Bikini Trill is a surf-pop trio based in Los Angeles, CA, known for an eclectic sound that seamlessly blends indie rock, hip-hop, and reggae. Led by vocalist Lauren “LJ” Johnson, guitarist Tony Barker Stern and bassist Roach, the band has carved out a distinct lane in Southern California’s vibrant music scene.
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Originally hailing from San Antonio and Boerne, Texas, the trio’s roots run deep. Tony and Roach attended high school together, but didn’t truly connect until relocating to Austin, TX. Meanwhile, LJ attended Texas State University in San Marcos, where she served as program director at KTSW 89.9, organized the local festival Mr. Fest, and managed Tony and Roach’s band—booking shows across the city. When that project dissolved, Roach was the first to move to Los Angeles, landing a job at Larrabee Studios. Tony and LJ frequently visited, inspired by his experiences in LA. LJ soon followed, with Tony not far behind. Once reunited in Los Angeles, the trio began jamming organically—and Bikini Trill was born.
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Their early journey was anything but conventional. The band famously snuck into Kanye West and Kid Cudi sessions at Ameraycan Recording Studios, as well as DJ Mustard sessions at Encore Recording Studios, to record their own music.
Through Kanye’s engineer Anthony Kilhoffer, they connected with Cheez and Christian Brandmeyer, managers of Dirty Heads. After relentless gigging and a steady stream of single releases, a standout performance at The Troubadour caught the managers’ attention—opening the door to tours with 311, Dirty Heads, Lupe Fiasco, Reel Big Fish, The Interrupters, New Politics, Sublime with Rome, and more.
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Bikini Trill debuted with their breakout single “Sticky Treez”, quickly captivating audiences with their trippy surf-pop sound and earning a celebrated early performance at SXSW. Their 2018 EP Wassup, We Good? and 2019 release Nah, Pull Over featured fan favorites like “Smoke a Jay & Watch Yourself Dance” and “Lost Boy” (feat. Jared Watson of Dirty Heads), gaining airplay on 96.5 FM The Buzz and landing on Spotify playlists including Fresh Picks. Their music has also been featured on MTV’s Teen Mom and Paramount Pictures’ Pretty Stoned.
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A defining element of Bikini Trill is their fully in-house creative process. Tony Barker Stern and Roach produce all of the band’s music, handling recording, production, mixing, and mastering themselves—an approach that gives the band complete sonic control from inception to release. Lauren “LJ” Johnson writes all of the lyrics, shaping Bikini Trill’s voice with her vivid, personal storytelling. LJ also designed the band’s early visual identity, hand-drawing the album artwork for their first two EPs and early singles, as well as many of their 2020 single releases, which she later refined by outlining and finishing the artwork in Photoshop. This DIY ethos across both sound and visuals has been central to Bikini Trill’s identity since day one.
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Even through the challenges of 2020, Bikini Trill stayed prolific—dropping monthly singles such as “Lemonade” and “No Sleep Till Cali,” earning coverage from Uproxx and Earmilk, and performing socially distanced drive-in shows with Sublime with Rome. In 2022, their third EP Hello, Welcome! delivered fan favorites like “What’s the Rush” and “F*cked Up” (feat. BLESSED), with KROQ naming the project among its “Top 22 Songs of 2022.”
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Most recently, Bikini Trill performed at ALT 98.7’s Friendsgiving at the KIA Forum and completed recording their self-titled debut album at their own K-Town Studios in Los Angeles. Released in August 2025 via Ineffable Music, the album features singles “Too Much TV” and “Pushing Daisies.” The band has appeared at major festivals including Wonderfront Festival, Point Break Festival, Cali Vibes, Everwild, and Reggae Rise Up.
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As Bikini Trill continues to evolve sonically and creatively, they remain deeply connected to their growing fanbase. New music arrives in 2026—stay tuned.