Review: "California Boys" - ILUKA

ILUKA’s new release is a nonchalant ode to the dry dating scene that devalues the lush experience of going out with a “california boy”- a canon event for most. She starts with an account of a common first date with this type of man: he “drank black coffee and drove around/ the stereo playing some indie band I don’t know,” which could be charming at first. However, things become uncomfortable when he says “it’s just casual” then flies her “out to Mexico”, where he ruined the perfect view with his love for cigarette smoke. ILUKA makes a snarky comment, “you’re so punk rock heavy metal/ soft like a flower petal” she knows he thinks he’s “such a dream”. This sarcastic remark applauds this guy’s fulfillment of enticing attributes, paired with a reality check. At first glance, he seems enchanting, until ILUKA reminds everyone that he’s suffering from a lack of originality and emotional availability. This track is a warning for lovers interested in those sly, captivating, destructive, “california boys”, and an anthem for those who’ve experienced them!

“California Boys” begins with a comprehensive intro that provides a sneak peak of the chorus and attracts attention. After starting with a high energy sound, ILUKA proves her vocal ability by gently slicing through a foot-tapping indie-pop beat, while telling the details of her story. With resounding precision, ILUKA controls each note progression allowing an essential isolation that creates a sing-along bridge before the chorus. This track plays with electric instruments in a way that bends strings for an ethereal sound. ILUKA’s voice is unmistakably malleable, caught in notes that warp beautifully, engaging millions of listeners. With this, there’s also a layer of energy that animates the track for an electrifying, indie-pop sound. This song ends with a fade out that invites listeners to hit “repeat”.

Inspired by Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, ILUKA is an artist from the Blue Mountains of Australia that has accumulated a dedicated follower base. ILUKA learned about music from her father, who crafted handmade guitars that contributed to her career as an artist. She’s been featured in Rolling Stone and FLAUNT Magazine, and has over 250K monthly listeners on Spotify. ILUKA has showed up on NME, and has over 5 million streams from her 2024 single “Wings” on Spotify alone. She released her first single “Sympathy” in 2014, and has undoubtedly grown as an artist in the past 10 years. As a self-proclaimed “witchy cowgirl”, ILUKA is gaining recognition. Check out her socials linked below- I’m excited to see what she does next!

Written By Hanna Hathaway

FOLLOW ILUKA:

Instagram | Spotify | YouTube