An Enduring Voice from the Rock Underground

20 February 2026

An Underground Story Still Unfolding

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - At an age when many artists are content to reflect on past achievements, Dave Lebental is still moving forward. His latest album, Stylus, follows 2024’s The Long Player, which earned positive attention across the music blogosphere and accumulated more than one million combined streams on Spotify and YouTube.

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Rather than remain in the Americana lane of his previous work, Lebental leans into his long-standing love of melodic, piano-driven rock on Stylus. Drawing inspiration from writers such as The Beatles, Elton John, Supertramp, and Elvis Costello. the album reflects a tradition of piano-based songwriting built on melody, emotional clarity, and songs designed to last.

Stylus Cover Art

Like the records that inspired it, Stylus is forward-looking rather than nostalgic. The album offers new songs for listeners who grew up with classic piano rock and are still searching for music that delivers the same sense of discovery and connection.

Lebental is joined by his live band, Karma Train, and together they are based in Los Angeles, touring West Coast venues while maintaining a global presence through a series of monthly live concert streams broadcast from an underground studio. These performances bring Stylus to life in full, offering audiences an unfiltered, performance-driven introduction to the record and the band behind it.

The title Stylus reflects who I am as a songwriter, a lifelong vinyl listener, and a recording artist who’s always balancing new ideas with classic form. I wanted a title that nodded quietly to my love of albums and the ritual of listening. I knew a stylus as the needle on a turntable, what I didn’t realize at first is that the word also means a writing instrument. Once I made that connection, it felt exactly right. The album lives at that intersection: songs written by hand, then brought to life on record.”

Dave Lebental

Tour Poster

Sonically, Stylus draws inspiration from the great album-makers of rock’s most enduring eras. Fans of The Beatles, Elton John, Supertramp, and Elvis Costello will recognize the emphasis on melody, structure, and emotional clarity, filtered through Lebental’s seasoned perspective.

I’m an older, fully independent artist operating mostly underground, touring the West Coast with my band Karma Train and supported by a passionate, word-of-mouth fanbase, I’m not chasing fads or seeking stardom. I create out of my love of great rock songs. My catalog resonates with all ages, but especially with older audiences who feel disengaged with the current sound of rock, rap, hip-hop, and kiddy pop music.”

Dave Lebental

Dave is deeply committed to preserving the classic and timeless sound of vintage rock music. Creating and performing this genre is a joyful form of art that should be cherished in today's evolving world. The enthusiasm and happiness for this genre, often considered the foundation of music, is something Dave exudes in conversation and most definitely in his music.

In his upcoming album, Lebental offers new songs for listeners who grew up with classic piano rock and are still searching for music that delivers the same sense of discovery and connection.

This year, 2026, the group plans to go on tour to promote the new album, Stylus. The songs of this LP come to life on stage, with a focus on spontaneity, emotion, and connection, which result in performances that are best enjoyed by attentive fans who come back for more.

Dave Lebental Featured Photo

About Dave Lebental

Dave Lebental is a rock singer-songwriter whose music blends piano-driven rock with Americana and blues, grounded in strong melodies and personal storytelling. Writing, producing, and releasing his own material, Lebental leads a seasoned live band, Karma Train, made up of accomplished players with deep roots in rock, soul, and blues.

Lebental first emerged in the 1990s as the singer-songwriter behind guitar-driven rock bands Sunflower and Placebo Royale. Placebo Royale’s independent release, Crème de Mentia, charted on CMJ and developed a dedicated underground following. Both bands were fixtures on the California rock club circuit, where Lebental built a loyal live audience and shared bills with artists including Mick Taylor, Jane’s Addiction, Midnight Oil, X, The Blasters, The Plimsouls, The Tubes, Edgar Winter, and Leon Russell, among others.

Today, Stylus marks Lebental’s second solo LP. Advance singles have gained traction across Spotify, U.S. radio playlists, and YouTube, while press coverage has highlighted his resilience and long-running commitment to artistic independence.