Los Angeles-via-Indiana songwriter/musician Stone Irr has released his sophomore album Performance via Darling Recordings. On his latest effort, Stone grapples with his place in the world after live-changing events that range from an uprooted home-life to love and loss. Through it all, Stone reflects on the identity he holds versus the identity he displays. The outcome is a beautiful array of cerebral West Coast pop full of tension and harmony, much like the juxtapositions and contradictions of life and one’s own emotions. 

Stone Irr’s new, second album Performance is equal parts heart-on-the-sleeve Midwestern indie and warm, West Coast pop, reflecting the artist’s Indiana upbringing and a recent move to Los Angeles.

Stone’s growth as an artist, songwriter, and arranger since his 2017 debut album Sinner is obvious on the standout track “All We Want Anymore.” “It’s a must-hear for fans of the California pop songs of yesteryear and crushingly beautiful songs that play when the end credits roll,” says Paste Magazine.

 That voice, often multi-tracked with layers of harmonies, is Stone Irr’s defining quality. It floats through the record, at times whispered and ethereal and at others gritty and broken. Buzzbands LA compliments this technique saying, “The Beatles, Beach Boys and ELO are obvious reference points, along with artists such as XTC, World Party and Sufjan Stevens.”

 Lyrically, Stone meditates on “performance” as the relationship between the observer and the observed. This metaphor allows him to explore the modern experience of hyper-connected isolation caused by “sharing your life on the screen” (Nose Dive), and the delicate nature of self-knowledge (“I’m more selfish than I thought”, Cheer Up).

Performance also features essential, thoughtful production and beautiful performances from Mark Edlin and Ben Lumsdaine (Kevin Krauter, Major Murphy, Steve Marino) and album art by William Schaff (Okkervil River, Songs: Ohia).

Stone Irr’s new record Performance is available now on limited-edition yellow vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and cassette via Darling Recordings.