Drawing inspiration from bands like
Pedro the Lion and
Death Cab for Cutie,
Petal is the brainchild of Scranton, Pennsylvania-based singer/songwriter
Kiley Lotz. Delivering a compelling blend of deeply personal lyrics -- which often stem from her struggles with anxiety and depression -- and melancholic and soulful indie rock,
Lotz's keen ear for melody and knack for crafting songs that skillfully toe the line between wounded and defiant was in full force on her 2015 debut,
Shame.
Formed in 2012,
Lotz utilizes a rotating lineup that often includes members of
Tigers Jaw,
Three Man Cannon, and
Captain We're Sinking. The project's debut EP,
Scout, featured contributions from
Tigers Jaw members Ben Walsh and
Brianna Collins, and drew favorable comparisons to artists like
Lemuria,
Waxahatchee,
Solange, and
Cat Power. The band's debut studio long-player,
Shame, was released in 2015 via Run for Cover Records. The same label released the sparer
Comfort EP in 2017, as well as the group's 2018 sophomore full-length, the powerful
Will Yip-produced
Magic Gone, the latter of which arrived after a period of personal upheaval for
Lotz. ~ James Christopher Monger