Mini Trees emerged from the vision of California artist Lexi Vega, whose introspective indie pop and rock carries a lush atmosphere. The project's first full-length effort, Always in Motion, arrived in 2021. Its 2024 successor, the Burn Out EP, shifted toward a sleeker and more pop-focused palette while retaining an introspective core.
Born in Southern California, Vega grew up mainly under the care of her Japanese-American mother, who worked as a singer, after losing her Cuba-born father—a session and touring drummer—when she was five. Her songs frequently explore themes of identity, life's fragility, and unresolved emotions. Following studies in percussion and guitar, she launched her professional path as a drummer alongside other musicians before turning to original songwriting and recording. Under the Mini Trees name, her debut track "Take It Back" surfaced in July 2018. The 2019 EP Steady Me blended angsty indie rock with melancholy bedroom pop, while Slip Away appeared the following year; both were produced by Jon Joseph, a bassist who has worked regularly with BØRNS and LANY.
Run for Cover Records issued Mini Trees' debut album, Always in Motion, in September 2021, again with Joseph's involvement. Over the subsequent two years, alternate renditions of several album tracks surfaced, among them collaborations with Yumi Zouma and Illuminati Hotties plus an acoustic version of "Underwater." Fresh material took shape with the March 2024 release of Burn Out. Though still warm and reflective, the EP marked Vega and Joseph's push for greater pop emphasis, supported by contributions from Zac Rae of Death Cab for Cutie and James McAlister, known for work with Sufjan Stevens and Ester Drang.
