Photo by Mackai Sharp

The saying goes that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result. With “soulless cycle”, Taja Cheek may be driving herself into a fit of mania for being overly apologetic at her own expense, but she’s far from repeating familiar patterns in her work as L’Rain on the lead single off her new album, fata morgana.

We heard hints of dreamy psych-pop flowing through her energy fields on 2023’s standout, I Killed Your Dog, but here, gravity has changed its direction and see her entering a noise rock vortex. “I’m a psycho cycle,” she declares through a transcendental mantra that averts the chaos swarming her. That chaos is messy, but it can only hold so much distraction over her before clarity diffuses her space. From her vantage point, banging her head softly against a rock hard canvas like this is one way you can actually break free.

Directed by: Mackai Sharp

L’Rain’s fata morgana will be released August 14th on Mexican Summer.