Beaming, an underground indie-pop duo based in Los Angeles, released their debut album “horseshoe” on April 17. Derek Ted and Braden Lawrence, who have spent years working independently in the music industry, joined forces in March 2025 with the release of their self-titled EP, “beaming.” The mini-album was a promising beginning for the band, and it showed their potential that would eventually shine through their debut LP.
The band recently toured, where they opened for and performed “slow sinkin” with alternative musician Field Medic. At their merch table, Ted and Lawrence sold burned CDs with charming, hand-drawn cover art featuring their original EP and “horseshoe,” building excitement for the release by giving fans an early listen.
“Horseshoe” starts off strong with, “WAITING (intro).” The song’s subdued instrumental, combined with the blending of the two singers’ voices, is mesmerizing and gives the listener a calmer experience compared to a majority of the tracks.
“Say goodbye,” “BUGBITE” and “Stuck (here)” are the album’s three prereleased songs. They are the definition of indie pop — all share a similar style with upbeat, energetic backing tracks. “Stuck (here)” features devastatingly heart-wrenching lyrics that, when paired with the bouncy atmosphere and bubbly instrumental, create a captivating listening experience.
The fifth track and title song “horseshoe” introduces an entirely different tone. The slower tempo and minor piano chords accentuate the melancholic lyrics. “SURPRISE” and “4leaf” slightly shift the energy, bringing back some of the indie pop characteristics heard earlier in the album. All three songs’ choruses are catchy, while “SURPRISE” maintains a partially somber tone with the descending arpeggio motif toward the end.
“SLOWER” is the album’s sonic outlier. Like “Horseshoe,” this song introduces a drastic mood shift. Ted has described “SLOWER” as “emo” during live performances, which is even more apparent in the recorded version. It is the least indie pop-sounding track on the LP but a solid addition nonetheless.
If there was an outstanding song award, “DADA” and “MIDDLE” would tie for first place. The two tracks sound vaguely similar, but each has their own charms and distinctive characteristics. With memorable lyrics and punchy melodies, they are easily the most replayable songs on the album.
For fans of beaming eagerly anticipating this album, the prerelease of three tracks may be disappointing. However, the quality of the songs makes up for the limited amount of new material. Ted and Lawrence’s voices beautifully blend together with strong, captivating instrumentals to back them up.
Overall, beaming’s album is reminiscent of quarantine-era indie pop. The fantastic songs and ultimately nostalgic feelings that this LP brings make it nearly impossible for listeners to leave with a negative impression. The listening experience of “horseshoe” is akin to a teenager dancing in their bedroom singing while using a hairbrush as a microphone.
