together all their lives" (Rick Gray, The Music Café). The Gormleys took their craft to an even deeper level when they began collaborating with the multi-talented Armstrong, whose keen melodic sense and ability to play so many different instruments complemented the brothers' stripped back acoustic vibe; Armstrong previously worked with such acts as Moriah, Ebbenflo and The Lisa Travis Band. The trio released the all-acoustic 7-track album Spills Like Wine, whose song "November Leaves" was later used in director Rick Davis' independent film "The Promise." A few years later, versatile drummer Carroll (formerly of Kill Osker, Drag Strip 77 and The Enablers) joined the band. His rhythmic contributions took the group to a new level, inspiring an exploration of what they call "new sonic geographies."

"Between the time the four of us realized we were creating something special as a band and the release of Something Else Is Waiting, Shawn and I worked diligently on our songwriting to the point where we were confident enough to start recording our songs," says Soren. "We also spent some time building our own studio, which allows us to be a completely DIY outfit. The songs on the EP reflect the more rock oriented sound we have now and show the full on collaborative effort we bring to each tune. The songs end up much better than when they start out because each member adds his own input to it. As writers, I focus on social concepts, Shawn delves into relationships and Jon and Jim complement our melodies by bringing incredible grooves to the songs. Our next release will have more electric guitars and will have a slightly more alternative flavor. That's the direction we are evolving in."

Originally, the Gormleys were the driving force behind songwriting for the band. However, the four-piece tribe has forged a truly symbiotic process for crafting engaging songs. Shawn says, "We hope that our songs speak to people and that we are enlightened by the ensuing dialogue."

The three tracks comprising Something Else Is Waiting truly accomplish this. The jangling, mid-tempo opener "Arizona" is a cool, happy love song Shawn wrote about coming to understand things that you want in your life. The more percussive and rocking "Get To Montana" is Soren's  spirited travelogue about a cross country trip he took with a college friend, learning about new places and people and coming to the conclusion that in many ways, people are all the same. Written by Shawn and Soren, the title track began organically with just a riff and a melody, but came to embody Lithium Seven's larger ambitions-trying to get further in their careers, knowing it's difficult to get people's attention yet knowing big things are just around the corner.

"The four of us aspire to share our music with a larger audience," Soren says, "and we hope the topics we sing about will resonate with people as our personal experience connect on a more universal level. We really connect to the concept of Lithium being an element that cannot exist by itself and needs to be with other elements. That idea perfectly captures the way we collaborate, and now we're excited about translating that to the live setting." Jon Carroll adds, "We've stayed together because we are all close friends, and that respect translates to our music and permeates everything we do. We are all musically compatible and respect the other's abilities. Lithium Seven is a great situation for all of us."