\n<\/p>\n
Topshelf Records<\/a> has dropped Washington, D.C. punk band Ekko Astral<\/a> and is immediately ceasing all involvement with The Beltway Is Burning<\/em><\/a>, their upcoming second album. The record label did not specify its reasoning. Pitchfork has reached out to Ekko Astral and Topshelf for comment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude29\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude23\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude38\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude3a \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude23\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude28,\u201d Topshelf wrote on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cThis includes the end of in-house PR service from the label. Refunds for pre-orders will be issued within 5-10 business days.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement to Pitchfork, Jael Holzman, the band\u2019s singer, said, \u201cThere is a lot of misinformation spreading about this story. We will have more to share in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n The sudden announcement from Topshelf comes in the wake of last week\u2019s Washington City Paper<\/em><\/a> story, which describes the fallout between Holzman and the band\u2019s former drummer, Miri Tyler. On February 6, Holzman filed a peace order petition accusing Tyler of threatening her on social media. According to the story, Tyler has denied making threats against anyone.<\/p>\n Tyler publicly announced her exit from Ekko Astral on January 28, but said at the time she planned on playing a final show at this year\u2019s Liberation Fest II<\/a>, the D.C. punk festival supporting trans liberation and mutual aid, which is set to take place in April.<\/p>\n Ekko Astral released their debut full-length, Pink Balloons<\/em><\/a>, on Topshelf in 2024. Best friends Holzman and Liam Hughes started the band in 2021, and expanded into a four-piece to include drummer Miri Tyler and bassist Guinevere Tully shortly afterwards. A few months after releasing Pink Balloons<\/em>, Tully left<\/a> Ekko Astral, citing \u201ca negative toll on [her] physical and mental health\u201d and a desire to focus on her solo project, Rosslyn Station.<\/p>\n This is a developing story.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n