La Luz

Based around the guitar playing and songs of Shana Cleveland, La Luz blend surf music with garage rock while giving it a mystical dash of psychedelia. Early releases were punchy and raw, capturing the band as they sounded on-stage and showcasing Cleveland's fast fingers and way with a whammy bar. As they evolved, the surf receded in favor of more muscular playing and production, as on 2018's Floating Features. By the time of 2021's self-titled album recorded with producer Adrian Younge, the group had become full-fledged psych-rockers who had learned the value of space and dynamics. 2024's News of the Universe advanced their psychedelic leanings while pondering the personal trials Cleveland experienced while writing the material.