Xarissa Channels Indie Rock Nostalgia with “Check Please”

If the early 2010s indie rock scene had a postcard, Xarissa would be signing it and mailing it straight to your heart. Originally from Gainesville, Florida, and now making waves in Los Angeles, she’s got a knack for blending jangly guitars, dreamy textures, and a raw honesty that feels both familiar and entirely new.

Her latest single, “Check Please,” is pulled from her 7-song EP Magnolia—a project soaked in the spirit of The Strokes, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and all the bands you once had on repeat during late-night drives. The song dives deep into that gut-twisting feeling of being anxiously attached to someone—the slow unravel, the quiet ache, the moments you wish you could freeze before they fade.

It’s a track that wears its heart on its sleeve but still packs a gritty edge. The guitars sparkle like a memory you’re not ready to let go of, the drums keep everything pulsing forward, and Xarissa’s voice threads vulnerability with the kind of confidence that only comes from truly owning your story.

Magnolia as a whole feels like a love letter to the indie era that raised her—nostalgic, yes, but with a warmth and freshness that makes it more than just a throwback. “Check Please” is the moment on the record where you feel seen, like someone just turned your own tangled emotions into a song you didn’t know you needed.

For anyone still chasing the magic of the indie rock golden years—this one’s your table, your check, your soundtrack.