Karmic Boldly Declares Their Signature Sound With 'This Is Karmic' [PREMIERE]

image

When somebody mentions Austrian music, most people's minds usually jump to classical composers, not modern indie hits. Well, Karmic is here to change that perception. The Austrian-American band is releasing its groove-packed, inexplicably danceable debut EP This Is Karmic on May 31 and bringing a new movement of Euro-funk with it.

While the five-song project plays well as a collection, maintaining a fluid cadence as one track leads into the next, each of the songs on This Is Karmic possesses its own contagious pulse that will have you humming the hook to yourself long after you've turned off the music.

The album opener "Higher Self" has a plump, elastic low-end that is adorned with glittering synths across the higher registers. Guided by the steely, satisfyingly strident vocals of co-lead singers Laura Baruch and Kylee Katch, the track manifests itself as a fervid, heart-racing anthem.

image

However, if "Higher Self" is the adrenaline-charged intensity that a sprinter feels before a race, the following track "Wisdom Pie" is the warm, gooey high a cross country runner feels when they settle into a rhythm. Over a brew of laid-back drums and syrupy bass, the two singers preach, "You gotta get high with your mother/ She'll give you a slice of that wisdom pie." The steamy, strung-out funk groove is in stark contrast to the opening track, yet, somehow, the two fit together perfectly.

While the first two tracks on the album create an interesting contrast when paired back to back, Karmic also forges paradoxical harmony in the arrangements of individual songs. The fourth track on the project, "With You," is built on breezy vocal leads and Karmic's signature buttery groove that is the common thread throughout the EP. However, the band also utilizes a granular synthesizer that seems as though it would clash with the gentler elements of the piece. In reality, this synth has the same effect as sandpaper. If you lean into the grit, everything gets smoothed out.

True to its name, This is Karmic is an audacious declaration of the band's eclectic pop-funk sound. See for yourself with an exclusive first listen of This is Karmic here:

Related Articles

SHOOP (Brandon Shoop) Launches His Solo Project With EP, never better

SHOOP (Brandon Shoop) Launches His Solo Project With EP, never better

November 30, 2025 SHOOP has been making strides as an artist, creating hits for everyone from ROLE MODEL to Dijon, and even spent time drumming for Junior Varsity on tour.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
Don't Worry About LEW, She's Too Sexy to Be Sad

Don't Worry About LEW, She's Too Sexy to Be Sad

November 29, 2025 In her latest EP, the artist sets out to leave behind labels and the molds of conventional pop, creating a sound that feels free, honest, and daring.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
LEW
Crying City on Cyberpunk and the Neurology of Unlearning Someone [Q&A]

Crying City on Cyberpunk and the Neurology of Unlearning Someone [Q&A]

November 26, 2025 We chatted to the artist about her latest singles, "VOTED OUT" and "unlearning you."
Author: DJ Connor
pop
R&B
Q&A