Lansing made

Local artists suggest fellow local musicians to stream

The Lansing music scene is alive, weird and thriving — and who better to map it out than the artists themselves? From busy, locally based rappers and synth-pop gems to holiday comp albums and 15-piece vaudeville troupes, this is Lansing’s soundtrack, according to some locals who help make it happen.

In their own words, here’s who you should be listening to right now. There are some new suggestions, some throwbacks, but all Lansing-made.

Ozay Moore on Kwaj

Moore is an emcee and the executive director of All of the Above Hip Hop Academy

If you haven’t tapped in with Kwaj yet, now’s the time. This incredibly gifted emcee has been putting in serious work — releasing song after song, crafting thoughtful visuals, and showing up with a consistency that’s hard to ignore. His lyricism, storytelling and dedication to the craft reflect a deep love for hip-hop and a real commitment to growth. As someone who cares deeply about the creative pulse of this city, I encourage Lansing to show up for Kwaj. Stream his music, share his work and support a local artist who’s truly moving with purpose. Let’s lift up our own.

Mandy Waltz on James Gardin

Waltz is a drummer who works at the School of Rock

As short as a Michigan summer, and as sweet as Sunday morning, “Kick It,” James Gardin’s newest single (2025), is my favorite Lansing-produced and recorded summer track of the year. James always impresses me with his lush poetry and quick bars, but this one is, as he puts it, “a little different.”

I love how lighthearted, happy and fun “Kick It” is — especially juxtaposed next to my Lansing summer tax bill. You can tell the influence of A Tribe Called Quest and maybe even some Rico Nasty in the intro. It also reminds me (and James) of Saturday morning cartoons. The track evokes a mix of nostalgia, optimism and a reassuring and palpable hope for the future. An invitation to listen and actually enjoy yourself, James raps, “Yeah, this might feel a little different, but I don’t want you to miss it. C’mon and kick it with me.” Truth.

Lindsey Taylor on Crystal Drive

Taylor is the guitarist-vocalist of La La Delivery

My favorite album made by a Lansing artist is the 2018 self-titled album by Crystal Drive. I discovered it through the local music scene, being shared by friends. The album stands out to me because it has a classic synth-pop feel with elements of David Bowie and Gary Numan. I also hear some slightly modern psychedelic elements, such as MGMT and Ty Segall, in the way the vocals are mixed.

I’ve always been a big lover of guitar-driven rock, but in recent years my appreciation for synthesizers has grown. I have a friend who owns vintage synths from the ‘70s. It’s exciting to identify the songs on which musicians used them at the height of their popularity. In my own recordings, I usually find myself using synths as a textural element in music, but it’s extra cool when they take center stage! The Lansing scene is full of talented artists, and it’s inspiring to hear someone close to home make a great piece of music.

Masaki Takahashi on The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle (LUVS)

From 2022 to 2024, Takahashi served as the Lansing-area poet laureate. He also hosts The Poetry Room open mic.

Before The Robin Theatre, before Super Secret Cult Band, there was The Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle — Lansing’s own version of the Wu-Tang Clan. Fronted by Dylan Rogers, LUVS, as they were affectionately known, was a 15-person whirlwind of music, skits and chaotic joy.

They were more than a band— they were an event. Watching them in action taught me everything I needed to know about putting on a show and building community. With that many members, if each person brought two friends, you already had a packed room. Genius. The first time I saw them was outside near the art festival. Dylan was drumming on a luggage case emblazoned with their logo. It was clever, fresh and totally them. Their shows were part vaudeville, part variety hour, and all heart.

You had Scotty, the World’s Strongest Man. You had dancers, saw players, xylophonists — everyone had a role. There were costumes, storylines and a uniquely LUVS sense of humor, especially during their legendary holiday shows. No one did Christmas like they did. Like all great things, the run eventually came to an end. Their last performance was a virtual holiday show in 2020, right in the heart of the lockdown. But what they left behind was a blueprint for community, creativity and what can happen when 15 friends get together to make something weird and beautiful. You didn’t just watch LUVS. You wanted to be in LUVS.

Danielle Gyger on the “Bermuda Snowhawk” compilations

Gyger is a vocalist, musician and songwriter in the Wild Honey Collective

When asked what my favorite Lansing record of all time was, my mind went through a Rolodex of the countless bands from this city that I’ve seen and enjoyed over the years. Under the GTG Record label alone, I couldn’t just pick one. But then I remembered the annual compilation of Christmas songs from various (mainly) Lansing-based artists called “Bermuda Snowhawk.” Started by Cale Sauter, guitar player from Cavalcade, in 2006, with compilation assistance from Tommy Plural from GTG Records. This album consists of various bands and solo artists covering and writing their own songs, with the only prompt that it should at least slightly resemble a Christmas theme. It’s a unique concept because it forces a different creative guideline than a lot of songwriters are used to.

Artists like Ben Hassenger Sr. & Jr., The Cartridge Family, Calliope, Flatfoot, The Plurals, Wild Honey Collective, Jackpine Snag, Cutlass Supreme, A Rueful Noise, Dasterds and many other Lansing musicians have been a part of this compilation. Sometimes the songs are sincere and euphonious, like one of my favorites, “Wonderful Way,” written by Hattie Danby of The Plurals, from the perspective of a Christmas Tree. Other times, submissions have me hysterically laughing, like Marco Urabazzo’s ad libitum sort of absurd spoken word poetry, or Nicholas Richard, also of The Plurals, and his experimental, sometimes anxiety-inducing noise project “Cabin Fever.” In 2021, I wrote a new “Happy Birthday” song, dedicated to everyone born on Christmas.

“Bermuda Snowhawk” may not be my favorite Lansing album, per se, but I think it encapsulates a lot of what makes the local music scene so unique and beautiful. If you want to submit a song for this year, start writing the “Jingle Bells” of our generation right now.

Taylor Taylor on her song “Love Lansing”

Taylor is a Lansing-native singer-songwriter now living in Los Angeles. She performs 8-10 p.m. Thursday (July 17) at the Graduate Rock Bar, 133 Evergreen Ave., East Lansing, and 7-10 p.m. Aug. 2 at Cleats Bar & Grille, 5801 N. Aurelius Road, Lansing.

Funny enough, I wrote my own song about Lansing for 517 Day a couple of years ago! It’s cute because there are details in the lyrics that you’ll only really understand if you know about Lansing. The song mentions the Capitol, the smokestacks, Logan vs MLK and Michigan State. 

One of my favorite lines is “it’s where magic is born.” And indeed, it is. I love playing it live when I come back home to visit. Wherever I travel, Lansing will always be home. “Ain’t no place like it. You can try, but you won’t find it.”