Named after a native North American plant used in jellies and juices, but toxic if used incorrectly, Chokecherry is a vibrant band from San Francisco that is quickly carving a place for themselves in the music industry. Comprised of Izza A. Clark (vocals and guitar), E. Scarlett Levinson (vocals and bass), and Abri Crocitto (drums), Chokecherry released their debut album, Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls, on November 14th, 2025 on the record label Fearless Records. The album creates a landscape of emotion – from heartbreak to nostalgia Chokecherry blends indie-rock, punk-rock, and shoegaze with their melodic vocals to create an illustration of humanity from their point of view.
The album starts off strong with the first track, “Porcelain Warrior,” an indie-rock and shoegaze-infused song that encapsulates the duality of being both fragile and resilient through hazy, blending vocals. This theme carries on throughout the next two tracks, “Major Threat” and “Pretty Things,” which both contain high-energy guitar, drums, and lyricism; from craving something that is rejecting you to the heartbreak of nostalgia, the first three tracks set the scene of this album and disguise the cruelty of the world itself with catchy melodies and lyricism.
Midway through the album, the artists of Chokecherry highlight their gift to portray raw emotion while creating a textured landscape for listeners to sink into. With lyrics such as, “I miss it when, miss it when/ When your car was waiting there / I miss it when, miss it when / I could feel you everywhere,” paired with the track “Goldmine”’s lush musicality, the band showcases their ability to pull listeners into a world of excitement and elation, even as they quietly uncover the pain and disillusionment running beneath the surface. Other songs take a slightly more experimental approach; “February” is jam-packed with heavy rhythm-driving guitar and vocals that effortlessly transition between soft whispers to loud cries.
The final moments of the album are just as lively as the opening; tracks saturated in punk rock energy fall back into themes of yearning for the past, anger, and the wish to start over. The fierce tone and beautifully blended vocals of singers Clark and Levinson provide a ferocious conclusion that begs for just one more listen. Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls encapsulates the vulnerable and violent, the profound and perfunctory, and the suffering and strength of life – the duality of being human. With emotion rippling through the tracks, this album earns a rating 4.5/5 stars – Chokecherry is absolutely a band to keep an eye on as they develop their talents and make their name known.
