Humans

Humans deliver a specific brand of high-strung, intelligent new wave that feels like a nervous system responding to city lights. Their sound is defined by a tight, staccato interplay between jagged electric guitars and frantic keyboard lines, creating a rhythmic foundation that is both danceable and deeply unsettled. It is music that occupies the space between a surf-rock party and a post-punk existential crisis.

What truly sets them apart is the vocal delivery of Sterling Storm, whose dry, almost spoken-word approach brings a sense of cinematic paranoia to the tracks. While their contemporaries were often leaning into lush synthesizers, Humans maintained a lean, muscular sound that prioritized rhythmic precision and lyrical wit. Their songs often feel like short stories about identity, urban isolation, and the strange friction of modern life.

Start with the single I Live in the City to understand their core appeal. It perfectly encapsulates their ability to turn urban anxiety into a catchy, driving anthem. From there, dive into the Happy Hour LP to hear how they weave surf-rock heritage with the experimental spirit of the early 1980s Bay Area scene.