Brooklyn-based alternative duo Nine Perfect Lives—formed by Helena Straight and Stella Wave of the rock band Hello Mary—have officially signed to London label AD 93. Today, they announce their signing to London label AD 93 and share a new single entitled “Die,” accompanied by a music video directed by Milo Hume.
The newly minted track merges art-rock experimentation with intimate folk songwriting, utilizing complex drumbeats and vocal harmonies. According to reporting, the song emerged from a period of geographic separation when Straight lived in Los Angeles while Wave remained in Brooklyn.
Long-Distance Collaboration and the Origins of ‘Die’
The seven-year musical partnership between Straight and Wave began when they were teenagers, spending nearly every day together in each other’s creative orbit. That close proximity shifted when Straight relocated to the West Coast.
“I started writing ‘Die’ when I was living in LA and Stella was still in Brooklyn,” Straight explained, as cited across the source material. “We made deliberate efforts to stay in touch and work on music, but I wasn’t yet sure when or if I was moving back to New York. I wrote and recorded a demo of the song in a few hours and realized that it was a direct response to Stella’s heartbreak and confusion about my impulsive move across the country.”
Working remotely by sending demos back and forth actually strengthened their dynamic. Fleshing out the demo together felt effortless and helped repair a creative bond that had experienced strain within the context of Hello Mary. That process made “Die” the natural choice for their first release under the new project name.
Stepping Out From Hello Mary
As the pair accumulated new material during this long-distance phase, they realized the songs belonged in a different sonic world than the direction of Hello Mary. Choosing the moniker Nine Perfect Lives offered a clean slate to showcase their current artistry rather than relying on a band name tied heavily to their teenage years.
Nine Perfect Lives share debut single "Die" via AD 93 https://t.co/vICn2aOF2W
The project’s live lineup features Straight and Wave alongside bassist Jeanne Hill and drummer Shanne Garcia.
Current Tour Dates
Nine Perfect Lives is currently on a North American tour supporting Friko, following a hometown performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Their upcoming schedule includes:
- October 27, 2026 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall (supporting Friko)
- October 28, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West (supporting Friko).
- October 30, 2026 – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room at Third Man Records (supporting Friko).
- October 31, 2026 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar (supporting Friko).
- November 6, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone 1 (supporting Lime Garden).
- November 7, 2026 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone 1 (supporting Lime Garden).
