Lightning 100 is excited to announce Girl Tones as our Local Artist of the Week with their new single “Leave The City”.
Casey has chosen local sisters Kenzie and Laila, who, together, form the rock duo Girl Tones, for this week’s local highlighted artist. Though they’ve been playing together for years, the group’s debut single was released in 2024 under Cage The Elephant’s Brad Shultz through his label Parallel Vision under Big Loud Rock. Big and loud rock music is certainly what these sisters are creating. Both members come from a classical music background, but they traded in their cello and piano for an electric guitar and a drum set. The band plays live together as a duo, but don’t be fooled, they bring enough energy to the stage for a full band. Kenzie shines on the stage through her passionate facial expressions and exciting spasmic movements, and Laila holds the songs down confidently with driving rhythms.
“Leave The City”, released at the tail end of last year, is true to the band’s defined sound. Fuzzy, thick guitar and punchy, driving drums remind the listener of a band they’re often compared to: The White Stripes. Kenzie’s unapologetic vocals sound like they are being shouted to you through a megaphone and remind you that, “You make me want, You make me want, To leave this city.” The band shares that the new single confronts growing pains and feeling out of place in your hometown, even if you have love for it. “Little bubbles bursting around me, burning all the bridges of who you used to be.” The band has been performing this song live for years, but it gains more dimension in its recorded and produced version through additional harmonies and a ripping guitar solo.
The lyrics to the song also gain new meaning in the growing success of the group. Having been on tour all last year with Cage the Elephant, The Velveteers, and Silversun Pickups, Girl Tones has had a chance to get out of their local scene and introduce their music to new audiences. In addition to making festival debuts last year at Lollapalooza and Shaky Knees fest, the band is getting a taste for life on the road and the challenges that come with that.
By bouncing between garage rock and punk with some pop flair influence, this group is redefining modern rock music and solidifying its place in the music industry.
Listen to “Leave The City” and enjoy its accompanying visualizer using the link below!
Tune in to 100.1 FM and lightning100.com all week to hear “Leave The City” by Girl Tones, our Local Artist of the Week!
