Psychedelic jazz/pop trio Brainstory moved away from conventional jazz to incorporate a variety of genres, yielding a unique blend of trippy yet smooth sounds. Brothers Kevin and Tony Martin played music together from a young age, initially seeking straightforward punk jams. Through a combination of their frequent visits to a gospel church and their grandfather's collection of jazz and soul records, they eventually shifted gears to incorporate those elements. Having enrolled at separate colleges, the brothers parted ways for a time, however, upon finishing their respective degrees they reconvened in Los Angeles. After reuniting they formed an acoustic duo, which got them into the local live circuit. They met drummer Eric Hagstrom in 2012, morphing into a conventional jazz trio, something that they pursued for a couple of years. Wanting to diversify their sound, they began incorporating elements of psychedelia and soul into their music, coining the name Brainstory in the process. Their eponymous debut EP as a trio arrived in 2017. They became good friends with fellow musician Chicano Batman, joining him as a supporting act on his national tour. Batman introduced the trio to Leon Michaels and Danny Akalepse, who went on to sign them to Big Crown Records. Michaels would go on to produce their debut album, 2019's Buck. ~ Liam Martin