Picture your favorite guitar riff from The Strokes, a spacey Slowdive-esque production, Tame Impala drumming and a vocal style like Foster the People — bring it all together, and you’ve got a track like “Pet Rock.”

Taja Cheek, and her musical project L’Rain, has returned in 2023 with a list of experimental music off of various EPs, but “Pet Rock” has been a standout track in their discography this year.

There is something about this song; I was immediately drawn into its overall production and experimentally raw aspects, but the drums and the driving force of Cheek’s voice had me nerding out. I was lifted up out of my horribly uncomfortable dorm room chair — thank god —, and my roommates can confirm that I was in fact levitating in our living room.

Cheek regularly explores the ideas around self improvement, struggle and the deeper side of things. This goes along with her musical evolution, as she switches up her personal production style and use of instruments on every release to continually push the boundaries of what she can do. For this release in particular, she brings in a fuzzed-out guitar in the best way. She has utilized guitars in the past, but there was something new about them in this release, something that really drove the song. I could easily compare the sound to a band like Pond or the Strokes, but that would be too limiting. Cheek is successful in paving her own path and creating her own space in the industry. 

In my opinion, the best part about Cheek’s sound is the fact that she can push her production prowess and carry it out in a smooth and detail-oriented manner. I like that she has a raw side and a smooth, spacey sound. Cheek is fully aware of this fact, as she told Rolling Stone in an interview: “I try to operate under the philosophy that there actually aren’t any bad ideas, just bad executions.” 

Cheek is fully aware of her role and continued evolution, and mentions this in the song:

“You know I’m invisible /

Cut the bullshit and make me into something else.”

While simple, she makes her thinking completely clear, and in the world we live in, I appreciate this. I’m usually a pretty confused guy, so this attitude is refreshing. I look forward to hearing more from Taja Cheek as L’Rain, and she has definitely left her mark on 2023. I have no doubt that she will continue to tear it up this year.