Lutalo Previews Debut Album The Academy with Reflective New Track “Summit Hill”
Lutalo, the 24-year-old artist hailing from Minnesota and now based in Vermont, offers a poignant introduction to their debut album The Academy with the release of “Summit Hill.” The track sets the tone for an album that reflects on the spaces and experiences that have shaped Lutalo’s journey, providing a deeply personal exploration of the ever-elusive American Dream. With echoes of modern folk storytellers like Bob Dylan and King Krule, Lutalo weaves together grunge guitar tones, rich melodies, and carefully measured pacing to tell their story.
“Summit Hill,” named after the neighborhood where Lutalo attended a prestigious boarding school on scholarship—much like F. Scott Fitzgerald—serves as a meditation on class disparity, aspiration, and the longing for acceptance. Lutalo recounts their childhood walks through the neighborhood with a close friend, both of them coming from low-income backgrounds yet dreaming of one day belonging to the world of grand homes and ease. The track is layered with nostalgia, juxtaposing the realities of growing up with limited means against the backdrop of privilege and wealth, mirroring the themes of The Great Gatsby in a modern context.
The Academy, due out September 20 on Winspear, features Lutalo playing every instrument, creating a rich, textured soundscape that complements their literate and introspective lyricism. The album serves as a deeply empathetic and unsentimental reflection on navigating the complexities of the world, delivered through a mix of post-punk grit and alt-rock sensibility.
Lutalo’s unique blend of sharp-edged fuzz and melodic introspection has already garnered attention, with The Guardianlikening their sound to the “fuzzed-out sharp edges reminiscent of TV On The Radio,” and The FADER praising the lead single “Ocean Swallows Him Whole” as “a pleasing turn into a surly form of post-punk with chugging bass lines and striking synth rattles.” Inbox Infinity aptly sums it up, calling Lutalo’s work a “tastefully updated mid-2000s alt-rock.”
With The Academy on the horizon and a fall tour supporting Nilüfer Yanya, Lutalo is poised to make a significant mark on the indie music scene. “Summit Hill” offers just a glimpse of the depth and complexity to come. Listen below:
