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Music

Wray's "Relative" Is Way More Original and Interesting Than Your Actual Relatives

Listen to the Birmingham, Alabama, band's satisfying take on genre-blending shoegaze.

There are few better feelings than finding a song that appeals to different aspects of your pliable musical palate. Wray’s “Relative” is the middle ground you've probably been searching for—the track that breaks down barriers when it comes to genre bias.

“Relative” folds dream pop into shoegaze and noise rock, separating tides of aggressive cymbal clashing from calming, lo-fi vocals. It’s a unique mélange of genres, melding beach rock breeziness with the type of driving, slowly evolving aesthetic that marked bands like My Bloody Valentine.

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The musical variety is a reminder that not all shoegaze bands are created equal. It’s a satisfying change of pace.

Luckily, Wray will be dropping a self-titled album full of more multifaceted sonic goodies on July 15. The band is also currently on tour, handing out positive vibes in the summer heat. Go and check them out, and listen to the track above.

Wray Tour Dates

6/13: Montevallo, AL @ Eclipse (without MOAM)
6/27: Pensacola, FL @ The Vinyl (without MOAM)
6/28: Mobile, AL @ __________ (without MOAM)
7/11: Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Café (without MOAM, CD Release Show)
7/15: Nashville, TN @ Exit In
7/16: St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
7/17: Kansas City, MO @Riot Room
7/18: Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
7/19: Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
7/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
7/21: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
7/22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
7/23: San Francisco, CA @ Independent
7/24: Eugene, OR @ Cozmic Pizza
7/26: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
9/2: Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
9/3: Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
9/4: Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio
9/5: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
9/6: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
9/7: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
9/8: Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
9/9: Buffalo, NY @ Tralf
9/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
9/11: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9/12: Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
9/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
9/14: Washington, DC @ Black Cat

Sarina also wants positive vibes to beat the humidity… and ice cream as well. Send them via Twitter - @sarinabloodgood