Tamaryn - Cranekiss

Cranekiss is the third studio album by Tamaryn, officially released in 2015. The record marked a highly anticipated follow-up to her previous dream pop recordings. It was released to widespread critical acclaim in the independent music press.

While her earlier albums like *The Waves* (2010) and *Tender New Signs* (2012) established her within the heavy, guitar-driven shoegaze underground, *Cranekiss* represents a notable sonic shift. The album leans heavily into lush synthesizer pop, featuring cleaner production and bright, 1980s-influenced electronic textures. It trades fuzzy guitars for pulsing dance beats and vivid pop melodies.

The album was produced in collaboration with Jorge Elbrecht of the band Violens, alongside Tamaryn's then-bandmate Rex John Shelverton. Elbrecht's production style was instrumental in crafting the album's dreamy, perfectly polished synth-pop aesthetic. Their combined effort resulted in one of the most acclaimed dream-pop records of the year.

Tamaryn was born in New Zealand but is heavily based in the United States, specifically operating out of the San Francisco music scene. Her West Coast surroundings deeply influenced the hazy, atmospheric qualities of her early shoegaze sound. She later relocated to Los Angeles, which heavily influenced the poppier vibe of *Cranekiss*.