BMI Indie Spotlight: Cruza

Cruza is a band comprised of Adam Kain (vocals), AJ Roth (bass/production), Charity Joy Brown (guitar), and Sago (drums/live programming) that brings together dense percussion, atmospheric melody, and hazy vocals to create a captivating and inspiring sound. Over the last three years, the group has toured the US while releasing multiple projects. With the forthcoming release of Cruzafied, its Def Jam debut album, Cruza has built its own sonic language, one that examines where we are and asks where we might be headed. The band's formation as a four-person band was a natural progression. Adam and AJ started collaborating as teens in Alabama, then after moving to Orlando together, they began releasing bold new music as Cruza. AJ discovered San Diego-based Charity Joy on Instagram, and they sent beats and guitar loops back and forth to each other. In 2020, she flew across the country to meet them in person, and the chemistry was immediate. Between multiple sessions in Orlando and an extended period living together in LA, Cruza recorded nearly every song for their debut album together in the same room. Wanting to further hone their onstage presentation, they added Sago to the band, who brought their live show to another level. From heady psychedelia to twisting-and-turning melodies, the 13 songs on Cruzafied present a band whose members have forged a singular connectivity. In their music, they see life's pitfalls for what they are-but put forward an alternate, more communal timeline.