Wed, Dec 2 L'RAIN zayALLCAPS 7 pm doors $26 advance / $29 doors ($1 from each ticket goes to PLUS1) all ages L’Rain is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and curator Taja Cheek. Operating between the worlds of art and music, and outwards into film, fashion and cultural discourse, Cheek is forging a unique path that transcends disciplines to become one of the most vital and adventurous voices for this warped contemporary moment. Currently the artistic director of Performance Space NY and readying the release of L’Rain’s fourth album, fata morgana, Cheek’s creative impact resonates through her uncompromising commitment to community-building, navigating structural inequality while challenging musical conventions and expectations at every turn. L’Rain is its thrilling manifestation. Raised in Brooklyn and rooted in the city’s vibrant noise community, Cheek’s world was defined by a tension of contrasts from the off — classically trained yet steeped in DIY iconoclasm, drawn to lush orchestrations and gritty tape loops alike, finding cracks in established forms, taking risks and letting the light pour through. Fascinated by the schisms, feedbacks and distortions that emerge between identity and society at large, Cheek worked closely with collaborators Ben Chapoteau-Katz and Andrew Lappin to hone a sound for L’Rain that is intense, playful, seductive and deeply personal, deconstructing pop tropes with impressionistic flair and subverting the very notion of experimental music within the Black American tradition. Los Angeles by way of Sacramento artist zayALLCAPS is a singular voice among California zillenials. The singer-rapper-producer is fresh of two On The Radar performances after earning several year-end honors for last year’s art Pop * pop Art, his third album released under his indie label, autotuneKaraoke. The catchy lead single, “MTV’s Pimp My Ride” notched him Best New Track from Pitchfork, and garnered co-signs from the likes of Eem Triplin and Michael Uzowuru. This summer, Zay released his fourth album, My Uncle Told Me Some Real Ass Sh*t on the Phone Yesterday, to critical acclaim and continued support from his dedicated fanbase. Uncle marks a departure from art Pop’s upbeat brightness and continues Zay’s streak of shifting directions with each release. The album is a 40-minute experimental slow burn that legitimizes Zay as an alternative R&B mainstay. **L'Rain has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold goes to Sounds of Saving and their work designing and providing tools, content, resources, and curriculum to young people on how to discover and utilize music to support their mental health and wellness.