Music
Under The Rug’s “laugh a lot” delivers cathartic joy in life’s darkest moments
Indie band Under The Rug has shared the second single off Part 1 of their two-part album, happiness is easy. The “laugh a lot” track offers listeners a whimsical yet profound anthem juxtaposing life’s levity with its lurking anxieties.
“laugh a lot” is a masterful piece of storytelling that captures the essence of finding beauty in the bleakest scenarios. Vocalist Casey Dayan opens up about a poignant period spent in a motel, closeted and grappling with their identity. In this unlikely sanctuary, a cockroach on a lamp became a bizarre yet comforting companion, symbolizing how even the most reviled creatures can offer unexpected solace. Dayan’s raw narrative transforms the mundane into something tender and evocative, highlighting the absurdity and resilience of the human spirit.
“So many times I’ve woken up into the worst parts of my life and laughed, and I think that’s beautiful somehow. That tension, between the awfulness and the laughing,” Dayan shares. This sentiment is intricately woven into “laugh a lot,” where self-pity and strength dance together, celebrating life’s rich and multifaceted nature.
The single serves as a tantalizing preview of Under The Rug’s upcoming album, happiness is easy, which promises to delve deep into themes of joy, resilience, and the human experience. Featuring contributions from notable co-writers such as Sam Hollander (Panic! At The Disco, Weezer) and Mason Jennings, and produced by David Peters, the album is set to be another testament to the band’s storytelling prowess.
Over the past decade, the Austin-based trio—Casey Dayan, guitarist Sean Campbell, and drummer Brendan McQueeney—has built a dedicated fan base with their heartfelt indie, folk, and Americana blend. Their unique DIY approach and intimate fan interactions have garnered praise from publications like American Songwriter and Rolling Stone India, and endorsements from The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.
As anticipation builds for happiness is easy Part 1, Under The Rug continues to enchant listeners with their deeply personal and evocative music. “laugh a lot” is a beacon of light for anyone who has found humor in hardship, and as the band gears up for their headlining US tour this August, fans can expect an authentic and emotional live experience that showcases their profound connection to the complexities of human emotions.
Artist Spotlight
Lana Crow turns challenges into a celebration with “Laugh With You”
“Laugh With You,” the latest single from Lana Crow, is a sincere rallying cry to embrace life in all its messy, beautiful mess. In the song, indie pop and alt-pop combine to deliver an emotional blow that feels both personal and universal.
“Laugh With You” feels like an instant connection, and Crow is telling you stories of hard times with a cozy, knowing smile. This song is as much about struggle as it is about how strong you are. It serves as a reminder that these struggles are simply what give us the strength to keep going, even when life is tough.
Crow encourages people to welcome them, create happiness in the cracks, and laugh even as the world gets heavy. The result is a song that delicately nudges you to love and embrace yourself. It is an anthem for anyone experiencing tough times who refuses to give up hope. Lana Crow continues to demonstrate her songwriting skills, both musically pleasing and emotionally rich, with “Laugh With You.”
It’s a reminder that it’s how we respond to tough times, rather than how they affect us, that’s key. With this song, not only does Crow provide us with music, but she also lets us know that sometimes a laugh is what we need to remember that there is always something to smile about and that, even when it feels like life has waged war against you, laughter can still be found.
Artist Spotlight
Lisa Boostani creates a mesmerizing tidal realm in “Ocean”
Lisa Boostani’s “Ocean” takes you deep into a sensory world where body, spirit, and myth come together, beyond the surface of genre. Boostani makes a soundscape that is both ethereal and deeply human by combining the broad essence of psychedelic pop with the strong appeal of alternative rock.
Her voice rises as if it is coming from deep within her, shaped by emotion rather than action. She intentionally channels the intangible, turning weakness into strength rather than a source of pain, and “Ocean” tells people to get involved in this inner world, not just watch it. This release is an integral part of her first EP, “One,” which will come out in March 2026 and is based on love, sensuality, and unity.
If “Ocean” is any indication, the EP will show sensuality not as something pretty, but as a kind of spiritual intelligence, a way to know yourself by connecting with others. The song’s textures and structure have an aquatic quality, moving between clarity and delirium, rhythm and freedom. Its emotional focus is on immersion instead of resolution.
The striking quality of “Ocean” is the blend of the mystical worlds. Boostani understands that strength often shows up as gentleness and that deep feelings are better expressed through frequencies than words. She wants people to see consciousness as immediacy, sensation as truth, and openness as an undeniable strength.
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