Bandwave
by Bandwave
Review
Bandwave are an indie act out of Los Angeles comprised of Jeff Pianki and Ariana Lenarsky, both of whom have been in indie scene for a good while. Pianki has been releasing consistantly since 2010 and is likely most well known for his song "Song About". Lenarsky is a little less well known, but she too has been making music since around the same time, although not as consistantly. Both being based in Los Angeles they decided to team up to start Bandwave. After a successful Indiegogo campaign to produce the album they released it in May of 2025. Now the May release might have just been a coincidence but it fits the album very well. It's a uniquely "spring-y" album. From the wispy production to the bossa nova inspired grooves [see: "Lilah"] this whole album exudes a certain gentle calmness. Now don't get it twisted, this isn't an ambient or sleepy album it's got a ton of production elements and layering that every track feels like you could get lost in it. Though it's not a term often used within music I think that they have a certain knack for "world-building". In the sense that each of these songs feels like something you can step into, something you can not only listen to but listen in.
Vocals are traded between Pianki and Lenarsky, but they often harmonize in a way that fits together like two puzzle pieces. Although I would be lying if I didn't like Ariana's vocals a bit more than Jeff's. I think Jeff has a great voice, but I think she fits the sound of the album in a more subtly apt way. When they harmonize though is when it all really comes together to form a sound that really suits them well. Another aspect that this album has a certain flair for is mixing genres, or at least styles. They go from the aformentioned bossa-inspired "Lilah", to the jazzy "Daydream Of You" to the singer-songwriter modern classic "Baby Be Mine". Initially it was hard to place what exactly they sounded like, because of this tendecy to switch influence, but then I was reminded of the 2024 collaboration between Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham, "Cunningham Bird". While that was a cover album of the pre-fleetwood mac Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nick "Buckingham Nicks" the parallels are obvious. Two pre-established artists coming together to make a varied generally singer-songwriter album. While the styles are similar I would have a hard time putting one above the other. But I think this album certainly has more to analyze than "Buckingham Nicks". Altogether, this is an album that brings something new to the table with every song, but doesn't alienate it's core sound. They just add on and on to this calm but expansive base that is ripe for the molding. I think this is one of the most promising debuts from this year, and it will be a pleasure following their careers.
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