Restless (CD)

Rising Virginia-based trio Palmyra blends indie rock and folk with raw honesty, capturing their journey through struggle, self-acceptance, and growth. The band’s debut album, Restless, out on Oh Boy Records on March 28, reflects their evolving dynamic following moments of vulnerability and solidarity. “Shape I’m In, ”the center-piece track of the album, is a mind map that band member Sasha Landon wrote as they began to navigate their bipolar diagnosis. This song, the band’s submission for the Tiny Desk Concert in 2024, led to NPR naming them one of their ‘Best New Artists.’

Palmyra’s music, steeped in the sounds of traditional instruments and shaped by their time in the South, defies easy categorization. They write about suicide, gender dysphoria, and the heavy boot of capitalism in songs that flirt with soul, post-rock, and even emo. Their courage in addressing these difficult themes is inspiring. The10 tracks of Restless are not just songs, they’re true-to-life testimonials from three outstanding songwriters, figuring out existence in real-time in verse. These are songs to be sung or shouted out loud, coveted as anthems as we try to make our way from whatever shape we’re in toward whatever shape we hope to become.