Topshelf Records Drops Ekko Astral
“We can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album,” the label wrote in a statement
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News
Topshelf Records Drops Ekko Astral
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“We can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album,” Topshelf Records wrote in a statement.
By Nina Corcoran
February 23, 2026
[Image: Ekko Astral]
Ekko Astral, photo by Bailey Payne for Pitchfork
Update: Ekko Astral shared a longer statement with Pitchfork on February 25, claiming the Washington City Paper inaccurately reported the dispute between Ekko Astral and Miri Tyler, thereby forcing Topshelf Records to drop the band.
“We gave [Washington City Paper] an opportunity to report the facts, and they disregarded all of them,” said Ekko Astral co-founder Liam Hughes. “The inaccuracies and omissions in this story resulted in a swirl of misinformed online harassment that led us to part ways with our label. This story shouldn’t have been published in the first place.
“We love Miri, and we wanted to keep this private for her benefit,” he continued. “This was all extremely hard. We’ve always wanted her to be healthy and safe. We also want her to feel comfortable expressing how she has felt after her time in this band. Despite the heartache and frustration that comes with the current public scrutiny of this situation, we will continue to hold her up as a woman and musician we love.”
Pitchfork has reached out to Topshelf for further comment. An editor’s note added to a new Washington City Paper story about Ekko Astral and Topshelf states, “Ekko Astral’s statement makes unfounded and misleading claims. City Paper stands by our reporting, our reporter, and our decision-making throughout the process.”
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Original story follows…
Topshelf Records has dropped Washington, D.C. punk band Ekko Astral and is immediately ceasing all involvement with The Beltway Is Burning, the group’s upcoming second album. The record label did not initially specify its reasoning. “We can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨,” Topshelf wrote on Instagram. “This includes the end of in-house PR service from the label. Refunds for pre-orders will be issued within 5-10 business days.”
When asked if Topshelf’s decision was related to the recent fallout between Ekko Astral frontwoman Jael Holzman and former drummer Miri Tyler, the label told Pitchfork, “Yes, all of these events, and more, have irreversibly impacted our ability to continue working with this band or releasing their music. We have no further comment.”
In a statement to Pitchfork, Holzman said, “There is a lot of misinformation spreading about this story. We will have more to share in the near future.” Holzman also confirmed that The Beltway Is Burning will still be released independently, calling it “our pride and joy.”
The sudden announcement from Topshelf comes in the wake of last week’s Washington City Paper story, which describes the rift between Holzman and Tyler. On February 6, Holzman filed a peace order petition in Montgomery County District Court, accusing Tyler of threatening her on social media. According to the story, Tyler has denied making threats against anyone.
“I do not want to see Miri Tyler go to jail and do not think that is a remedy here,” Holzman reportedly wrote in her petition. “But I need her to stay far, far away from me and leave me alone, so we can both move on and she can find the help she clearly needs.” The peace order against Tyler remains in effect until August 13.
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’s Liberation Fest II, the D.C. punk festival supporting trans liberation and mutual aid, which is set to take place in April. Holzman told Stereogum that Tyler is “absolutely not barred” from playing the festival, adding, “[it’s] a community event for anyone, the order speaks nothing on that, and I would do anything to make sure that mission stays true.”
Ekko Astral released their debut full-length, Pink Balloons, on Topshelf in 2024. Best friends Holzman and Liam Hughes started the band in 2021, and expanded into a five-piece to include Tyler, bassist Guinevere Tully, and rhythm guitarist Sam Elmore shortly afterwards. A few months after releasing Pink Balloons, Tully left Ekko Astral, citing “a negative toll on [her] physical and mental health” and a desire to focus on her solo project, Rosslyn Station. Elmore followed suit that fall, departing the band to focus on music as a solo artist.
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[Original source](https://pitchfork.com/news/topshelf-records-drops-ekko-astral/)