# La Luz (band)

La Luz is an American rock band from Seattle, founded in 2012 by Shana Cleveland, Marian Li Pino, Abbey Blackwell and Katie Jacobson. La Luz has received critical acclaim following the release of five studio albums: It's Alive, Weirdo Shrine, Floating Features, the self-titled La Luz (all on Hardly Art) and News of the Universe on Sub Pop.
La Luz is known for their "surf noir" style, with layered vocal harmonies. Their energetic live shows often include Soul Train-inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.

## History

Shana Cleveland formed the idea for La Luz 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. Cleveland put together a band of fellow Seattle musicians (drummer Marian Li Pino, bassist Abbey Blackwell and keyboardist Katie Jacobson) and they immediately started rehearsing, recording and performing. The band name comes from the Spanish for "the light". Cleveland has cited Japanese guitar player Takeshi Terauchi as her biggest guitar influence. After releasing an EP titled Damp Face in 2012, La Luz signed with Hardly Art. Shortly after the release of Damp Face Jacobson left the band and was replaced by keyboardist Alice Sandahl. They released their first full-length album, It's Alive, on Hardly Art in October 2013.
On tour supporting of Montreal, La Luz was involved in a serious automobile accident on November 5, 2013, while traveling from Boise, Idaho, to Seattle, when their tour van slipped on black ice. After crashing into a highway divider, the van was hit by a semi-trailer truck. Band members sustained injuries, and all of the instruments and merchandise were destroyed with the tour van, forcing them to cancel the remainder of the tour.
In February 2014, bassist Abbey Blackwell left the group, and was replaced by Lena Simon. In August 2015, La Luz released their second album, Weirdo Shrine, again through Hardly Art. Produced by Ty Segall, the album was more live-sounding than previous efforts, and featured heavy fuzz guitar. Weirdo Shrine received positive reviews in The Guardian, Pitchfork, and The New York Times, and the group embarked on an international tour to support its release. They moved from Seattle to Los Angeles later that year.
In February 2024, Alice Sandahl announced her departure from the band and that she was being replaced by musician and producer Maryam Qudus, who has previously performed under the name Spacemoth. Near this time, Lena Simon was replaced by Lee Johnson on bass guitar. These lineup changes (especially with Maryam Qudus) allowed the band to develop its music style, using electronic effects and arpeggiators in some songs. The next album, News of the Universe, was released in May 24 later that year by Sub Pop.

## Band members

Current
* Shana Cleveland – guitar, lead vocals (2012–present)
* Audrey Johnson – drums, backing vocals (2021–present)
* Maryam Qudus – keyboard, backing vocals (2024–present)
* Lee Johnson – bass, backing vocals (2024–present)
Former
* Alice Sandahl – keyboard, backing vocals (2012–2024)
* Lena Simon – bass, backing vocals (2014–2024)
* Marian Li Pino – drums, backing vocals (2012–2019)
* Abbey Blackwell – bass, backing vocals (2012–2014)
* Katie Jacobson – keyboard, backing vocals (2012)

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | UK DL | UK RS | UK Indie | UK Indie Br |
| It's Alive | Released: 15 October 2013 Label: Hardly Art Format: CD, CS, DL, LP | — | — | — | — |
| Weirdo Shrine | Released: 7 August 2015 Label: Hardly Art Format: CD, DL, LP | — | — | — | — |
| Floating Features | Released: 11 May 2018 Label: Hardly Art Format: CD, DL, LP | — | 13 | 33 | 10 |
| La Luz | Released: 22 October 2021 Label: Hardly Art Format: CD, DL, LP | — | 24 | 46 | 13 |
| News of the Universe | Released: 24 May 2024 Label: Sub Pop Format: CD, DL, LP | 98 | 29 | 24 | 7 |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||

### Live albums

* Live from the Black Hole (self-released, 2021)

### Instrumental albums

* La Luz Instrumentals (Hardly Art, 2022)

### Singles and EPs

| Year | Title | Details | Tracklist | Release |
| 2012 | Damp Face EP | Label: - Self-released (2012) - Burger Records (BRGR 381, 2013, 2015) - Hardly Art (HAR 080, 2016) Mixed and recorded by Johnny Goss Formats: Cassette, EP, Limited Edition, Reissue | 1. Call Me in the Day 2. Damp Face 3. Sure as Spring 4. Clear Night Sky 5. Easy Baby | Damp Face EP (2012) |
| 2013 | Call Me in the Day b/w Easy Baby | Label: - Water Wing Records (WW09, 2013) Mixed and recorded by Johnny Goss Formats: Vinyl, 7", 45RPM, Single | 1. Call Me in the Day 2. Easy Baby | It's Alive (2013) |
| 2013 | Brainwash b/w TV Dream | Label: - Suicide Squeeze (S119, SSQ119, 2013, 2015, 2016) Mixed and recorded by Johnny Goss Formats: Vinyl, 7", 45RPM, Single, Test Pressing, Limited Edition | 1. Brainwash 2. TV Dream | N/A Single |
| 2015 | I'll Be True (La Luz) b/w Misunderstood (Habibi) | Label: - Split single; Volcom Entertainment Vinyl Club (VEVC 0041, 2015) Formats: 7", 45RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered | 1. I'll Be True (La Luz) 2. Misunderstood (Habibi) | Weirdo Shrine (2015) |
| 2015 | You Disappear | Label: - Hardly Art  Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. You Disappear | Weirdo Shrine (2015) |
| 2015 | Believe My Eyes (La Luz) b/w Don't Want That (Scully) | Label: - Split single; Famous Class, (FC 032, 2015) Formats: 7", 45RPM, Limited Edition, Single | 1. Believe My Eyes (La Luz) 2. Don't Want That (Scully) | Less Artists More Condos #16 (2015) |
| 2015 | Clear Night Sky (La Luz) b/w Take a Short Breath (Old Lacy Bed) | Label: - Split single; 2670records (2015) Formats: 7", Single, Limited Edition, Record Store Day | 1. Clear Night Sky (La Luz) 2. Take a Short Breath (Old Lacy Bed) | N/A Single |
| 2016 | Live! at Sonic Boom Records 10/15/13 | Label: - Analog Ghost Recordings (2016) - Burger Records (BRGR 381, 2013, 2015) - Hardly Art (HAR 080, 2016) Record Store Day 2016 release, edition of 30. Includes instructions on configuring a tone arm and photograph of the show. Formats: 7", Limited Edition, Record Store Day | 1. Pink Slime 2. Damp Face | Live! at Sonic Boom Records 10/15/13 (2016) |
| 2018 | Cicada | Label: - Hardly Art (2018) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. Cicada | Floating Features (2018) |
| 2018 | California Finally | Label: - Hardly Art (2018) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. California Finally | Floating Features (2018) |
| 2018 | Loose Teeth | Label: - Hardly Art (2018) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. Loose Teeth | Floating Features (2018) |
| 2021 | In the Country | Label: - Hardly Art (2021) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. In the Country | La Luz (2021) |
| 2021 | The Pines | Label: - Hardly Art (2021) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. The Pines | La Luz (2021) |
| 2021 | Metal Man | Label: - Hardly Art (2021) Formats: CD-R, Single, Promo | 1. Metal Man | La Luz (2021) |
| 2022 | Endless Afternoon b/w San Fernando Blues | Label: - Hardly Art (HAR, 144, 2022) Formats: 7", 45RPM, CD-R, Promo | 1. Endless Afternoon 2. San Fernando Blues | N/A Single |
| 2024 | Strange World | Label: - Sub Pop (2024) Formats: | 1. Strange World | News of the Universe (2024) |
| 2024 | Poppies | Label: - Sub Pop (2024) Formats: | 1. Poppies | News of the Universe (2024) |
| 2024 | I'll Go With You | Label: - Sub Pop (2024) Formats: | 1. I'll Go With You | News of the Universe (2024) |
| 2024 | Always in Love | Label: - Sub Pop (2024) Formats: | 1. Always in Love | News of the Universe (2024) |