Agouti

Agouti is the Oakland CA psychedelic rock band helmed by singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Carmen Caruso. A classically trained pianist with an academic background in experimental electronic music, Caruso started Agouti in 2015 with a DIY ethos inspired by the success of home-recording projects by genre heavyweights like Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. After building a soundproof studio in her basement, restoring a vintage 4 track reel to reel recorder, and learning the bass guitar, she began writing her first set of songs. Fusing the old-school-cool vibes of golden-age West Coast psychedelia with the progressive tilt of Krautrock, the ethereal reverberations of shoegaze, and the lo-fi textures of bedroom pop, Agouti immerses listeners in a kaleidoscope of sonic exploration. Most importantly, beneath the vibrant production lie tightly-crafted pop songs that captivate with memorable melodies and lyrical depth.

Agouti’s 2019 debut LP ‘Nodes’ earned acclaim from Happy Mag, Brightest Young Things, and KQED’s mixtape of up and coming psych bands. Their latest single ‘Golden Hour’ showcases a more laid-back side of the band, layering breezy syncopated drum grooves, hypnotic arpeggios, and lush dreampop atmospheres. Agouti’s reputation as a compelling live act has secured them opening slots for neo-psychedelic luminaries Kikagaku Moyo, Sugar Candy Mountain, and Elephant Stone, as well as bookings at festivals like Noise Pop, Woollystar, and SF Sketchfest.