Pepper Rabbit

Los Angeles pop duo Pepper Rabbit — consisting of multi-instrumentalists Xander Singh and Luc Laurent — fashion lush, playful soundscapes out of a rich variety of musical sources, from horns and strings to vintage analog synthesizers. Named for one of Singh's short-lived pets, Pepper Rabbit were formed after Xander spent several years pursuing a solo career, releasing an album, Whik, in 2006. During a visit to Boston, Singh was introduced to Luc Laurent via a mutual friend, and they discovered they were musically simpatico. Singh went to New Orleans to record an album, and Laurent tagged along to help out in the studio; before long, what began as a solo project evolved into the first Pepper Rabbit album, 2010's Beauregard. The album received enthusiastic reviews, and after Laurent settled in Los Angeles after completing school in Boston, Pepper Rabbit began playing frequently along the West Coast and periodically touring the rest of the country, both as a headliner and opening for Ra Ra Riot, Givers, Passion Pit, and Miniature Tigers. (On the road, Pepper Rabbit were sometimes joined by a third multi-instrumentalist, Jonathan Allen, who helped the duo re-create its studio sound on-stage.) In 2011, during downtime from the road, Pepper Rabbit issued an EP, Rose Mary Stretch, and in August of the same year, they released their second full-length project, Red Velvet Snow Ball. Recorded at a studio in Washington with additional work done in Singh's home studio, Red Velvet Snow Ball was released through the Brooklyn-based indie label Kanine Records.