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Tiffany Stanley  Credit: band_lacuna on IG While it may be nearing winter, warm summery vibes are always in season. There’s one group that always comes to mind when you crave those sounds and that group is Lacuna. Lacuna is a 4-piece Korean Indie group whose sound is made for those warm weather cravings and there’s no better album to listen to than the aptly named ‘Summer Tales.’ ‘Summer Tales’ is Lacuna’s 4th EP (after ‘Incompleteness Dream’ (2018), ’Garden’ (2020), ‘Hello, Wonderland’ (2021)). It was released right before the summer of 2022 and the vibes make it the perfect EP to have on repeat. Lacuna’s lo-fi indie sound shines really brightly on this EP. The opener and title track, YOU, sets the tone with hard guitars and drums that build into an atmospheric climax. It’s a quintessential indie jam. Always Summer is a slow jam that builds on the atmospheric sounds introduced in the opener. Happy Puppy and Mung are two songs that are just filled with positive vibes. The guitars mixed with peppy vocals on top of toe tapping beats, make them a perfect recipe for a serotonin boost! And just as all good things must come to an end, Moonshower wraps up ‘Summer Tales’ in the best way possible. Moonshower is a four and a half minute song that really takes you to space with distant guitars and drums. It really makes you feel like you're floating until the very end. Lacuna really delivered on ‘Summer Tales.’ It’s their signature lofi sound that they have come to continuously build on. But ‘Summer Tales’ sticks out because it has their added maturity. Each of Lacuna’s EPs seems to build on their story and ‘Summer Tales’ really showcases their best chapter with a summery vibe and fun lyrics. For those reasons, it will continue to be on repeat now and forever.
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Tiffany Stanley  Credit: @monetngo on IG Love, loss, and the yearnings for answers of who we are; these are all themes in Monét Ngo’s music and debut EP, ‘After School Club.’ From humble beginnings as a Vietnamese-American music teacher, Monét Ngo has really made a name for himself in the indie community. His song, Ruby Sparks, became a stand out track in the TikTok community and around the internet. He has captured everyone’s attention with his relatable lyrics and charming personality. These are some of the many aspects that shine through on his debut EP, ‘After School Club’ which was released in 2022. Spanning 8 tracks, ‘After School Club,’ is the indie-pop record of your dreams; the dreams of love and the inevitable heartbreak (on songs like Ruby Sparks and Real Ass Love Story), the dreams of a future (Lonestar and Strawberry Fields), and more. Monét’s lyrics shine through brilliantly through a bedroom production. His voice also has a unique rawness to it. On top of the distant guitars, space-y synths, and soft drumming it makes everything feel so real, raw, and relatable. You feel as if you are living in his dreams. There isn’t a lot of music that cultivates this type of vibe but Monét finds a great way to showcase to listeners. ‘After School Club,’ is Monét Ngo’s brilliant brain in music form. With it full of songs that really feel relatable and emotional, it’s an EP that you can really get lost into. It’s an escape. Monét still may be a bit of a hidden gem but this talent definitely can’t go unnoticed. ‘After School Club’ is really made for you to listen to on repeat. |