The Bots

Los Angeles brothers and bandmates Mikaiah Lei (Lead Vocal, Guitar, Bass), and Anaiah Lei (Drums & Percussions, Backing Vocal), recorded their first album together when they were just 15 and 12. Their distinctive sound brings together the veracity of garage/punk while paying homage to the American blues and ballad tradition. While The Bots are deeply intertwined in the American music narrative, they are simultaneously carving out a wholly new, powerful, uniquely personal storyline that is truly The Bots sound. 

Although a young band, they have already self-released three albums and completed two Vans Warped Tours, two AFROPUNK Festival Tours, countless European Festivals, and support tours with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blur and Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Refused, and Bad Brains, to name a few. 

Fall 2013 saw their debut release with FADER Label, the four-song EP Sincerely Sorry, which spurred the New York Times to say, “They are on the cusp of stardom.” In 2014 they hit up the festival circuit, performing at Coachella, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, Riotfest, Shindig, AFROPUNK, Japan’s Summer Sonic, Sasquatch, Fun Fun Fun Fest, as well as national dates with Dropkick Murphys.

The band earned abundant praise from Rolling Stone (“Most Likely To Succeed”), Creative Loafing (“One of the best young bands at Coachella this year”), Buzzbands.LA (“Off to a perfect start”), a full-length feature in the Los Angeles Times, and more. 

The Bots released their full-length debut, Pink Palms, on October 14, 2014. The album, recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Justin Warfield, with additional production by Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, brings together the veracity of garage punk while paying homage to the American Blues tradition. Pink Palms was mixed by Michael Patterson (Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G.) and mastered by Emily Lazar (HAIM, Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters).

“The Bots’ message is about clamor and momentum, about kids rediscovering what still works among the remnants of rock” - The New York Times

“Playful catchy songs that rock hard” - NPR

“The album is a mash of frenetic garage rock and lush indie rock” - The Los Angeles Times

“One of the punchiest albums of the year. A release of impressive technicality and creative flare from a talented and ambitious source” - HTF Mag

“California brothers leave a deep impression with their debut. It’s energy channeled, fire controlled - it’s sweat and soul splattered across a fast tempo and a ragged amplifier. There’s sweet pop here, instant-click melody” - Clash