On July 28, indie pop’s cool kids stomped back on stage with their self-titled album, “Echosmith.” Largely self-produced and self-written, “Echosmith” is their richest, most raw album since the debut of  “Cool Kids,” “Bright” and “Tell Her You Love Her” on “Talking Dreams” in 2013. 

Echosmith has changed in the last decade, but only for the better. Their latest album retains the windows-down joy of early adolescence —, especially for listeners who haven’t been totally happy since they were 12.

Taking new autonomy over their work was a natural step for the band of siblings. Noah Sierota produced most of the songs and played bass, while frontwoman Sydney Sierota tackled the vocals. Brother Graham Sierota handled the drums and the three co-wrote lyrics.  

“Nothing has felt more freeing than making music and putting out an album in this way,” Sydney said. “There have been long days and it is a lot more work to do it this way, but it feels so much more rewarding.”

In the most vibrant single on the album, “Sour,” Sydney laments her long-distance marriage with husband Cameron Quiseng. While the separation is sour like “lemons in water” and “day-old wine,” this track is deceptively up-beat. 

Many of the songs on “Echosmith” have a hidden gloom behind the deep synth and playful drum beats.

“I would say that a lot of those melancholy undertones really were just the result of a lot of growing pains that we’ve felt as a band and as a family,” Sydney said of their 17 years as a band. “It’s really important as artists to talk about every step of [Echosmith’s] journey, in my opinion, because it helps everyone feel a little less alone with what they’re going through.”

“Hang Around” is the fan favorite single, according to Spotify streams. It’s impossible not to groove to the pre-chorus, which brings in a cheerful ensemble of vocalists. “Hang Around” sports one of the best lines on the album, with “if I’m like an earthquake, you see past the fault in me.” 

If listeners were to try out any non-single on the album, Noah and Sydney would want it to be “Greedy.” It’s their favorite track from “Echosmith.”

“It’s a song about being so caught up in wanting more from life […]” Noah said. “I think there are so many beautiful things in our life that sometimes we overlook because we’re just looking towards the next step.” 

While it might not be clear to all Echosmith fans, the Sierota siblings are Christian. Their faith is a big part of their identity as individuals and as a band, and they collaborated with Christian band, for KING & COUNTRY in 2019. Sydney said that their faith naturally bleeds into their songs. 

“We’re not some genre or some category of people. We’re humans and [our faith is] a part of our humanity,” Noah added. 

Echosmith promotes inclusivity, stressing that their art aligns with their openness to all facets of humanity. All fans are welcome at concerts. 

The band stays connected with fans through social media, trying to respond to as many DMs as they can. Their 2013 single, “Cool Kids,” had an unexpected resurgence on TikTok in the last year as fans and non-fans alike used it on videos comparing their younger selves to their current appearance. 

Echosmith remade the original “Cool Kids” music video in September 2022, adding a pensive bridge to the song.

“I thought I wanted to be cool like somebody else,” Sydney sings in the new version. “But ten years later I’m just a picture on a shelf.”

Though the Sierotas are older and dressed trendier, their charisma and self-assurance hasn’t faded. The themes of their songs are also consistent over time. 

“Golden Child” is the modern day equivalent of “Cool Kids,” it being a more sophisticated commentary on elitism. It’s similarly satirical, but with more biting lyricism like, “Your daddy bought the beach ’cause your momma’s out of love.” Groovier and more cynical than other tracks, “Golden Child” adds variety to what might otherwise be a straight pop album. 

Echosmith’s unity as a band allows them to transcend the occasionally vapid genre that is pop music. A catchy song is difficult to write, let alone one after another. Without a skip in sight, “Echosmith” is everything a self-titled album needs to be: authentic, a little risky and wildly successful. 

“We’re growing together,” Noah said. “That’s what Echosmith is.” 

Edited by Annie Goldman | agoldman@themaneater.com

Copy Edited by Jackson Cooper and Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com