Los Angeles-based musician and producer Lealani released her debut album Fantastic Planet in 2019, one that became an instant favorite of mine and has remained a touchstone for her inventive approach. Her new release, Beep Bop Boop, feels like she’s pushing the envelope on her production and fully releasing her blue-skinned energy.
The new album marks a continuation of the harsher sounds first explored on her 2021 collaborative album with Snakefoot. Noticing that both the 2024 single “Skin & Bones” and the 2021 single/demo “Killer Bee” appeared on Beep Bop Boop even before pressing play, I knew I was in for a musical journey filled with piercing production and irresistibly catchy melodic nuggets.
And Beep Bop Boop is just that. Lealani balances her quirky, personality-laden vocals and lyrics over fuzzy, distorted beats and production, creating a whole sonic universe of her own. Her vocal performance maintains laid back and cool, floating over a soundscape that continues to unfold with layers of glitchy synth textures, warped tones, and unexpected rhythmic turns. Each track reveals new sonic details, tiny bursts of electronic color, percussive accents that feel almost conversational.
For these reasons, the album feels as rewarding on the tenth listen as it does on the first. It’s a blend of grit and charm, where rough edges are on full display, giving Beep Bop Boop an identity that’s unmistakably and unapologetically Lealani.
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