*The Academy*: The First Chapter of a Unique Voice in Indie Rock

Lutalo Jones, a Vermont-based singer-songwriter, describes their debut album *The Academy* as a "first chapter" that captures the experiences, thoughts, and emotions from their twenties. Recorded in 2024 in El Paso, Texas, and self-produced with Jake Aron, the album is compared to an exciting underground film, establishing Lutalo as a unique voice in indie rock.

Following the success of their 2022 EP *Once Now, Then Again*, which introduced them as a lo-fi talent, *The Academy* is a more ambitious project, with alt-rock and electronic influences. Songs like “Ocean Swallows Him Whole” and “Big Brother” tackle deep themes, such as the 2008 housing crisis and Lutalo’s role as an older sibling. The album also explores the contrast between their upbringing in a low-income family and attending an elite school, touching on the illusion of the American dream.

Lutalo sees *The Academy* as just the beginning of a larger story that will unfold over time, hoping the audience will come back to appreciate the album as something special.