xLamas are an American rock band based in New York. The music is an eclectic mix of indie folk/rock, post-rock and experimental electronica; melodic songwriting with adventurous sonic explorations.

The project was formed in 2021 after singer-songwriter Austin Hughes (M Shanghai, VPN) and Grammy winning producer/engineer Damon Whittemore (Cécile McLorin Salvant, Deerhoof, Christian McBride, Arooj Aftab) teamed up to record an album based on Hughes’ pandemic demos. Hughes and Whittemore began working on tracks with Hughes on guitar/vocals and Whittemore on bass, which led to enlisting multi-instrumentalist/composer Jeff Mercel (Mercury Rev, Lunescapes) to handle drums and keys/textures.

xLamas debut album Stare at the Circuits | Dream of the Sea is due for release in September 2024 on ValveTone Records.

It features cameo appearances by luminaries Shahzad Ismaily (Love In Exile, Bonnie Prince Billy, Yoko Ono, Ceramic Dog) on keyboards, bass and guitar, Gerald Menke (Justin Townes Earle, Ari Hest) on pedal steel, Karen Waltuch (Wilco, Gloria Deluxe) on viola, Patty Hughes (M Shanghai, VPN) on banjo & vocals, Tati Nguyen (M Shanghai) on vocals, and Dave Cameron (Charming Arson) on vocals & harmonium.

The recordings for Stare at the Circuits | Dream of the Sea were made possible by an arts grant from The Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation NYC.