La Luz (band)

La Luz is an American rock band from Los Angeles, founded in 2012 by Shana Cleveland, Marian Li Pino, Alice Sandahl, and Lena Simon. La Luz has received critical acclaim following the release of three studio albums It's Alive, Weirdo Shrine,[1] and Floating Features on Hardly Art. [2]

La Luz
Performing on tour in 2015
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, United States
GenresSurf music, doo wop, neo-psychedelia
Years active2012–present
LabelsHardly Art, Burger Records
Websiteluzer.online
Members
Past members
  • Marian Li Pino
  • Abbey Blackwell

La Luz is known for their "surf noir" style with layered vocal harmonies.[3] Their energetic live shows often include Soul Train-inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.[4]

History
La Luz performing in New Orleans, LA

Shana Cleveland and Marian Li Pino (former members of Seattle band The Curious Mystery) formed La Luz in Seattle, Washington with Alice Sandahl and bassist Abbey Blackwell after being inspired by surf and rock and roll acts like Link Wray, The Ventures, and Dick Dale, as well as girl groups like The Shirelles.[5][6] Cleveland has cited Japanese guitar player Takeshi Terauchi as her biggest guitar influence.[7] After releasing an EP titled Damp Face in 2012, La Luz signed with Hardly Art and released their first full-length album titled It's Alive in October 2013.

While on tour supporting of Montreal on November 5, 2013, La Luz was involved in a serious automobile accident on the road traveling from Boise, ID to Seattle, WA as their tour van slipped on black ice. After crashing into a highway divider, their van was then hit by a semi-trailer truck.[8] Band members sustained injuries, and all of the instruments and merchandise were destroyed with the tour van and trailer, forcing them to cancel the remainder of the tour.[9]

In February 2014, bassist Abbey Blackwell left the group,[10] and was replaced by Lena Simon.[11] La Luz released their second album, Weirdo Shrine, in August 2015, again through Hardly Art. Produced by Ty Segall, the album was a more live-sounding recording than previous efforts, and featured heavy fuzz guitar.[12][13][14] Weirdo Shrine received positive reviews in The Guardian, Pitchfork[15][16] and The New York Times, and the group embarked on an international tour to support its release. They went on to move from Seattle to Los Angeles later that year.[17][18]

Band members
Current members
  • Shana Cleveland - guitar, lead vocals (2012–present)
  • Alice Sandahl - keyboard, backing vocals (2012–present)
  • Lena Simon - bass, backing vocals (2014–present)
Former members
  • Marian Li Pino - drums, backing vocals (2012–2019)
  • Abbey Blackwell - bass, backing vocals (2012–2014)

Discography

Albums

EP

See also

Shana Cleveland

References
  1. Presley, Katie (July 29, 2015). "Review: La Luz, 'Weirdo Shrine'". NPR.
  2. Kapoor, Vikesh (May 11, 2018). "Pop Review: La Luz: Floating Features'". The Times.
  3. Lobenfeld, Claire (September 16, 2013). "La Luz: "Pink Slime" (Stereogum Premiere)". stereogum.com.
  4. Douglas, Martin (September 16, 2013). "La Luz Just Wants Us All To Dance And Cry". MTV.com.
  5. Spicer, Justin (March 8, 2012). "Shana Cleveland Talks The Curious Mystery, Touring, and the Seattle Music Scene". SSGmusic.com.
  6. Segarra, Brooke (July 30, 2013). "Q&A: La Luz". CMJ.com.
  7. Ventura, Leslie (March 17, 2016). "The Weekly Interview: La Luz Frontwoman Shana Cleveland". Las Vegas Weekly.
  8. Brodsky, Rachel (March 26, 2015). "La Luz Triumph Over Near-Fatal Car Accident on New, Ty Segall-Produced Album". SPIN.
  9. Savage, Emily (November 6, 2013). "Seattle surf rock band La Luz in severe car accident". San Francisco Bay Guardian Online.
  10. Abbey Blackwell on Facebook
  11. La Luz on Facebook
  12. Reiff, Corbin (August 7, 2015) "La Luz subverts the surf-rock sound on Weirdo Shrine," A.V. Club. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
  13. Wing, Jaclyn (October 5, 2015) "LA LUZ on surviving a near-fatal car accident & producing new LP with Ty Segall," Archived 2015-11-17 at the Wayback Machine Performer. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
  14. Geslani, Michelle (May 14, 2015) "La Luz announces new Ty Segall-produced album, shares 'You Disappear' - listen," Consequence of Sound. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
  15. Jack, Malcolm (20 October 2015) "La Luz review – surf 'n' mirth with a sinister undertow," The Guardian. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
  16. Hood, Lindsay (August 3, 2015) "La Luz - Weirdo Shrine," Pitchfork. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
  17. La Luz on Facebook
  18. Gospe, Andrew (December 31, 2015) "Your New Year’s Eve in Seattle music: Shabazz Palaces, La Luz and more," The Seattle Times. Retrieved on May 21, 2016.
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