Go away with ... Kim Theory
This summer, Kim Theory made their Lollapalooza debut in Chicago. Comprised of vocalist Audrey Cymone, drummer Zoey Su, guitarist Lula Seifert and bassist Lucy Fraser, the 16-year-old musicians also opened for “Stranger Things” actor-musician Finn Wolfhard at the festival’s aftershow, and will open for the riot grrrl group Bratmobile in September (https://kimtheory.com/shows). Because of their age – they are juniors in their respective greater Los Angeles-area high schools – they generally stick to playing concerts not too far from home.
Asked if they’ve thought about the logistics of keeping the band together after they graduate, Fraser said, “I think we all plan on going to college after high school. Whether or not we are able to stick together solidly as a band is up to the future to decide. But we want to stay a band and keep making music together, because we love each other and what we’ve created.” This interview, which was conducted over Zoom, has been edited for length and clarity. The quartet is active on social media on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kim.theory.band/).
Q: Where were you when you found out you would be playing at Lollapalooza?
Cymone: I remember being in my living room. On our group chat, I saw the offer come in. I was so excited. I told my dad about it and then he started losing his mind. We are so grateful for the opportunity.
Q: What has been your favorite vacation destination?
Su: London, because I loved the architecture of the city, the thrifting and the public transport system was great.
Q: What is your bucket-list venue that you have yet to perform in?
Fraser: A dream venue of all of ours is the Troubadour. It is such an iconic L.A. venue with so much history and stories behind it. Hopefully we can play that soon. We would love to have the chance to play at the Wiltern. We’re super excited to play the Lodge Room [with Bratmobile] on September [13].
Q: What do you remember about your first gig?
Seifert: It was at the Redwood Bar & Grill downtown. We packed the place out with all our friends and all our friends’ parents. Even one of our teachers in middle school came. It was super fun and it was a great first gig experience!
Q: Have you written or worked on any songs while you were on the road?
Cymone: Yes! Lula and I wrote one of our unreleased songs in an hour-long car ride on the way to a sleepover. We reworked the lyrics to one of our older songs while driving home from the San Francisco show of the Willowake tour we just completed. We take car rides very seriously.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
Su: I always bring a toothbrush and a clean pair of socks in case something bad happens to my old pair.
Q: What was a trip you took that still stands out?
Cymone: I had the opportunity to go to South Africa for an acting job. It was such a beautiful place and it was so amazing getting to see the city and the nature landscapes.
Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
Seifert: For the new year, I go to Joshua Tree with my family and our friends. It’s so fun and I hope we continue this tradition for a long time.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
Fraser: One of my dream vacation destinations has always been Australia and New Zealand. I’m so obsessed with everything their ecosystem and wildlife has to offer.
Q: What is your best vacation memory?
Cymone: When I went to New York City for my 16th birthday, I got to see one of my favorite actors, Jack Wolfe, in the Broadway musical “Hadestown.” It was genuinely life changing.
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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)
©2026 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c) 2026 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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