Former Deerlady Guitarist Magdalena Abrego Releases Solo Debut Xolo

Deerlady, the hypnotic indie rock duo who were a Stereogum Band To Watch in 2024, are no more. Guitarist Magdalena Abrego, one half of the duo, announced that she was leaving earlier this year. Today, Abrego releases the new album Xolo, her first-ever solo release. It's an experimental mood-piece of a record that works as a kind of conceptual piece about loss. The title Xolo is not a play on the word "solo." Instead, the album is named after the xoloitzcuintli, a dog breed that represents the process of moving into the afterlife in Mexican culture. Abego grew up with immigrant parents in Chicago, and she went on to study guitar performance at the New England Conservatory of Music before becoming a faculty member there. Abrego recorded the album in Brooklyn, and it's got her on vocals, guitar, synth, electronics, and ocarina, as well as some very personal field recordings. Only two other musicians appear: bass clarinetist Allison Burik and pianist Sonya Belaya. Here's what Abrego says about the album:Lately, I look around and notice all the quiet ways that our ability to foster deep connection is at threat, especially as we are encouraged to embrace individualism, understand ourselv...