Since forming in 2023, Los Angeles outfit CLSTL (pronounced ‘Celestial’) have been steadily carving out an impressive niche that feels both cosmically vast and intimately grounded. Stitching together the jagged edges of post-punk with the shimmering, expansive textures of new wave, the quartet has fashioned a sound that moves with purpose.
At the heart of the project are John Beach and Neal Lapolla, whose creative synergy provides the band’s emotional anchor. Supported by the rhythmic precision of drummer Flo Mavridorakis and the atmospheric fretwork of lead guitarist Francesco Staccioli, the group brings a wealth of collective experience to the table.
In May 2025, the band took the bold step of releasing their debut album, ‘HOPE’, creating an emotionally charged album that shone with immersive production and vulnerable songwriting. It was a record designed specifically to reach those navigating the choppy waters of personal growth and uncertainty, adding a musical backdrop where it was needed most.
While the debut album served as a vulnerable introduction to their world, their latest standalone single, ‘Distance’, feels like a definitive graduation. The track is an immersive masterclass in mood, built upon a foundation of swirling, dream-like synths and rhythmic, driving guitar work that pushes the listener forward even when the lyrics pause to reflect.
The band’s chemistry, honed through consistent performances at iconic LA staples like Molly Malone’s, The Hotel Café, and The Virgil, is palpable here. There is a bright, living energy to the production that mirrors the electric atmosphere of their residency sets. Beyond the stage, CLSTL continues to build a community through THE CLSTL SHOW, a podcast where they pull back the curtain on the creative grind alongside guests like FIINO and SHADESOFBLUE.
In a musical landscape that often favours the loud or the cynical, CLSTL offers something rarer: a sound that is "emotional without being heavy." ‘Distance’ is not just a song about being lost; it is a resonant, UK-spelt reminder that even in our furthest moments of isolation, we are moving towards something brighter.
You can stream the new single above, and for more from CLSTL, join them today on Instagram.
