Mamalarky thrive in the in-between, a tri-coastal outfit strad
dling Atlanta, Austin, and Los Angeles, crafting a sound that
feels both meticulously constructed and effortlessly unspooled.
Their brand of indie rock is delightfully askew—swirling psych
flourishes meet wiry guitar tangents, all anchored by tender,
off-kilter hooks that burrow deep. It’s music that invites you
into its strange little universe, full of inside jokes and late
night musings turned into melodic gold.
Their sophomore effort, Hex Key — marking their Epitaph Records
debut—lands in April, with plenty of mileage ahead as they road
test new material. A spring tour includes a run with Hinds and
a stop at Treefort Music Fest, where their shape-shifting sonics
will no doubt translate into hypnotic, full-bodied chaos.
Formed in Austin in 2016, Mamalarky’s lineup has since scattered
across time zones, but their chemistry remains unmistakable.
Guitarist Livvy Bennett (formerly of Cherry Glazerr), keyboard
ist Michael Hunter (White Denim), drummer Dylan Hill, and bass
ist Noor Khan (Faye Webster’s touring bassist) operate like a
band that’s spent years finishing each other’s musical sentenc
es. Their songwriting thrives on kinetic interplay—nimble and
restless, yet always landing in some deeply satisfying pocket.
While indie-pop might be the easiest tag to slap on them, Mama
larky dodge the genre’s more predictable trappings. Instead of
settling into breezy melancholy, they embrace complexity—knotty
time signatures, rubbery basslines, and melodies that feel like
they’re winking at you. It’s heady but never pretentious, the
kind of music that rewards repeat listens, each spin revealing
a new hidden corner.