Ears Wide Open: L.A. Girlfriend

Seraphina Lotkhamnga on December 9th, 2011

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It’s easy to get a kick out of simple but clever wordplay, and most can probably agree that unexpected juxtaposition in music produces the same kind of amusement. Melancholic lyrics and upbeat electronica have become a popular mix-’n’-match, and considering the success of mega pop stars like Robyn or even local acts such as Kisses, it’s hard to deny that working up a sweat on the dancefloor while shouting out lyrics of heartbreak isn’t wonderfully cathartic. We can add Sydney-Allyson Banta, aka L.A. Girlfriend, to that list of artists who understand the slightly rebellious fun in having something summery up on the surface but emotionally razor-sharp underneath. Although Banta has been releasing music under this moniker for less than a year, she’s already followed up her “Youth” EP with singles like “Things I Shouldn’t Say” and “The Rolling Shore,” which both offer more edginess than her velvet-smooth vocals would suggest alone.