Crushed

Los Angeles duo Crushed craft dream pop tracks that draw openly from an array of '90s reference points. Their hazy, wistful aesthetic evokes the melodic elegance associated with the Sundays, the smeared textures of My Bloody Valentine, and the propulsive rhythms that drove many indie-to-mainstream crossovers around 1996. The pair first came together in early 2022, with vocalist Bre Morell and producer/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Shaun Durkan exchanging ideas from a distance. Both musicians had prior experience: Morell performed with Temple of Angels, while Durkan contributed to the abrasive outfit Weekend and handled production duties for Young Prisms, Tamaryn, and various other indie projects. United under the Crushed banner, the two shaped a style rooted in the dream pop, shoegaze, Brit-pop, and dance-oriented alternative rock of the '90s and early 2000s, resulting in something recognizable yet more engaging than mere replication. Their initial release, the debut EP Extra Life, appeared in 2023 via the Funeral Party imprint. The group's appealing retro approach drew notice from listeners and critics, prompting a deal with Ghostly International, which put out a March 2024 edition of Extra Life that added fresh remixes from Real Lies and DJ Python.