There’s something magnetic about Koalra’s latest release, “In a Weird Way”, which landed on March 1, 2025. It doesn’t clamor for attention—it lures you in, quietly, like a half-remembered daydream set to the pulse of a drum machine. Rooted in the DNA of ‘90s alt-rock and post-punk, the track feels both deeply nostalgic and strikingly new.
The Portland trio continues to defy easy categorization. Here, they weave together swells of distortion, layered guitar textures, and propulsive percussion into a sound that’s immersive
without being overwhelming. There’s a woozy beauty to it—melancholic, yes, but also strangely comforting.
From the opening riff, the mood is unmistakable: slightly off-kilter, slightly euphoric. The sonic references are there—Sonic Youth’s abrasive elegance, The Cure’s brooding introspection—but
Koalra isn’t mimicking anyone. They’re chasing a feeling, and they find it in the tension between clarity and chaos.
Lyrically, “In a Weird Way” resists easy interpretation. The words feel personal but elusive, like scribbles in the margins of a dream journal. It’s music meant to be felt as much as understood—more about atmosphere than answers.
This isn’t just another entry in Koalra’s discography. It’s a reminder that evolution doesn’t have to mean departure. With “In a Weird Way”, they’re still pushing forward—just deeper into their own unique haze.