Burnt Palms

Burnt Palms are an indie pop group from Seaside, California whose wistful, innocent songs about crushes and heartbreak instantly bring to mind '90s twee favorites <a href="spotify:artist:0hTUZPp1ELWpYFuSYoNPgB">Tiger Trap</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1sDWIdL18InXgES9TwvsL2">Heavenly</a>, but with a fresh perspective on the familiar sugary yet spiky formula. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Christina Riley, drummer/vocalist Clara Nieto, and bassist Brian Dela Cruz, the group's self-titled, self-released debut album appeared in September of 2012. Engineered by <a href="spotify:artist:15qL2oIvXdTLPUiZZypsvi">the Ladybug Transistor</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:6MlTymM1WKxJTCo85ndjDn">Gary Olson</a> and featuring guest bassist Paul Towber, the album featured ten brief, poignant, mostly midtempo fuzz-pop songs. The group expanded its fan base, playing shows with <a href="spotify:artist:5ngGcwvis1MtTMT00zzoiF">Cheap Time</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7m2W1tDyx5v2xYHjNZkanX">Kids on a Crime Spree</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0LHZaUvES8NniRWNuhHNJl">Colleen Green</a>, and others, and contributed songs to a few online compilations. British label Very Gun Records released a split cassette EP by Burnt Palms and Gurr in February of 2014. The group then traveled to Marlborough Farms in Brooklyn to record its second full-length, again with <a href="spotify:artist:6MlTymM1WKxJTCo85ndjDn">Gary Olson</a>. Released in May by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22We+Were+Never+Being+Boring%22">We Were Never Being Boring</a>, The Girl You Knew continued the songwriting style of their debut, but sported a much richer sound, with backing vocals by <a href="spotify:artist:6MlTymM1WKxJTCo85ndjDn">Olson</a> and organ by <a href="spotify:artist:7JC4p2qQ0oKIQ50rjgblbX">Kyle Forester</a>. The group followed the album with more shows around California, as well as a split cassette EP with <a href="spotify:artist:6CScE2AzJtAjHcOX9kY4d9">Love Cuts</a>, released by Lost Sound Tapes. In 2015, Burnt Palms became a quartet with the addition of guitarist Joshua Vazquez, and they recorded their third album, once again with <a href="spotify:artist:6MlTymM1WKxJTCo85ndjDn">Olson</a>. Released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22We+Were+Never+Being+Boring%22">We Were Never Being Boring</a> in February of 2016, Back on My Wall was another leap forward, with faster tempos, more backup vocals, and catchier songs. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi