Starbenders

Atlanta's hirsute alt-rockers Starbenders formed in 2013 when lead singer and guitarist Kimi Shelter linked with former bandmate and bassist Aaron Lecesne and the pair later welcomed guitarist Kriss Tokaji and drummer Katie Herron (replaced by Emily Moon in 2017) into the fold. After building a buzz in the US through rigorous live tours and a Jeff Bakos-mixed self-titled EP released in 2014, the group were snapped up by Institution Records, helmed by Lady Gaga's erstwhile music director/guitarist Nico Constantine. They dropped their hooky debut album, Heavy Petting, in 2016, marrying sleaze-tinted indie-punk with a retro dose of gritty glam, psych-pop, and classic rock. Early singles like "Touch," "Brake," "Paper Beats Rock," and "Time Stops"—which was named Best Music Video at the 2016 Oregon Film Awards—caught fire and lit their path to national dominance. The 2018 Julian EP followed a similar vintage rock 'n' roll line shot through the garage-punk sass of the Donnas and in May 2019, Starbenders announced their signing to Sumerian Records, christening their arrival with the "London" single. Starbenders' second album Love Potions followed in 2020 and was produced by longtime producer Nico Constantine while also featuring former touring mate Remington Leith on "Precious." The group's third full-length Take Back the Night emerged three years later, amplified by a stack of monstrous singles like "The Game," which reached number 40 on the US Mainstream Rock chart.