"I had no intention to ever write any sort of anti-establishment songs," admits Roe Kapara, the incisive songwriter hailing from Los Angeles by way of St. Louis. "I think it's just the shock of living right now." With half a million monthly Spotify listeners sharing his sense of hopelessness about the world they've inherited, Kapara translates the frustrations of coming of age in modern America into five sharp-witted songs on his EP Big Cigars and Satin Shorts. In this second release under Epitaph Records, Kapara marries a radical punk ethos with electrifying indie-rock spirit, offering a poignant reflection of how an entire generation of desensitized, bleeding-heart young people are feeling.

Combining swelling choruses, plucky melodies, explosive riffs, and razor-sharp lyrics, Kapara confronts the absurdity of modern life with both humor and angst. Throughout the project, he passionately addresses wealth disparity, corporate greed, and the illusion of the American Dream. He gives voice to the mix of fury and despair that arises from witnessing friends, family, and generational peers be consistently let down by institutions with lofty promises.

Kapara recognizes that even those rejecting the status quo, like himself, aren't immune to societal pressures. His jaunty tune "Dumb" calls out the judgmental blows and subtle digs from family members trying to force conformity and instill feelings of inadequacy while he carves his own path and follows his dreams.