La Luz

La Luz began in Seattle in 2012, when Shana Cleveland formed the band with drummer Marian Li Pino, bassist Abbey Blackwell and keyboardist Katie Jacobson. The name comes from the Spanish for "the light." Cleveland drew on surf and rock and roll acts such as Link Wray, the Ventures and Dick Dale, girl groups like the Shirelles, and the Japanese guitarist Takeshi Terauchi.

The group works in that surf-rock and early-1960s instrumental style, heavy reverb, tremolo, and clean single-note leads, softened by layered close harmony singing and organ. The results lean darker and dreamier than most surf revivalism, with slow tempos and minor keys as often as fast shuffles.

After the 2012 EP Damp Face, La Luz signed to Hardly Art and released its debut album, It's Alive, in 2013. Touring behind it nearly ended the band: a tour van skidded on ice outside Boise and was struck by a semi-trailer, injuring members and destroying their instruments.

Weirdo Shrine followed in 2015, produced by Ty Segall with a heavier, more live sound, and drew praise from The Guardian, Pitchfork and The New York Times; the band moved from Seattle to Los Angeles around the same time. Cleveland also records solo material, and later La Luz albums have been produced by collaborators including Adrian Younge.

Lineup changes have followed Cleveland's founding vision. Bassist Lena Simon and keyboardist Alice Sandahl departed the band in 2024, replaced by Lee Johnson and Maryam Qudus, changes that pushed the group toward more electronic textures on News of the Universe, released that year on Sub Pop.