ARENA by Pixel Grip

Inspired by the energy of the crowds Pixel Grip performed for after releasing their debut album in 2019, ARENA sends us back with the Chicago-based trio into those packed clubs with its ethereal vocals cutting through haunting bass lines and infectious synth and drum loops. Lead vocalist Rita Lukea brilliantly re-imagines the club as a site of both pleasure and struggle — an arena — forcing us to reckon with our society’s exploitative nature and envisioning a more just path forward. Released at a time when concerts and festivals are slowly making their long-awaited return, ARENA is an electrifying and empowering glimpse into the future.

By Paul Schoening