low Crush are a band that thrives on evolution. After their acclaimed debut Aurora—dubbed by Stereogum as “phenomenal” and “one of the best shoegaze albums of all time”—they toured relentlessly, building a global fanbase drawn to their immersive, swirling soundscapes.   Their second album Hush continued their ascent, leading to sold-out shows and international acclaim. New music took a back seat for a while as the band focused on life on the road, but the four-year gap between Hush and their latest release brought fresh perspective and creative renewal.   When it came time to record, vocalist / bassist Isa Holliday, guitarist Jelle Ronsmans, and drummer Frederik Meeuwis headed to The Ranch in Southampton, UK, to work with producer Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard,…). Johns pushed the band beyond their usual boundaries, encouraging experimentation and spontaneity—from glitchy textures and kitchen-recorded snare hits to the unexpected addition of saxophone on the track “Covet.”   This spirit of transformation runs throughout the new record. Sonically, it’s heavier and more layered, contrasting dreamy vocals with gritty guitars, capturing a new emotional intensity. Isa dug deeper than ever before in her lyrics and vocal performance, exploring themes of emotional burnout, reconnection, and the push-pull of life on and off the road. At its core, the album reflects a desire for clarity and emotional truth—balancing heaviness with intimacy. It’s a record about being tethered yet weightless, lost yet searching, and above all, embracing music as a space for stillness, reflection, and transcendence. “We want people to feel embraced by the music,” Isa says. “To let go and be taken somewhere else—into another dimension, even. A place where they can just be present.”

Faetooth is a three-piece “fairy doom” band originating from Los Angeles. The group is composed of Ari May as guitarist and vocalist, Jenna Garcia as bassist and vocalist, and Rah Kanan on drums. Formed in 2019, the group sought to navigate personal vulnerability and musical experimentation by delving deep into the nature of self, the beauty inherent in the natural world, and the captivating mysteries that surround us. Drawing inspiration from doom metal, black metal, shoegaze, and sludge, the term “fairy-doom” aptly characterizes their distinctive fusion of sounds.