ISTA - In Sound To All
- Samuel Stevens
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
There’s a fine line between a band that experiments with sound and one that fully inhabits it. On In Sound To All, which will release on April 17, 2026, ISTA don’t just flirt with their influences—they dissolve into them, stretch them out, and rebuild something glowing, strange, and unexpectedly cohesive. The Brooklyn-based collective’s sophomore effort feels less like a follow-up and more like a full arrival: a kaleidoscopic, groove-heavy statement that’s as rooted in classic textures as it is forward-facing.
Produced by Sam Cohen (Kevin Morby, Curtis Harding) at Slow Fawn in Accord, New York, the record leans into a live, almost tactile energy. You can feel the room in these songs—the push and pull between instruments, the slight imperfections that make everything breathe. It’s a crucial decision that elevates ISTA beyond retro pastiche; In Sound To All isn’t trying to recreate the past, it’s channelling its spirit in real time.
The opener, “Gods in Heat,” sets the tone with a slow-burning, almost ritualistic build. What begins as a spontaneous bass riff blossoms into something immersive and multi-dimensional, with layered harmonies from Diona West, Chloe Golding, and Theadora Curtis weaving through fuzzed-out guitars and hypnotic percussion. It’s less a song and more an invocation—an introduction to the band’s ethos of surrendering to the moment and letting the music unfold organically.
From there, ISTA flex their range without losing cohesion. “Megawatt” and “Crusher” hit with a punchier, riff-driven immediacy, fusing garage rock grit with a dancefloor pulse. “Low Fruit” strips things back just enough to spotlight the band’s melodic instincts, while “Velatropa 24” fits into the album more as a palate cleanser, acting like an interlude of sorts. However, it drifts further into more of the experimental territory, balancing cosmic textures with a steady rhythmic backbone.
“Waves,” one of the album’s most celebrated singles, earns its acclaim. There’s a fluidity to it that feels effortless—lush, sun-soaked, and subtly euphoric without ever tipping into cliché. It’s easy to see why numerous radio stations latched onto it over the last few months; the track sits comfortably between indie psych and modern alt-pop, acting as one of the album’s most accessible entry points.
The pair of tracks, “Aim For the Heart” and “MT-EM45,” dive deeper into groove-centric territory, with the rhythm section of Evan Eubanks and Diona West locking into tight, danceable pockets. Meanwhile, the number “Funkyluminati” lives up to its name, delivering one of the record’s most playful moments—a funk-driven jam that leans into the band’s more whimsical tendencies without feeling like a throwaway.
“Human Nature” offers a brief moment of introspection, dialling back the maximalism in favour of something more spacious and contemplative. It’s a necessary breather before the album’s final stretch, where ISTA fully embrace their love of collaboration and spontaneity.
“Up To Chance” stands out not just for its infectious disco-funk energy, but for what it represents. Built around funk rock improvisation and guided by a spirit of openness, the track feels alive in a way that can’t be manufactured. Horn arrangements burst in and out, vocal layers collide, and the entire thing rides a wave of joyful unpredictability. It’s a thesis statement for the band’s creative philosophy.
Closing track “Sea of Stars” drifts into a more expansive, almost cosmic calm. It’s a fitting end—less about resolution and more about release, as if the album dissolves back into the ether it came from.
What makes In Sound To All compelling isn’t just its genre-blending—rock, funk, disco, and psychedelia all make their expected appearances—but the way ISTA treat those elements as living, breathing components rather than stylistic checkboxes. There’s a communal spirit running through the record, a sense that these songs were discovered together rather than meticulously constructed.
If their debut introduced the idea of ISTA, this album fully realizes it. It’s vibrant without being overwhelming, experimental without losing its groove, and nostalgic without ever feeling stuck in time. More importantly, it sounds like a band trusting their instincts—and inviting you to do the same.
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