exploring love and loss with royal & the serpent
watch out for these top 26 artists in 2026
the runarounds are writing the soundtrack to their own story
has spent the past decade quietly betting on himself
E N T S
C N T
ON YOUR RADAR - 8 Artists that you should know. No, really.
TOP 26 IN 2026 - 10
A look at the artists shaping the sound and culture of the year ahead.
THE YEAR OF GOING SOLO - 14
As the industry becomes more encouraging of independence, artists once known for their roles in major bands are stepping out on their own and ushering in a new era while doing it.
ROYAL & THE SERPENT - 16
Entering a bold new sonic era and shedding her skin, Royal & the Serpent explores love, loss, and transformation on her upcoming debut full-length.
BUSINESS BEATS:
COLSON “KELLS” BAKER - 20
From genre-bending artist to multifaceted entrepreneur, mgk continues to prove that no matter what path he chooses, he’s going to do it and do it right.
JUTES - 22
After a decade of persistence, years of sobriety, and the right head space, Jutes has built a world fueled by authenticity and hardearned growth as his career reaches new heights.
THE RUNAROUNDS - 32
From humble beginnings to TV-fueled stardom, The Runarounds have spent years carving out a path that’s entirely their own.
IN YOUR CITY:
LOS ANGELES - 36
From iconic record shops to hole-inthe-wall venues, Los Angeles’ music heartbeat never stops.
VENUE HIGHLIGHT: BROOKLYN STEEL - 39
With its original steel beams showing, NYC’s Brooklyn Steel venue has become one of the city’s premier destinations for live music.
UPCOMING TOURS - 40
These 10 upcoming tours are tours you need to clear your calendar for.
JAN/FEB 2026 ISSUE 019
THANK YOU
Biggest thank you to Jordan Lutes and the entire Jutes team for being part of our Melodic Magazine’s first issue of 2026.
Thank you to all of our magazine contributors: Adam Colwell, align Public Relations, Amber Bintliff, Angel Escobar, Baeth, Big Feat PR, Brittany Muldoon, Clare Gehlich, Dylan Cole, Erin Crowley, Francis Delacroix, Isaiah Pate, Jaden Russell, Juan Flores, Justice Petersen, Kyle Berger, Michael Comrie, NBD Management, Nick Flancher, Shauna Hilferty, Susie McKeon, Victoria Andrews, Victoria Goodwin
ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
As subgenres like pop metal and metalcore dominated the rock scene in 2025, alt-metal duo sace6 spent the last year introducing themselves within the scene. Initially a solo endeavor, the project soon became a full band in late 2024 with the addition of Sace’s producer Noah Thomas on guitars and unclean vocals. After steadily releasing material in 2024, last year found sace6 playing across the globe as a supporting act for both Don Broco and nothing,nowhere. on their respective tours. Last year also saw the release of sace6’s debut EP Limerence, featuring collaborations with Rain City Drive and jxdn, which defined the band’s signature blend of alternative and ethereal sounds. This January and February, sace6 will play a run of shows supporting Don Broco before hitting the road with nothing,nowhere. once again in April. In May, the band will join Northlane and Wind Walkers as support for Dayseeker on The Pale Moonlight Tour.
SACE6
After embracing rock ‘n’ roll stardom over the last several years as the explosive guitar player for Italian rock outfit Måneskin, Thomas Raggi is ready to face the sleaze and glamor all on his own. Similar to his fellow bandmates, Raggi embarked on a solo project of his own with the release of his debut album Masquerade, released in December. Working extensively with Tom Morello on the record, Masquerade includes collaborations with fellow rock legends Chad Smith, Matt Sorum, Alex Kapranos, and Nic Cester, as well as features from Luke Spiller of The Struts and UPSAHL to amplify the vast sonic landscape of the album itself. Fueled by sharp guitar licks and the magnitude of varying genres, Raggi’s guitar playing and songwriting virtuoso shine bright on his debut album. Bringing rock ‘n’ roll into the modern age, Raggi’s inaugural solo effort is keeping the genre alive through his flawless display of raw swagger and unwavering musical prowess.
THOMAS RAGGI
FFO: Slash, Arctic Monkeys, YUNGBLUD LISTEN: “GETCHA!,” “LUCY,” “CAT GOT YOUR
FFO: Dayseeker, Jutes, Colorblind
LISTEN: “easy exit,” “devotion,” “bled”
Following the release of her sophomore full-length album The Art Of Being A Mess, released last June, Lauren Spencer Smith will soon play the record across North America for The Art Of Being A Mess Tour. Starting this February in Nashville, Smith will make her way throughout the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up the tour on March 23 in Seattle. Ever since the 2019 release of her debut EP Unplugged Vol. 1, Smith has continued to rise in the indie pop world. The EP earned her a Juno Award nomination and a Top 20 spot on season 18 of American Idol, but Smith didn’t choose to stop there. Smith continued to release original material following her American Idol run, eventually going TikTok viral in 2022 with her single “Fingers Crossed.” After her streams went into the millions, Smith dropped her debut full-length record Mirror in 2023. Now, Smith is a resident sad girl pop princess, utilizing her soaring vocals and intricate songwriting to interweave tales of vulnerability, heartbreak, and limitless emotion.
LAUREN SPENCER SMITH
FFO: Natalie Jane, Alexander Stewart LISTEN: “Fingers Crossed,” “Flowers”
AUDREY HOBERT
FFO: Gracie Abrams, ROLE MODEL LISTEN: “Sue Me,” “Bowling Alley”
Audrey Hobert previously made a name for herself behind the scenes. After earning a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in screenwriting from New York University in 2021, Hobert soon began writing for the Nickelodeon television series The Really Loud House. In 2024, Hobert made her musical debut after co-writing her best friend Gracie Abram’s hit sophomore album The Secret Of Us. When Hobert decided to start writing music of her own, no one could have anticipated where it’d take her. Last June, she released her debut album, Who’s The Clown? and introduced the world to a pop trailblazer with a fierce sense of authenticity. Through songs like “Sue Me” and “Bowling Alley,” Hobert cemented her intricate artistry and knack for storytelling. This February and March, Hobert will tour across Europe and the U.K. before making her way throughout Australia and New Zealand in early May. She’ll then wrap up her headlining run in North America, touring from late May through August. This summer, Hobert will make a festival appearance at this year’s Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, and Hinterland.
MAGNOLIA PARK
FFO: Sleep Theory, Kami Kehoe LISTEN: “SHALLOW,” “Misfits”
With the release of their critically-acclaimed in April of last year, metalcore outfit Magnolia Park have fully embraced their most ambitious and fearless musical era yet. Fueled by dark fantasy and world-building, VAMP pulls inspiration from Dracula, anime, and science fiction to create a magnetic and unforgettable body of work that has defined the band as one of the most prolific emo metal groups of 2025. Now, following an exciting year, Magnolia Park will continue to build upon their massive success as they take VAMP on the road across the world. In March, the band is set to support BABYMETAL across Australia before embarking on their very own headlining tour, Nights After Vamp Tour, with support from Silly Goose, Pinknoise, and Downswing from April to May. Later this year, Magnolia Park will make a number of different festival appearances and are set to perform at Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple, Upheaval Music Festival, Download Festival, Rock Fest, Summer of 99 Festival, and more.
Top 26 Artists in 2026 TO WATCH
2025 came and went, zooming by in a blur of showstopping tours and festivals. It brought the release of new music from artists like Taylor Swift and Florence + The Machine, and sold out tours from performers like Twenty One Pilots and Billie Eilish. It was a year defined by spectacle, scale, and cultural moments that reminded fans why live music continues to thrive.
With 2026 comes a new wave of music arriving alongside a new class of artists ready to make their mark. From electric festival standouts gaining momentum to rising acts stepping confidently onto bigger stages, these musicians are shaping the sound and energy of the year ahead. These are the 26 artists poised to define 2026.
Article: Ann Korwan
JUTES
Since storming onto the alternative music scene in 2015, Jutes has proven himself as a pivotal force in today’s alt-rock landscape. Initially rising within hip-hop and alt-pop, he embraced heavier musicality culminating in his 2025 album Dilworth, which blends emotional songwriting with an intense guitar-driven sound. Dilworth dropped in December and was supported by standout single “It Takes Two,” which the singer performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, marking his first late-night TV appearance. Building on sold-out North American dates, Jutes will headline his first major U.K. and Europe tour in May 2026—including stops in Glasgow, Manchester, London, Berlin, and Paris—before performing at Inkcarceration Festival in July making next year pivotal for his global rise.
OLIVIA DEAN
Since stepping onto the scene in 2018 with her single “Reason to Stay,” the U.K. R&B singer, Olivia Dean, broke through in 2025 with her platinum hit “Man I Need,” which broke into the Billboard Hot 100. She’s earned a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and has already hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart this year. Dean will spend 2026 on her largest headlining tour yet—The Art of Loving Live—with arena dates across Europe, the U.S., and Australia, making this year one to watch as she continues to gain momentum.
Australian pub-rock band Amyl and the Sniffers continue to prove they’re one of rock’s most electric forces. With four ARIA Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance for “U Should Not Be Doing That,” their high-octane sound is gaining global recognition. In 2026 they’re set to expand their reach with a North American tour supporting their acclaimed LP Cartoon Darkness as well as perform Bonnaroo and Governors Ball.
AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
With the release of their 2025 album Iron—their first LP since 2022 and a reunion with original member and Stranger Things star Joe Keery— psych-pop outfit Post Animal are in the midst of a new and exciting musical era. The band has toured sold-out North American and European shows and will continue building momentum in 2026. Their evolving sound and renewed creative energy make them one to watch this year.
POST ANIMAL
AMIRA ELFEKY
2026 is poised to be a big year for nu-metal singersongwriter Amira Elfeky. With two EPs under her belt, she’s set to support Bring Me The Horizon on their North American Ascension Program 2 tour—including arena dates and major festival stops like Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple—and make her Australian debut with Thornhill’s Bodies tour. Her genre-blending heavy sound and rising global exposure make her one to watch as she continues pushing nu-metal forward.
After going viral for her single “The Doll People” in 2024, Sofia Isella gained rapid momentum with a stunning performance at Bonnaroo in 2025 and sold-out headlining shows. Her industrial-leaning alt-pop continues to evolve, and in 2026 she’ll open for Florence + The Machine on their Everybody Scream tour across arenas in North America and Europe, alongside her own UK/EU headline dates.
SOFIA ISELLA
THE MARÍAS
The dreamy, psychedelicsoul band The Marías are quickly rising to new heights. As another Grammy nominee for Best New Artist and with their single “Back to Me” standing out in 2025, the group spent the last year performing packed festival sets and extending their Submarine Tour across North America, including stops at Lollapalooza and Coachella. With growing global buzz and strong chart presence, 2026 promises even more momentum as the band’s immersive live shows and expanding fanbase continue to elevate them.
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Balu Brigada released their debut album Portal in August, making their mark on indie rock sound. The duo spent the past year touring across North America, the U.K. and Europe. 2026 will see them continuing to tour Europe, proving that they are not slowing down.
BALU BRIGADA
SACE6
As pop-metal and metalcore dominated the rock scene in 2025, alt-metal duo sace6 introduced themselves with their debut EP Limerence, defining their ethereal, yet heavy sound. In 2026 they’ll support Don Broco and nothing,nowhere. before joining Dayseeker on The Pale Moonlight Tour, gaining exposure on major North American dates and pushing their boundary-blending style to new audiences.
Los Angeles-based singersongwriter Amelia Moore made waves with her 2025 EP he’s still just not that into you!, blending emotional alt-pop with bold synthdriven hooks. In 2026 she’ll support Zara Larsson on the Midnight Sun Tour across North America and join Ashnikko in Europe, giving her massive global exposure. With a debut album in the works and fast-growing buzz from tastemakers and fans alike, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year.
AMELIA MOORE
THE BAND CAMINO
With the release of their 2025 album NeverAlways, The Band CAMINO has entered a new chapter, expanding their alt-rock sound and selling out shows around the world. In 2026 they’ll continue the NeverAlways Tour with headline dates across Australia and New Zealand, bringing new singles and an expansive live show to global audiences and solidifying their continued upward trajectory.
Hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Sawyer Hill has made a name in the alternative rock scene with his progressive twist on music. In early 2024, he topped Spotify’s Viral 50 chart in the US, with 65 million views and 120 million video views. He released his debut album Heartbreak Hysteria last year, toured with YUNGBLUD, and made an appearance at Austin City Limits.
SAWYER HILL
AUDREY HOBERT
With her 2025 debut album Who’s the Clown?, Audrey Hobert earned widespread acclaim and a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 - Music list. Her sharp alt-pop sound and storytelling have attracted fans worldwide. Starting in February, Hobert is set to embark on her very own headlining tour, The Staircase to Stardom Tour, across the U.K., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America building on sold-out shows and major buzz.
With his headlining tour on the horizon, Bilmuri is set to have an electric 2026. As one of the founders of Attack Attack!, Bilmuri has been making moves in the rock scene since 2007, and has since continued to make waves as a solo artist. 2025 saw him at Welcome to Rockville, as well as a handful of other festivals. Kicking off in April, Bilmuri is set to head out on his KINDA HARD tour with The Home Team and GANG!
BILMURI
MOODY JOODY
Nashville-based trio
Moody Joody had a busy 2025 on tour with ARIZONA and made their festival debut at Austin City Limits. With their shimmering synth-pop sound and debut EP Dream Girl gaining traction on major playlists, the band is set to open for The Maine in 2026, pushing them further into the alt-pop spotlight.
Since going viral on TikTok in 2025, Atlanta-based pop-punk band The Paradox has opened for Green Day and Jack White, collaborated with Travis Barker, and electrified crowds at When We Were Young and Vans Warped Tour. Their debut project NSFW and growing millions of streams have set the stage for their biggest year to come.
THE PARADOX
HOLDING ABSENCE
As an outspoken advocate against AI in the music industry, Holding Absence went viral for an anti-AI tweet that garnered over 2.5 million views last year. Along with speaking out, the Welsh rock band also made appearances at When We Were Young and Warped Tour. Though they’ve released no new music since 2023, the band has teased and shared there will be new music and more touring in 2026. So far, their current lineup for the year has them performing at Sonic Temple and Welcome to Rockville.
American pop-rock band, Honey Revenge, stepped onto the scene in 2021 and hasn’t hit stop since. After a stop at D.C.’s Warped Tour and headline tour that concluded last July, the duo immediately went on to open for Spiritbox and to perform at Orlando’s Warped Tour in the fall. The band is currently touring Europe and the U.K. with labelmates Rain City Drive, growing their international fanbase, and teasing new music amid rising buzz from festival appearances and dynamic live shows.
HONEY REVENGE
RACHEL CHINOURIRI
After stepping onto the scene in 2019, Rachel Chinouriri has carved out space in the pop world by blending soul and indie elements. In 2026 she’ll open for Florence + The Machine on their Everybody Scream tour across the U.K., Europe and North America, and play festivals like Bonnaroo, elevating her profile with massive audiences.
After the release of their 2025 album, VAMP, metal band Magnolia Park has proven they are not slowing down any time soon. Last year was spent on the road and making appearances at Vans Warped Tour and Louder Than Life, showing the world their hard rock sound and energetic performances. This year, they will open for BABYMETAL in Australia in March before continuing on their very own North American tour in April. Fans can also look forward to festival sets at Sonic Temple, Welcome to Rockville, Download Festival, and more.
MAGNOLIA PARK
MOLLY GRACE
Molly Grace is a Nashvillebased rising pop force whose debut album, Blush, dropped in September 2025. To widespread acclaim the release perfectly blends glittery pop with bold storytelling. After a headlining tour and playing an All Things Go set last year in D.C., she’s hit stages opening for Betty Who and is poised for major impact in 2026 with her electrifying live presence.
Head to page 16 TO Read oUR interview witH ROyAl & tHe SeRpenT
Following her song “Wasteland” being featured in the hit Netflix series Arcane in 2024, last year saw the genre-bending artist playing Warped Tour and Austin City Limits, as well as releasing a steady stream of new material that has the alt-pop community buzzing. Royal & the Serpent’s recent singles “Death Do Us Part,” “Carry Me Home,” and “Euphoria” have served as previews of her upcoming debut full-length album, with “Death Do Us Part” alone surpassing over one million streams and earning praise from outlets like Billboard.
ROYAL & THE SERPENT
Lyn Lapid is a FilipinoAmerican indie pop storyteller whose candid, genre-defying debut album Buzzkill dropped last April to critical buzz and emotional acclaim. Since headlining a tour across North America, the U.K., and Europe, her fluid, heartfelt songwriting and dynamic live shows have marked her as an artist to keep an eye on.
MJ LENDERMAN
Asheville, North Carolina’s MJ Lenderman is an indie-rock and alt-country standout whose raw songwriting and gritty charm has earned him festival slots at Primavera Sound, Austin City Limits, and Summerfest. He was featured at number two Rolling Stone’s top songs of 2025 list for “Dancing in the Club.” After a 2025 headlining run and continued buzz from his 2024 Manning Fireworks era, he’s supporting Zach Bryan & Waxahatchee on major tours this year.
Founded in Austin, Texas, Colorblind dropped their high-voltage EP Who Sold You This Truth in September via Solid State Records. After an electric performance at Inkcarceration Festival 2025 and earning early buzz, they’re set to play Welcome to Rockville in 2026, cementing their place as an artist to watch this year, with explosive riffs and relentless energy.
COLORBLIND
THE HOME TEAM
Since the Seattle-bred heavy-pop band The Home Team signed to Thriller Records in 2023, they became known for their genre-blending sound and electrifying live shows. After a soldout headlining run this past fall in the U.S., they’re poised to break even bigger in 2026 supporting Bilmuri on The KINDA HARD Tour this spring.
LYN LAPID
Photos:AngelEscobar
T
T2026: HE YEAR O F GOING SOLO?
hroughout 2025, the music industry watched as numerous artists, famous for their roles in prolific bands, chose to pursue a solo career. Take Hayley Williams, the powerhouse vocalist for Paramore, who recently announced she will embark on her very first solo tour this spring to support her third solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, released last August.
After making their explosive debut as the winners of Eurovision representing Italy in 2021, the rock group Måneskin spent the next several years keeping rock ‘n’ roll alive, soon releasing the album RUSH! in 2022 before each member decided to explore their own creative pursuits and put the band on hiatus. Most recently, guitarist Thomas Raggi released his inaugural solo album Masquerade, featuring collaborations with UPSAHL, Tom Morello, Chad Smith, and more.
MJ Lenderman also followed in this trend, announcing his departure from touring with his group Wednesday in 2025 so he could focus on his solo career. Other musicians, such as Nick Jonas and several members of BLACKPINK, have also chosen to focus more on their solo musical careers.
When it comes to why musicians are pursuing other artistic ventures, the industry’s
Article:JusticePetersen
encouragement is a major factor. In regard to musical experimentation, whether it’s with genre, collaborations, or releasing projects outside of the band you’re most known for, the music industry is more encouraging now than ever before. This is largely due to technological advances that have arisen in recent years.
With how large of a role that tools like social media and streaming services play in music, becoming a musician is now more accessible. Therefore, labels are now expected to meet artists where they’re at, allowing them to continue with the creative freedom they’ve been allowed as the technology becomes more popular
In turn, artists are choosing to take advantage of this industry change, with many musicians citing creative freedom and control as a main reason for expanding beyond their original band.
After their group contracts were set to expire in 2023, BLACKPINK decided they would renew their tenure on the condition that they would be allowed to release music as solo artists. Soon after, BLACKPINK’s Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal, Jennie Kim, Kim “Jisoo” Ji-soo and Roseanne “Rosé” Park all released solo projects.
In an interview with AnOther, Lisa spoke about the creative process behind her debut solo album Alter Ego, released in February of last year. In contrast to her work with BLACKPINK, Lisa said she was able to experiment more in terms of sound, something that was crucial for what some might consider a prominent concept album.
“If you listen to BLACKPINK music, you just know right away that it’s BLACKPINK,” she said. “But when you listen to my solo album, it’s just like you can tell that this is Lisa music.”
Similarly, both Damiano David and Raggi of Måneskin chose to release their own solo albums last year. David’s debut LP Funny Little Fears shows the rebellious frontman adopting a more pop-inspired sound compared to the vintage ragers found in Måneskin’s discography, and in an
interview with NME, Raggi said his own debut release was a great chance to try out new songs before Måneskin decides to return to the studio.
“The idea is just to experiment in different worlds, which I think is important for a band,” Raggi told NME. “I can imagine when we come back in the studio that we’ll bring lots of different elements because everyone’s been on a different journey. That’s a cool thing, and I think it’ll help a lot with the creative process of the band. I think there’s something good in everyone having [space to] experiment.”
While artists are now free to explore different creative outlets beyond their original chosen acts, the decision doesn’t come without criticism. Online discourse among Måneskin fans has been quite vocal, with listeners doubting whether the members will ever get back together, and BLACKPINK’s passionate fanbase has expressed concern over whether members have “rushed into their solo careers,” according to one heated Reddit thread.
However, whether fans agree with their favorite artist’s decisions, the fact is that more artists will branch out as the industry continues to encourage it. But the big question is, what does this mean for 2026 and beyond?
Ultimately, more artists will continue to explore passions beyond their music as a group, and this movement follows in the same vein as artists who are choosing to travel down paths outside of music entirely. Some of your favorite actors, such as Finn Wolfhard, Maya Hawke and Suki Waterhouse, also chose to pursue music after establishing acting careers, and many of your favorite musicians are now award-nominated actors (Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga).
As long as the music industry encourages artists to experiment and grow, musicians will continue to do so. Members of your favorite bands will release a solo project, and perhaps your favorite solo artists might form the world’s next major supergroup.
Last year, music also saw the retirement of many notable acts. While not officially announcing retirement, Coldplay announced that they would not be making new music together after the release of their twelfth studio album Moon Music in 2024. Thrash metal icons Megadeth announced they would retire following their final album and world tour this year, and REO Speedwagon officially retired from touring in 2025.
With so many bands coming to a close, this just might mean the start of several new solo careers soon to enter the scene. We can already see this happening with Deryck Whibley, the former frontman of pop-punk outfit Sum 41, which shuttered in 2025. In a recent interview backstage at Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, Whibley revealed that he’s already recorded an acoustic album of Sum 41 songs, which he hopes to release sometime in the near future.
There’s no doubt that 2026 will be the ultimate year of exciting new beginnings.
BLACKPINK performing at BST Hyde Park In London
SHEDS HER SKIN FOR UPCOMING DEBUT FULL-LENGTH RECORD
“Have you seen all these things about how the Year of the Horse doesn’t actually start until February?” Royal & the Serpent—the musical project of L.A. singer-songwriter Ryan Santiago—asks over a Zoom call in mid-January.
Only several weeks after the end of the Year of the Snake (or so I thought until our conversation), Santiago and I are discussing the importance of shedding one’s skin, something she is undoubtedly a master of in terms of her ever-changing sonic identity. “They’re saying on the Chinese calendar… that the Year of the Horse starts in the middle of February,” she adds. “So take your time, keep shedding the snake. Go slowly before the horse just takes off.”
While the Chinese zodiac encourages one to take care of some last-minute serpentine touches before riding into the new year, once January 1 came around, Santiago didn’t hesitate when it came to soft-launching something major: the release of her upcoming debut full-length album, set to be released later this year.
Since her signing with Atlantic Records in 2019, Santiago has become synonymous with intense vulnerability and dichotomy. Her stage name alone, Royal & the Serpent, represents two opposing forces: a divine reality and a complex sense of self. In 2020, Santiago dropped her debut EP get a grip. Featuring the Gold-certified single “Overwhelmed,” the project introduced the alternative music world to the hypnotic artistry of Royal & the Serpent.
Two years later, Santiago released two EPs—If I Died Would Anyone Care and Happiness Is An Inside Job —both of which captured the singersongwriter’s talent for combining a multitude of musical genres. Tracks like “I DON’T EVEN LIKE U” and “No Regrets”—as well as collabs with Gayle and BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT and touring slots alongside YUNGBLUD and Fall Out Boy— defined Santiago as a trailblazer in the rock world.
Photo: Juan Flores
Article: Justice Petersen
However, throughout Santiago’s journey as Royal & the Serpent, she has refused to be confined to one single genre. While initially making a name for herself as an emo-influenced rock artist, Santiago explored raw, amplified rock ‘n’ roll through her 2023 RAT TRAP singles series, which further introduced listeners to the universe and lore of Royal & the Serpent. Throughout 2025, Santiago took a turn towards pop influences, with singles like “Young As This” and “Euphoria” adopting a heightened electropop flavor.
Now, with her debut full-length album on the horizon, Santiago continues to build upon her everchanging sonic palette. Through the brief snippets of currently unreleased songs that she’s posted on social media, it seems that Santiago’s upcoming record is more stripped back than her previous work. “There’s been so much time now that’s elapsed while I’ve been working on this project since the last time I put out a full EP or anything,” she says. “I think in that time, not only have I grown as a person, separate from the music, but I think my tastes have evolved, and I feel like I’ve become a much more confident and happy person in my life. I really wanted the music to reflect that growth that I’ve felt personally.”
While renowned for her work in the alt-rock space, even landing a spot at last year’s Vans Warped Tour, Santiago admits her gravitation towards a more acoustic soundscape stems from feeling slightly out of place in the rock scene. “I think that there was just a period of time where I had a lot of angst and a lot of anger inside of me, that it was coming out through the music as really heavy and intense,” she says. “I think that will always be a part of me. But for a while I was feeling like I wasn’t heavy enough to be on these stages with these really fun, heavy acts. I wanted so badly to be a little fairy on stage.”
Whether Santiago’s sound is edgy rock or lighthearted pop, the subject matter of her work will always convey an undeniable depth. Known for her poetic lyricism and gritty explorations of
“I’VE BECOME A MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND HAPPY PERSON IN MY LIFE... I REALLY WANTED THE MUSIC TO REFLECT THAT GROWTH THAT I’VE FELT PERSONALLY.”
Article: Photos:
mental health, Royal & the Serpent has become synonymous with fearless vulnerability. On her inaugural full-length release, Santiago says the project’s subject matter is set to carry that same intensity. “It is very emotional,” she admits. “Which is funny because I sort of went into it with this idea that it was going to be a happy-go-lucky project… It’s a lot about love and loss and growth. Without giving away too much, it’s still coming from the same artist. It’s still going to have the same depth and the same internal contemplation that I’ve always presented in my music.”
“IT IS VERY EMOTIONAL... IT’S A LOT ABOUT LOVE AND LOSS AND GROWTH”
An artist who encapsulates musical diversity and intentional self-expression, Santiago is just as thoughtful with her visual work as she is with her sonic creations. Pulling inspiration from a vast array of influences, such as sci-fi, A24 films and movies from the 1960s, Santiago says that her debut LP is a full-fledged concept album. “Basically, there’s this character that we’ve grown to love who is Royal, as everybody knows her, and we find out in this album that this entire time she’s been sort of a robot figure that’s imagining all of these scenarios that she’s been through,” she explains. “So every project that’s come before is just another one of her imaginations because all she wants to do is be a real girl. We find out that this has been the throughline for the entirety of the project.
Although stepping into the “character” of Royal more than ever before, this album also shows Santiago in her most authentic era to date, shedding her skin once more to reimagine herself in a world decorated with existentialism, dreams and a desire for complete independence.
“I can put myself into character mode, and there’s this thing that happens where I can be more free to express myself, too,” she says. “This character is learning about love and loss and life, and all she wants to do is experience things to the fullest extent, and she feels trapped in a cage. I think that’s very reminiscent of how I felt over the course of the last however many years I’ve been doing this, and I think this project is supposed to be her first step closer towards freedom.”
Throughout her career, Royal & the Serpent has become known for her effortless ability to blend various genres at once. With her new musical era, Santiago reveals her desire to experiment with various genres as a symbol of wanting to live life to the fullest.
“This idea came to me in a way that felt like it had been the purpose all along, even though it did come to me recently, but it just felt like it bridged the gap between when I first started making music to now so effortlessly,” she says. “I didn’t realize that I was trying to dip my toes in everything, and all I’ve ever wanted was to experience a lot of life. Even when I started making music, one of my dreams and goals had always been to try everything. I wanted to try every genre. I never felt like I knew exactly what I wanted my music to sound like. I always wanted to try new things. I think building this character gave
all of that more purpose, and it made it easier to digest for me, and hopefully the listeners.”
That being said, Santiago is always planning ahead.
“I feel like I can already sense what the next two albums are going to be,” she admits. “There’s been a lot of heaviness in the project before. Even [on] this album, there is a sense of heaviness, sadness and deep emotion. I think [for] my next project, my true, true goal is for it to be full of joy, love, light, and be just a fun album that you can put on and it’ll make you feel good.”
“I’ve already started dabbling with writing it,” she says. “I think after that, people just have to wait and see, because I’m going to take a pivot.”
For the artist who has done—and can do— seemingly everything, just what is a “pivot” for Royal & the Serpent? According to her, her upcoming album will be a strong balance of electropop with strong guitar instrumentation. Then, after that, the next project looks to be a completely raw, folk Americana album. “But who knows? Because that’s very far away,” Santiago says. “This album took me two years. Who knows where I’m going to be in four.”
While the far-off future is uncertain, Santiago’s plans for 2026 are a lot more concrete. After the album drops later this year, she says, the next step is quite clear. “I mean, girl, we’ve got to put the album out and then we’ve got to play it for people, right?”
Having a highly devoted fanbase, Santiago’s listeners have already expressed their excitement for the new album since her initial teaser post at the start of the year. After a few years of not touring, Santiago hopes her listeners find the album rollout well worth the wait. “I’m just so grateful for them because I wouldn’t be here without them,” Santiago says of her fans. “This is all for them. So I just hope they feel fed. I know I put a couple of the singles out from the album last year, but it’s really been so long since I’ve fed them with music and with touring, and I’m so lucky that they’ve stuck with me through this whole time as I’ve been sort of hibernating and creating.”
Taking the time to hone in on the album’s identity, Santiago says one of the project’s biggest lessons for listeners is that stillness is crucial for survival. Through steady introspection, one can find the greatest power, according to Santiago. “Whether we want to say it was this character or me in my life, it was really not until I lost the most important things to me and was at my rock bottom emotionally that I was able to really understand what was important and how little I really needed,” she says.
“I think we’re in a world and an age where we’re constantly being inundated with all these things that we think we need to buy and contribute to. There’s always so much information that we’re taking in all of the time that I think it can bog down peace, tranquility, quiet, stillness and all these things that actually make us more whole.”
Article:JusticePetersen
ft Colson Baker
Initially making his start as a rap trailblazer, Colson Baker, professionally known as Machine Gun Kelly (or mgk), is now one of the brightest stars in the modern pop-punk scene. Ever since the release of his debut album Lace Up in 2012, mgk gained great attention for his fast-paced rap delivery and top-notch production, but his daring switch to pop-punk with the release of his 2020 album Tickets To My Downfall proved that he can just as flawlessly master a more guitar-driven and amplified sound.
Over the years, mgk has collaborated with countless visionaries from both the rock and hiphop genres, including YUNGBLUD, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Rock, blackbear, and many others. He now stands with four EPs and seven full-length albums under his belt, including his most recent album, lost americana, released August 8, 2025, through Interscope Records.
Business Beats mgk
Outside of his entertainment career, mgk has also balanced his endeavors as a business owner, founding 27 Club Coffee in 2020 an “unapologetically authentic coffee lounge and kitchen.” Named after the infamous group of musicians who have all passed away at the age of 27, mgk’s coffee brand is a well-crafted blend of rock ‘n’ roll, artistry, and caffeinated indulgence.
While mgk shocked fans with his switch from rap to rock, the singer didn’t plan on hitting the creative brakes any time soon. Continuously switching from rapper to singer to actor to business owner, mgk has proved that, no matter what path he chooses to travel down, he’s going to do so boldly.
The Business The Beats
Nearly six months after the release of Tickets To My Downfall, mgk wanted to create something that would combine artistic expression, community, and a love of rock music. Thus, in August 2020, 27 Club Coffee was born. A brickand-mortar location based in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, 27 Club Coffee serves rock ‘n’ roll-inspired drinks, food items and their own signature coffee bean blends. Outside of the physical location, 27 Club Coffee also offers fans the opportunity to try the coffee in the comfort of their own home by ordering online.
The coffee house is named after the 27 Club, the informal name given to a group of musicians who have all died at the age of 27. Members include legendary rock figures like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and more. mgk first expressed his feelings for the group—and contemplated his own mortality—on his 2018 song “27.”
Speaking on 27 Club Coffee, manager Troy Nethken said, “It’s inspired by musicians, for musicians and artists and anyone who just wants to come in a good environment…[mgk] kind of wanted to turn the 27 Club into an art facility coffee shop. He wanted to pay homage to all the greats that passed before their time.”
Before releasing his debut LP Lace Up through Bad Boy Records, mgk had released four mixtapes from 2007 to 2010. His inaugural fulllength release made a powerful first impression, and in the years that followed mgk released two EPs and three more albums, including General Admission (2015), bloom (2017) and Hotel Diablo (2019). mgk relentlessly honed in on his musical prowess, continuously chasing sonic evolution through it all.
mgk first started shifting towards a rock-inspired sound on Hotel Diablo, releasing the single “I Think I’m Okay” with English singer YUNGBLUD and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. On Tickets To My Downfall, mgk dove headfirst into the pop-punk genre as he worked extensively with Barker, who would become a longtime musical partner. Perhaps finally reaching the genre he was destined for, Tickets To My Downfall was a major success for the singer and marked his first Platinum-Certified record. mgk has stuck with the pop-punk musicality ever since, releasing mainstream sellout in 2022 and his latest album, lost americana, last year.
Ever since Tickets To My Downfall, mgk has adamantly maintained his signature poppunk edge, which is decorated with an air of vulnerability on his seventh full-length album lost americana. Perhaps his most vulnerable body of work yet, lost americana has been praised for mgk’s songwriting and unapologetic focus on addiction, family, and relationships. While his musical identity has changed over the
isproofthatsuccessdoesn’t sometimesalwaysarriveovernight—itarrivesrightontime.
Article:Photos:JadenRussell VictoriaGoodwin Style:MichaelComrie
“I’m sober, and that’s the best high I’ve ever had. That feeling is worth more than money or anything else.”
JordanLutes has spent the past year watching a decade of quiet persistence turn into something he now calls a fever dream. On stage, Lutes performs as Jutes—a name he lifted from a mispronunciation of his nickname “J Lutes”—and has taken the alternative scene by storm. Hailing from a small town outside Ottawa, Canada, Jutes wasn’t born into the music scene or even thought he’d ever make a name for himself within the music sphere. He studied film and played basketball in college, before eventually dropping out of school and following his instincts away from Canada and to Los Angeles.
Along the path to where Jutes is now, he has also crossed paths with some of today’s most recognizable names. His songwriting credits include work with Illenium, Charlotte Sands, and Demi Lovato, who he married early last year. Now, with nearly two million monthly listeners on Spotify, his breakout single “Sleepyhead” debuting at number 33 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay, and three legs of his very own headline tour under his belt, Jutes continues to build a musicial world that is fueled by vulnerability and authenticity.
During the final month of 2025, Jutes wrapped the third and final leg of his Sleepyhead tour, released his latest album Dilworth, and made his television debut on Jimmy Fallon. Reflecting on 2025, he says, “It’s been a fever dream. It has been the busiest that I’ve ever been, which is awesome.” Despite dropping out of school to move to his friend’s couch in L.A. more than a decade ago, Jutes doesn’t take any of the recognition for granted. “It’s just been insane to watch something grow in real time at the rate that it’s growing without a viral song or a hit song or anything like that.”
But Jutes’ journey didn’t happen overnight and he’s quick to push back against the idea of instant success. “I learned so many lessons along the way
about who I am,” he says. “Now that success is coming to me, I feel equipped to deal with it in a healthy way, and I also feel like I know who I am.”
Growing up in Kars, just outside Ottawa, life was quiet and small, far from a world of music and fame. Looking back at the start of his musical career, he recalls feeling like music was something more than he could put into words. “I made the decision [that] I was dropping out [of college]. I left my exams five minutes after showing up and didn’t even fill anything out,” he says. “I just kind of had that blind faith of like, ‘This just feels right in my heart, so I’m going to give up everything else for it.’”
His move to Los Angeles marked the next chapter of his journey, working odd jobs to make ends meet all while crashing on his friend’s couch. “I was performing before I went to L.A., [but] the performing kind of stopped when I got to L.A. I was just writing songs nonstop,” he says. Going from being the local opener in Canada, playing any gig he could get his hands on in Toronto, to the new guy on the block in L.A. had its challenges, but not without reward. “In that first year of being in L.A., I signed a little distribution deal, which got me off the couch and into an apartment of my own,” Jutes says. “Then, at the tail end of the year, I ended up signing to Capitol Records and had a major label record deal, but I still wasn’t writing for other people at that point.”
Jutes continued to sharpen his songwriting by himself, hoping to eventually begin writing with other artists. He learned how to write with intention, a skill that eventually paid off not only for his own career, but for the artists he began writing for as well. “I was very dead set on being an artist,” he explains. “My first cut writing for somebody else was because Illenium really liked a song that I had. [That song] ended up being for Illenium and Iann Dior, [called ‘First Time’].”
“I just kind of had that blind faith of ‘this just feels right in my heart, so I’m going to give up everything else for it.’”
Still, even with momentum building behind the scenes, he nearly walked away from his own artistic career. “I was about to quit and just fulltime be a writer because I didn’t think the artist thing was ever going to work,” Jutes shares. Looking back, he frames that moment as a lesson in perseverance. “If I were to quit, it would’ve been right before everything I’ve ever wanted came true.”
Released last month, his new LP Dilworth is named after the street where Jutes grew up and is a nod to his roots and the journey that brought him to where he is today. “After Sleepyhead, it felt like I was reflecting so much on the journey, obviously, because it was finally a big moment in my career where I could go, ‘okay, everything was leading up to this,’” Jutes reflects. That reflection quickly turned into gratitude and disbelief. “So it had me thinking about where I came from and how bizarre it is that I’m in L.A. living this life after growing up in a place like that, where people don’t even really dream of doing what I’m doing because it’s not even a possibility at all.”
“As I have more eyes on me and more people invested in me and my story and my art, I just thought it was important to let people know where I came from and shine a light on the stuff I’ve been through,” he explains. “I felt like a lot of people that are following me now and finding me on the internet don’t really know anything about me, a lot of them don’t even know I’m Canadian.”
The album is also deeply therapeutic, a reflection of his ongoing relationship with his personal journey with mental health. “Generally, the battles I write about the most are very internal. Writing is my therapy… Dilworth is kind of me retracing my steps back from when I left home to current-day stuff,” Jutes reflects. “Dilworth has really made me revisit so many chapters of my life and put it to paper.”
The songs range from noticeably personal to ambiguously written. “I think, ‘Kill or Be Killed’ was definitely a therapy session because it’s me singing to my depression as if it’s a person,” he says. “‘Left on Dilworth’ felt like a really important song as well because it goes back to the beginning, when I left home and ventured off on my own. That’s when a lot of things got complicated in my life, so that one was very therapeutic too.”
“Left on Dilworth” in particular reads like a conversation with his younger self with Jutes’ singing “You better not miss your flight, it’s aimed right at the sun.” Jutes explains, “All the trouble that comes with this lifestyle, mental health is a big issue in this life. The higher you go, the more people struggle and have issues. That song lays all of that out.”
“Being sober has helped me tremendously in every way…”
With Dilworth being his third album in three years with producer Keith Sorrells—and his third full project since getting sober in 2022—Jutes says working with Sorrells since the beginning of his journey has been life altering. “He really saw me go from being completely lost, completely miserable, and trying to figure it out, to actually sticking with it and managing to get over that hump.” Reflecting on the changes he’s made in the past three years, he shares that he now knows who he is. “Now I’m a whole different person. My life is so different. I’m healthy, I’m thinking clearly, and I feel like I can take on so much with all this stuff coming at me these days.”
“Being sober has helped me tremendously in every way… When I create now, it comes from such a real place of reflection,” Jutes says. “It can be more painful, but I feel like I can articulate and capture the real emotions in everything I’ve been through.”
Sobriety has also given him a clearer sense of purpose when writing and singing what feels right. “I think it’s helped me really fall in love with making something that matters and making something that helps other people that are on their journey,” he says. “When Sleepyhead came out, I wasn’t worried about it being popular. It was me trying to make something that really mattered to me, and that’s when everything changed.” That authenticity is what has helped fans connect with the music and keeps pushing Jutes further into the spotlight. “[Sobriety] helps me want to be great as opposed to just making something, trying to get ahead and further my career, which is what I did for so long,” he says.
“It can be more painful, but I feel like I can articulate and capture the real emotions in everything I’ve been through.”
Working with Sorrells was something that not only changed Jutes’ musical career, but also changed the trajectory of his personal life. “First of all, I wouldn’t know my wife Demi if it wasn’t for Keith. Me, Keith and Alex [Niceforo] made an EP before Ladybug, that first of the three albums. And that’s what Demi’s producer, Oak Felder, heard and really liked. He was like, ‘Oh, can you come write with Demi? We’re doing a rock album.’” Jutes goes on, “So Keith really changed my life in that sense.“
That kind of personal growth naturally translated to the stage where Jutes is now headlining his own tours and joining festivals such as Warped Tour and Ceremony Festival in Nashville. He’s learned how to channel nerves into energy and connect with audiences on a personal level. “Once you hit the stage, you go into the zone, the nerves shake off, and you just black out and do your thing, hoping for the best.” Jutes performed his debut festival set at Warped Tour in Long Beach last summer, and said that “by the end of the set, I couldn’t even see the end of the crowd. I was just like, where did all these people come from?”
Though the high of the festival stage is something that can’t be replaced, Jutes very much prefers headlining his own shows where he can share a bigger connection with his fans. “My music is very personal, very emotional, and sharing that with the people who care about it the most is magical. I’m sober, and that’s the best high I’ve ever had. That feeling is worth more than money or anything else.” The moments of connection are priceless. “Having those moments—singing these songs with fans, seeing them sing, seeing people cry to the songs that made me cry when I wrote them—that emotional bond with my fans through the music is unbeatable.”
Ahead of a festival performance at Inkcarceration in mid-July, Jutes will be gearing up for a headlining European tour in May which mostly sold out, upgraded, and sold out again. “I’ve never even been to Europe,” Jutes says. “For it to be outselling America pretty significantly is just… I don’t even know what’s happening. It’s so crazy.” Jutes shares his excitement to touring in Europe this summer and teasing there is more in the works. “You can probably assume there’s an album and lots of music coming,” he says. “So you can probably assume there will be more shows beyond the Europe tour.”
“I’m not going to totally leave this world I’ve built” Jutes shares with certainty. “I’ve carved out a sound for myself that really pulls from every chapter I’ve been through—from my Toronto days to the rock stuff I’m doing lately. All of it blends together in this world I’ve built.”
Lord Huron performing at Nashville’s newest venue, The Pinnacle.
Photo by Adam Colwell
returned to Philadelphia in support of their recent release, NeverAlways
The Band CAMINO
Photo by Shauna Hilferty
are writing the soundtrack to their own story
Photos: Isaiah Pate
Article: Clare Gehlich
From humble beginnings to TV-fueled stardom, The Runarounds have spent the last six years carving out their own path and becoming something bigger than they could ever imagine— on and off the big screen.
What started as an audition in 2021 to work with brothers Josh and Jonas Pate—the creators of the hit Netflix series Outer Banks —on an Amazon Prime Video television show aptly titled The Runarounds, has since evolved into a fullfledged band.
Consisting of Will Lipton (guitar and vocals), Axel Ellis (guitar and vocals), Jesse Golliher (bass and vocals), Jeremy Yun (lead guitar), and Zende Murdock (drums), the group has gone on to play college campuses, festivals, and venues across the country, including a packed night at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles, since the band’s official inception in 2021.
The opportunity first began in 2020, when Lipton and Yun were contacted by casting directors Lisa Mae and Craig Fincannon to audition for the music-driven television project. Despite Lipton being the only one with prior acting experience— having spent several years acting on the ABC soap opera General Hospital —the duo decided to audition.
When Lipton now reflects on the band’s rise, as well as their titular Amazon Prime television show, he’s quick to note that despite the growing notoriety that has unfolded in just a few short months, it is nothing short of a “dream come true.” Still, despite the momentum, Lipton’s real excitement isn’t about growing larger—it’s about hitting the road again with his friends, being able to meet new ones, and soaking in what he calls “a great, great time.”
While the full band was initially put together through the audition process, the group met for their first jam sessions, started writing music together, and developed their sound—all before their show was officially greenlit. “So much time elapsed that we became a real band in the process,” Lipton says. “We wrote our own songs, played gigs all around, and it helped once we got to the show for everything to be as authentic as possible because we already had that pre-existing chemistry with each other.”
In anticipation of filming for the show, the group made a small appearance on the third season of Netflix’s Outer Banks, playing at an anniversary party for the parents of one of the main characters, Kiara. This served as a way to acclimate to life on set before filming their own series. The Amazon Prime Video show The Runarounds debuted in full last September after years of artistic growth for the band.
In the show, The Runarounds follows a group of recent high school graduates in Wilmington, North Carolina, who form a rock band called Futhermucker the summer after graduation. While the on-screen band is fictional, the series draws heavily on the band’s real-life experiences, with their early years as young musicians helping shape the show’s storylines.
The band and the series share a similar spirit, as they both feed into each other. Their songs channel the restless energy of youth and navigating to find your place in the world. Those same themes flow heavily throughout the show, making the band’s on-screen story a natural extension of their own music, separated from the series. The group crafted songs that felt inseparable from the characters’ emotional arcs and inspired by their own real-life experiences.
Together, The Runarounds are loud, sweaty, and unapologetically fun, easily feeding off one another’s energy. Lipton’s Fender Stratocaster and Taylor Acoustic Guitars may anchor the front of the stage, but the chemistry between all five of the band members makes the experience unforgettable in the best way possible.
“So much time elapsed that we became a real band in the process...we already had that pre-existing chemistry with each other.”
Following the release of season one of the Amazon Prime show, the band headed out on their first tour as a band outside of the show. Lipton recalls a moment during the band’s sold-out fall 2025 tour, “I had a couple of emotional moments on stage,” Lipton says. “We’ve been at this for a long time, and to see that kind of response, that positivity and support, was unreal. It’s been really cool just hearing small little anecdotes from different people that I’ll meet.”
As the show’s audience has grown in recent months, so has the band’s reach, and Lipton says one of the most rewarding parts has been hearing how much the music and the show connect with fans. “As an entertainer—that’s the dream, the goal,” Lipton says. “ I think we have a really awesome community around the band that we love being a part of.”
Several songs, like “Senior Year,” “Funny How the Universe Works,” “Beautiful Stranger,” and “Sofia,” were written before the show was fully developed and were the start of the band’s creative foundation for the series. “We were just writing songs to write songs where we’d get little nuggets of what the story was going to be about,” he says. “So we were, like ‘We’ll write a song about this.”
“Senior Year” captures the thrill of the uncertainty of leaving high school, while “Funny How the Universe Works” leans into an almost conversational tone about growing pains.
Stripped-back tracks like “Beautiful Stranger” and “Sofia” highlight the band’s intimate, emotional side. Later, once actual scripts were finalized, the band began writing directly to plot points.
In the fourth episode, for instance, Lipton’s character, Charlie, gets punched during a Fourth of July party, a moment that inspired the music within the show and helped set up the storyline. “We’re kind of playing around with plot lines, seeing what would fit here and there,” Lipton says. “It’s like we almost get to write a soundtrack for a story, which [is] just so much fun.”
Lipton also says social media has played a role in the band’s growth. He says that social media platforms like TikTok have become a space to share tour vlogs and behind-the-scenes moments, and in his case, check out fan covers of The Runarounds’ songs. “It’s been fun to have a little bit of a TikTok platform now because I’ve been doing these vlogs on the road. Before, if I did something like that, I don’t think anyone would really care,” he says. “I find doing little fun excerpts of that… has been super fun. It’s been a great way to see how the fans are enjoying it, what they really like, and also to express appreciation directly to fans.”
The band carried their momentum into new music recorded after shooting the first season of the show, when they wrote what became their latest song,
“Chasing The Good Times,” in Nashville last spring. The song, produced in collaboration with Brad Schultz of Cage the Elephant, was released in mid-November and marked the band’s first standalone release after the show’s soundtrack. “It’s a really fun one to play live, and we gigged it on the last leg before it was released,” he says. “I’m excited to see if people liked it this time around and want to sing along.”
“It’s like we almost get to write a soundtrack for a story, which [is] just so much fun.”
Lipton says that one of the key themes of the show is chasing dreams for the right reasons and keeping the right people close, which helped fuel the writing process for the track. “The song’s just kind of exploring what it’s like to kind of lose your way in some of the insanity that might come with all this,” he says.
The band deliberately mirrored the emotional elements and possible storylines woven into the TV series. “It’s a fun tune,” Lipton says, remembering one comment in particular. “I saw someone say online that it’s such a happy tune, but it has a sad message, which was kind of the whole deal we were thinking about when making it. It’s got those classic Runarounds elements, but it’s a little bit of a forewarning tale. Hopefully, people know it’s aimed to direct them toward the right way of living and not getting lost in the sauce.”
With this renewed energy, they’re bringing the music to fans across the country with their next set of shows on the road. The Minivan Tour, which kicked off on Jan. 12, spans Minneapolis, Dallas, New York, Nashville, and Chicago. “[The] first leg of the tour was pretty awesome, just a dream come true,” he says. “This is going to be a whole different level in the span of a couple of months. So I’m really excited to get on the road with my friends and meet new friends, and do it for real.”
Entering the new year with streaming numbers exploding into the millions, Lipton teases the band’s plan to release new music showcasing
their evolution—complete with new sounds, new production, and instruments they’ve been learning along the way. “We’ve been working on a big collection of songs, and there are so many good tunes that we have to cut down which ones to keep in,” he says. “Our plan is a full release record, which will be exciting because our only full record right now is a live album.”
Beyond their own chapter, Lipton hopes the music and the show connect with fans and inspire creativity in others, giving them the inspiration they need. “Hopefully, the show inspires them to go on a little adventure, maybe start their own band… even if it’s just a small part, someone else’s beginning of their musical journey is quite a dream come true,” Lipton says.
After a breakthrough 2025 and their TV debut, the band is gearing up for an even bigger year. “I would love to forward my gratitude and thanks to everyone who’s been coming along for the journey,” he says. “It’s been an insane ride, and I’m very grateful that I get to share it with so many awesome people.”
IN YOUR CITY LOS ANGELES
It shows up in record shops like Amoeba and Permanent Records, and in the hole-in-the-wall venues tucked throughout Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Downtown, where L.A.’s music scene really lives. When summer rolls around, the city opens up with free shows in parks, reminding you that music here isn’t just for people with tickets. House shows, pop-up gigs, and last-minute flyers taped to street poles matter just as much as the big rooms, giving each artist a chance to shine. From backyard sets to streets lined with studios, Los Angeles is shaped by the people passing through and the ones who decide to stay.
INTRODUCING YOUR LOCAL FAVORITES
as voted on by Los Angeles natives
CONCERT VENUES
Echo / Echoplex
El Rey Theatre
Forum
Hollywood Bowl
Moroccan Lounge
Troubadour
Wiltern
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ashley Osborn @ashleyosborn
Daniela Shella-Stevens @danielashella_
Kalai Chik @kalai_chik
Kirby Gladstein @kirbygladstein
Lauren Carsley @laurencarsley
MODERN MUSICIANS
Avenged Sevenfold
Billie Eilish
HAIM
In This Moment
Kendrick Lamar
Linkin Park
FESTIVALS
Beachlife Festival
Camp Flog Gnaw
Just Like Heaven
Matty Vogel @mattyvogel
Meg Meyer @megmeyer
Nikki Phillips @nikkiphillips
Skyler Barberio @skylerbarberio
Yising Kao @yisingkao
(The) Linda Lindas
(The) Marias
Phoebe Bridgers
Tyler, The Creator Wallows
RADIO STATIONS
Ohana Festival
Warped Tour Long Beach
TIMELESS MUSICIANS
The Doors
Eagles
Guns N’ Roses
Hoobastank
Incubus
Metallica
Snoop Dogg
Van Halen
Weezer
Weird Al Yankovic
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
“Poo-Bah in East L.A. is a total gem for vinyl & rare records.” - Madeline
“Record Surplus and Amoeba Music record stores are a must see! The Grammy Museum, too. There are free concerts in Pershing Square and on Santa Monica Pier in the summer.” - Jane
BROOKLYN STEEL
BROOKLYN, NY
@brooklynsteel
Brooklyn Steel mixes innovation and swagger
Brooklyn Steel is widely considered a powerhouse venue in New York City’s music landscape. Tucked into East Williamsburg, Brooklyn Steel has transformed from a former steel fabrication warehouse into a premier concert hall. The space officially opened on April 6, 2017, which was marked by a five-night run of sold-out performances by LCD Soundsystem.
The venue holds about 1,800 people, making it one of the largest mid-size concert halls in New York City.
While maintaining its roots as a former industrial space with its exposed steel beams, high ceilings, raw materials, and a warehouse-style layout, Brooklyn Steel has gone on to reimagine the space for worldclass live music while preserving much of its original structure.
The venue itself features a main room, balcony, and three bars, creating a room that feels large and immersive while still
allowing performances to feel intimate and close to the stage. With its high ceilings and acoustics—allowing sound to carry evenly without feeling cramped or muddy— Brooklyn Steel has become a favorite among artists, such as Billie Eilish and PJ Harvey, and those who call the city home.
On top of the recognition within the city itself, Rolling Stone recognized Brooklyn Steel as one of the 10 best live music venues in America, further solidifying its reputation.
Since opening its doors, Brooklyn Steel has hosted performers ranging from indie musicians to electronic powerhouses like Phoebe Bridgers, Arctic Monkeys, Maren Morris, and Run the Jewels.
The venue, now known for being a goto destination for album release shows, special residencies, and curated concert experiences, draws fans from across the city and beyond.
Photo of Grouplove at Brooklyn Steel Photographed by Susie McKeon Article by Clare Gehlich
UPCOMING TOURS
Forget FOMO
These upcoming tours are the ones you need to clear your calendar for.
TWICE
After drawing some of the biggest crowds at Lollapalooza 2025, South Korean girl group TWICE started the North American leg of their THIS IS FOR World Tour earlier this month in support of their fourth studio album THIS IS FOR. They’ll continue hitting major cities in the U.S. and Canada through April before heading to Europe in May.
JAN 09 - JUNE 04
DEL WATER GAP
Hannah Jadagu
Following the release of his third studio album Chasing the Chimera last November, indie artist Del Water Gap is currently on a headline tour across North America. He’ll continue to hit cities across the U.S. and Canada through the end of February before heading to the U.K. and Europe in March. Hannah Jadagu will be joining him as support.
JAN 15 - APR 02
JANUARY
JAN 15 - MAR 01
THE RUNAROUNDS
Easy Honey, The Back Alley, Post Sex Nachos, + more
Following the sold-out leg of The Minivan Tour last year, The Runarounds have extended the tour through March 1. The group, whose popularity partially stems from their hit TV show on Amazon Prime Video, will be joined by Easy Honey, The Back Alley, Post Sex Nachos, Aestrea, and hey i’m outside as support on select dates.
JAN 26 - SEP 29
ASHNIKKO
Amelia Moore
Alt-pop star Ashnikko rocked the world last year with the release of her sophomore album Smoochies, and now she’s bringing the album across Europe and North America this spring. She began her tour in Poland this month and will continue across Europe and the U.K. through midFebruary before heading overseas to the U.S. in March.
LAUREN SPENCER SMITH
Henry Moodie, Sadie Jean, Sofia Camara
After her highly successful run through Europe, Australia, and New Zealand last year, Lauren Spencer Smith is bringing her The Art of Being A Mess Tour, supporting her newest album of the same name, to North America starting February 4. With several tour dates already sold out and support from Henry Moodie, Sadie Jean, and Sofia Camara, this is one you won’t want to miss.
FEB 04 - MAR 23
FEB 05 - AUG 21
HARDY
McCoy Moore, Cameron Whitcomb, Tucker Wetmore, Mitchell Tenpenny, +more
Rising country star HARDY will bring THE COUNTRY! COUNTRY! TOUR! across North America starting February 5, supporting his latest album, COUNTRY! COUNTRY! Hitting 39 cities, he’ll have varying support from McCoy Moore, Cameron Whitcomb, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tucker Wetmore, Muscadine Bloodline, and Jake Worthington.
RUEL
Arthur Hill, Mercer Henderson
Following the release of his highly successful sophomore album Kicking My Feet last October, indie pop star Ruel is set to hit major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada starting February 9. Arthur Hill will join the Australian singer for the first 16 shows, while Mercer Henderson will join as support for the remaining dates.
FEB 09 - APR 08
FEBRUARY
14 - MAY 28
BBNO$
Käärijä (Red Rocks date only)
Alternative star bbno$ took the internet by storm last year thanks to his quirky and creative take on his music and video content. In support of his latest album bbno$, he will embark on The Internet Explorer Tour beginning February 14. The tour will hit major cities across the U.S. and Canada through the beginning of April before heading overseas to the UK and Europe.
BAD OMENS
Beartooth, PRESIDENT
Genre-defying rock band Bad Omens released a string of surprise singles and a new EP Left For Good last year, and now they’re bringing their music to arenas across North America starting February 22. The 20-date Do You Feel Love North American tour will feature Beartooth and PRESIDENT supporting all dates and wrap up at the end of March.
FEB 22 - MAR 27
28 - APR 12
ZARA LARSSON
International pop star Zara Larsson’s newest album Midnight Sun is some of her best work yet. Now, fans in North America have the chance to see her live on the Midnight Sun Tour beginning on February 28. With support from Amelia Moore, the Midnight Sun Tour will hit 30 cities across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up in Texas on April 12.
Amelia Moore
