Known for delivering enticing and atmospheric soundscapes comprising ethereal guitar work, yearning lyrics, and resonant synths, Lo Moon are an alternative pop/rock outfit based in Los Angeles, California. Made up of frontman Matt Lowell (guitar/vocals), Crisanta Baker (synth/bass/samples), and Sam Stewart (guitar), the group first appeared on the scene in the latter half of 2016, although the project had been evolving for many years prior. Around 2011, principal songwriter Lowell had begun planting the seeds of what would become the project’s first single, “Loveless.” The track went through many changes in terms of lyrics, sound, and length. During this time, Lowell relocated from his native New York to Los Angeles, where he encountered Baker and Stewart, and Lo Moon become a collaborative effort. With Baker and Stewart’s talents and input, “Loveless” wound up being a seven-minute epic that sprawled and transcended light and dark, both lyrically and aurally. After putting out the song online, it began to garner widespread attention and praise from the likes of Pharrell Williams on Beats 1 Music and the Temper Trap frontman Dougy Mandagi. Many also began to draw comparisons to fellow atmospheric acts with weighted songwriting under their belt — from the xx and Massive Attack to the Cocteau Twins and Fleetwood Mac. However, the band decided to hold back in delivering further material and let “Loveless” stand as the sole representation of their sound for quite some time. During this “hibernation period,” the track’s demo was eventually passed on to producer and former Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla. Impressed with the layered sound palette and the band’s approach to the writing process, Walla went on to help produce their debut album after they signed with Columbia. Activity was also rife outside of the studio, with the ensemble going on to open for the Temper Trap, Muna, and the Lemon Twigs, both in the U.S. and overseas. Lo Moon’s eponymous debut full-length arrived in February 2018. ~ Rob Wacey