The music industry is going through a revitalization in which artists find themselves inspired by and referencing the past. With the popularity of such groups as Silk Sonic, The Midnight, and more, listeners are clamoring for more music that captures a retro feel while doing something distinctive. Los Angeles musician Ali Angel’s self-titled debut EP, released on June 17, fits that bill perfectly.
Ali Angel has a unique sound with a strong 1970s influence and blends motifs from soul, country, indie, and classic rock into a vibe that is both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly unique. Angel isn’t just another retro artist — she is interested in exploring her influences and experimenting with instrumentation in genuinely exciting and innovative ways.
The instrumentation of Angel’s EP is fascinating, with live horns, glockenspiel, Wurlitzer, and gritty guitars complementing the raw vocals. It’s not the stereotypical indie debut album with someone singing with an acoustic guitar, and maybe a drumset in the background — Angel has created something much richer and more ambitious in its sound.
“My main collaborators are both the players in my band and the musicians I record with,” explains Angel. “We start most songs off with a full idea of what the entire composition played out already sounds like, since we usually play things live various times before even getting to recording. Because of that, my stuff already has that old school, full live band, organic sound, and with records like ‘Extra Wild’ and ‘Loving You Lately’ that bring in the horns, strings, and wurlitzer, it doubles up on that retro-ness”
From A Successful Single To An EP
Angel’s debut single, “Play Pretend,” was released in April 2021. It surpassed over 80,000 streams in the course of a year and was featured on more than 3,000 indie music and tastemaker playlists. This is an extraordinary level of success for a new indie musician who is self-releasing and shows her promise for this and future projects.
The six tracks on her EP explore such themes as heartbreak and young love, themes that are not only relatable to Angel herself but will resonate with audiences of all ages. It’s the type of raw, honest, feel-good music that those familiar with the indie scene love to hear. The exciting thing about listening to indie music is the opportunity to discover unique voices with something to say in an interesting way, and Angel certainly succeeded at doing that.
“This project really dives into my experiences over the past two years, from daydreams about adventures and potential new relationships, to experiencing sweetness and vulnerability in a romance to setting boundaries in friendships,” Angel says. “It’s scattered thematically and doesn’t revolve around one timeline or experience or journey, it’s more like a snapshot of this one space in my life in terms of experience and the musical sound I was being inspired by.”
One of the best songs in the album is the Motown-inspired “Extra Wild,” which has gained popularity among listeners for its fun sound and intensely relatable lyrics. Right now, the song has the second most streams on the EP on Spotify behind “Play Pretend,” racking up almost 20,000 streams on that platform alone in mere weeks since its release.
Succeeding In The LA Music Scene
Angel is quickly making her way up the ranks in the Los Angeles independent music scene, having had performances and residencies at such LA mainstays as Hotel Cafe, Gold Diggers, Breaking Sound, and Bar Lubitsch. She’s a Los Angelino at heart, with deep respect and appreciation for the intimacy of the LA scene while also having excitement for the opportunity it offers.
“It’s been a journey of expanding my network of opportunity in the music scene here,” asserts Angel. “Now that I have, it feels like I’m finding and being asked about new chances to play venues and curated events all the time! I think there’s something extra genuine and sweet about the musicians in Los Angeles who regularly play live. It’s nice to grow in a community like that, who cheers one another on, because it’s really about us all collectively growing stronger and sharing in the music.”
Listeners can expect more great things from Angel in the future: “My next project, unlike this one, is absolutely thematic and about an entire process I’m currently going through. It’s going to really delve into the darker parts of this past year for me, navigating through a breakup and dealing with my sexuality, coming to terms with who I am, and embracing the confusion, loneliness, and also the beauty and excitement that comes with really living your truth. I think it’s super important stuff to talk about and I hope it can touch people in ways that make them feel less alone and different, and I hope to make it catchy enough to play on repeat.”
Ali Angel’s self-titled debut EP is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music, and you can support her by purchasing her previous singles on Bandcamp. Those looking for their next favorite indie musician with a ‘70s flair should check out Angel’s EP, as her sound is one that you won’t be able to get enough of.