Kevin Bronson on July 5th, 2016

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The year-old L.A. trio of Will Winters, Taylor Van Ginkel and Michael Matta had gotten off to a grand start under the name WYLDR, releasing their “Gypsy Queen” EP this spring and reminding everyone that the best way to drown relationship sorrows is often to drench them in moody synths. After a fray with the D.C. band Wylder in which lawyers were involved, the threesome changed their name to RÓSA and moved on to the next chapter. The new single “Don’t Say” is the first song their trio wrote collaboratively — the first EP was comprised of songs from Winters’ solo venture — and Winters calls it a “corrective to the EP, which longs for the return of a lost love.” “Don’t Say,” instead, “remembers what actually happened.” RÓSA’s keen feel for darkly romantic ’80s balladry is on full display; older pop fans who long for the return of Soft Cell now have a place for their love to go. This one’s perfect for the very last mixtape you send somebody.

||| Stream: “Don’t Say”

||| Live: RÓSA performs Friday night at the Wayfarer and next Monday at It’s a School Night at Bardot.