MUNA

There’s a reason MUNA’s sparkling electro-pop music sounds tangibly familial. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson aren’t related, but they dispense life lessons and advice like older, wiser siblings, championing bold defiance and blissful self-acceptance through raging synth-pop (“Loudspeaker”), danceable dry humor (“Number One Fan”), and even leisurely country (“Anything But Me”). But it’s queer-affirming anthems like the light, acoustic sing-along “Silk Chiffon” and the soaring safe-space proclamation “I Know A Place” that highlight the trio’s commitment to fostering a loving, open community. MUNA formed in 2013 when the members met while studying at the University of Southern California. Their collaboration translated into a close friendship that has kept their music on a human level, even at its emotional extremities. “What we have come to try to integrate into our artistic vision is the fact that we’re just three best friends,” McPherson told Apple Music. “We get a kick out of each other, we hang out all the time, and we make each other laugh.”