WNXP’s Record of the Week is The Academy by Lutalo. The Vermont-based songwriter who has ties to Big Thief was initially cast as an indie folk artist but Lutalo says this album was meant to shrug off those limitations. Playing every instrument, they show off a masterful command of multiple styles and genres to tell crucial, and often heartbreaking, stories of their first quarter of life while also making commentary on consumerism and politics in a way that never feels preachy. 

The week before the release, Lutalo joined us to share some reflections on the album and insight into how a particular Nashville-based artist gave them a peek into what was possible as an artist of color in the overwhelmingly white world of indie music.