badsoma is chasing a new sound. The Los Angeles group is deep into a follow-up record, one that leans into psychedelic textures and takes fresh risks with song form. The band chose to self-produce again, a move that speaks to the sharpening work of badsoma founder Armin Fard as a producer and arranger. Early hints of that direction already live online. Listeners can stream the SoundCloud release of Dragonflies to catch where the group is headed.
What Keeps badsoma Collaborative
The group works as a genuine collective. Six players share the writing, and each one shapes the final result. badsoma describes itself as more than the sum of its parts, and the music follows that idea. The songs carry social and environmental themes, and they move easily between personal detail and wider concerns. Followers can keep up with the band through badsoma’s Instagram page, where the group posts news and show updates.
Recognition for the Self-Titled EP
The self-titled EP put badsoma on the map. It featured on Bandcamp’s New and Notable, and it drew coverage from the NPR-affiliated station KMUW. The record also climbed to number 144 on the North American College and Community (NACC) chart. That placement signaled real traction on college and community radio across the country.
Inside the Recording Process
Armin Fard and percussionist Braden Rose produced the EP together. Recording began at MooseCat Recording in Los Angeles, where badsoma tracked most of the songs. The group then moved to Armin’s home studio in Long Beach for extra production and overdubs. In that space, the players tested mixing ideas built to hold the energy and drama of their live shows.
Two rooms gave the band flexibility. One anchored the core takes, and the other opened space to experiment without pressure. The results of that patient approach run across their catalog, from earlier songs to the Sugar Coated Pop stream on SoundCloud.
How the Members Found Each Other
The lineup came together over time. Guitarist Kenzie (Starlit) Alvarado met Braden while studying at the Conservatory for Recording Arts and Sciences in Arizona. Her roots in blues met a fresh pull toward guitar, and she settled into the LA scene. Alvarado and Braden brought in Donald Segien, a longtime friend, a familiar face in the local scene, and a bass player also known for his skill behind a bar.
More voices arrived as the shows added up. Violinist and vocalist Lindsey Hamilton joined in 2024 and folded lush string arrangements into the mix. Shane Karan then stepped in as second guitarist, completing the current version of badsoma. For the full story of badsoma and its latest music, readers can head to the band’s website at badsoma.com.
