It’s hard to find an album this year as rich and rewarding to listen to as Cruzafied. The latest record from American band Cruza—who have quietly built one of the most prolific and potent discographies of the 2020s—it’s a record that draws you in deeper with each passing vocal inflection, lyrical musing, guitar lick and drum hit, an otherworldly and sensation-filled effigy that’s dainty and daring.

Cruza are succinct in their sonic identity and artistic appeal. The new album is the latest in a line of bodies of music that build and sharpen the band’s warm and cascading universe, exploring a range of genres to manufacture a sound that feels unique and recognisable to them alone. Cruzafied is their strongest work yet, and sees them showered in critical adoration. To further spread the message, the four-piece are currently touring the UK and Europe (with dates at The Lower Third in London taking place today and tomorrow, October 7th and 8th), and will head back to the States for plenty more shows to finish the year. Tickets here.

Wonderland connected with the band, talking essence, aesthetic, live shows and Cruzafied…

Listen to the album…

Read the interview…

Hey Cruza! Could you tell us a little bit about how you formed as a band?  
Adam: Me and AJ met as kids in middle school in Huntsville, AL and started making music together in 2017, and officially as Cruza in 2018. We later met guitarist Charity Joy Brown in 2020 online and then multi-instrumentalist Sago around 2021 while living in Orlando, FL. 

What is it about the connection between you all that works so well musically?
Charity: Here’s an inherent understanding and appreciation for what everyone contributes to the band. when there’s that level of trust built into the music making process, it makes it so much easier to be free in exploring different sonic ideas together. we know how to compliment each other in that way. 

What lies at the crux of your essence as a band?
Charity: At the core of our collective experimentation, collaboration, & exploration. taking things that feel familiar to each of us individually whether that be influences from music, films, etc. and shaping them into our own unique ideas & sounds. then coming together and melding all of our experiences into what is known as Cruza. 

We’re obsessed with your visual aesthetic! What do you hope to convey through the music videos, artwork, etc?
AJ: Visually we just want to draw the connection to what people are hearing and build a world that’s specific up our sound.

How do you measure your artistic progression when looking back on your discography? 
Adam: That’s a bit of a hard question to answer, but i would say the growth has been in the collaboration. I think the music always improves as long as we’re willing and open to freely try new shit until something feels right between the four of us. 

Congratulations on your new album Cruzafied! How are you feeling about the release?
Adam: Thank you, it feels cool to finally have it out. The album was a culmination of the past three years of our lives, so it felt like a weight off our shoulders to finally be able to let go of that baggage and not be able to take it back. 

Talk us through your creative progress on the record? 
Charity: We spend a lot of time just jamming out ideas. For this project, it was a matter of taking a lot of the jam sessions we did over the past few years and really just tightening up the production and vocals until we felt like the album was ready to come out.

Why have you decided to  name the record Cruzafied? 
Adam: Honestly it just sums up who we are and how our art makes people feel. 

How did you approach the LP from a sonic standpoint? What were the key influences or ideas that you wanted to convey?
AJ: Sonically I wanted to show maturity and growth from our last EP to this one. Some of the main influences for this project were Radiohead, Sales, Pharrell / Neptunes, and always Gorillaz.  

Lyrically, what are the main themes you touch on across the record?
Adam: The album touches on themes of heartbreak, disappointment, uncertainty, regret and a lot of reality. 

You’re in Europe to tour! Is there a specific city/venue that you are most excited to play? 
Sago: Probably Amsterdam everyone always has the most shit to say about Amsterdam when we ask about the best European tour stops.

Describe your live show in three words? 
Sago: “What the fuck”.

What are Cruza’s long term plans and ambitions?
Charity: We have big plans. we’re legends in the making. we’re ready to tour all over the world and completely shake things up. music is so powerful, what we’re creating together is so unique & has the power to reach people of all walks of life. we’re excited to reach more and more people.