La Luz

La Luz formed in Seattle in 2012 around guitarist and singer Shana Cleveland, bassist Lena Simon, keyboardist Alex Bonenfant, and drummer Marian Li Pino. They started with a shared interest in surf and garage rock, which gave their early work a sun-bleached, reverb-heavy quality. Their first albums, like 2014's 'It's Alive' and 2015's 'Weirdo Shrine,' established that dreamy, slightly psychedelic sound.

Over time, the lineup shifted. Bonenfant left in 2019, and Cleveland began handling keyboards along with guitar. Bassist Abbey Blackwell joined later. Through these changes, they kept making records, including 2018's 'Floating Features' and 2022's 'Visions.' Songs like 'Sure As Spring' and 'California Finally' show how their sound holds onto that surf-rock shimmer while letting the arrangements breathe a little more.

Their music sometimes draws comparisons to older acts, which led to some debate when 'I Can't Speak' was mentioned alongside The Velvet Underground's 'Femme Fatale.' They denied any plagiarism, but the conversation highlighted how their work nods to certain traditions without strictly replicating them. They're still at it, quietly refining that hazy, melodic approach they've had from the start.