Los Angeles' L.A. Witch is a gothy, atmospheric rock trio centered on singer/guitarist Sade Sanchez. They gained widespread buzz with their 2017 debut, L.A. Witch, which showcased their road-hardened sound and aligned them with gritty, leather-clad outfits like the Kills, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Formed by Sanchez in 2013, L.A. Witch also features bassist Irita Pai and drummer Ellie English. Raised in the Valley on the edge of North Hollywood, Sanchez first began playing guitar at age 15. She quickly discovered punk rock, especially the horror-infused style of bands like the Misfits, the Cramps, and Dead Moon, as well as alt-rock outfits like Gun Club, the Jesus and the Mary Chain, and Spacemen 3. It was during this period that she met English and the two began playing together, even winning a battle of the bands as a duo at Burbank High, where English was a student. After high school, the duo went their separate ways, with Sanchez forming the noise-rock outfit Silver Drones with bassist Pai. However, Sanchez eventually reconnected with English, and by 2015 Silver Drones had morphed into the trio L.A. Witch. They hit the road that same year, touring almost nonstop for the next three years and picking up well-earned comparisons to many of their idols. In 2017, the band released their independent debut, the eponymously titled L.A. Witch, which further earned the group buzz for their moody rock sound. An EP, Octubre, followed in 2019. In August 2020, L.A. Witch returned with their full-length sophomore album, Play with Fire. It found them embracing an even more aggressive sound and experimenting with blues and country influences. ~ Matt Collar