The release of Ekko Astral's sophomore effort The Beltway Is Burning is being marred by increasing controversy. The album was announced just this month to be out April 26th on Topshelf, keynoted by the deliciously titled single "Lil Xan Goes to Washington".

In January, it had been announced that the band's drummer Miri Tyler was leaving the band due to mental health concerns and other projects she was focused on. (Two members of Ekko Astral left in 2024, guitarist Sam Elmore and bassist Guinevere Tully, the latter of whom also cited mental health.) But the band said Tyler's final show with them would be at their second annual trans-forward music festival, Liberation Weekend in Washington D.C., the band's hometown.

Then less than a week ago, Washington City Paper reported that Ekko frontperson Jael Holzman and Tyler appeared in court because Holzman filed a peace order protection against Tyler claiming the drummer threatened her on social media. The backstory there is Tyler had spent 12 days in jail for property destruction and resisting arrest (this incident was reportedly not related to the band) shortly before announcing her departure from the band, and while incarcerated, she posted a TikTok reciting the following poem:

Ever since I been set free, I’m gunnin’ for my enemy
She wants so bad to be like me, the bass, the bangs, the cause, the jeans
If she could practice empathy, identify by her core beliefs
Then maybe she could remedy those glaring insecurities
But I’m done motherfucker, I’m done
Playing shows around the country
Supposed to be fun
I was supposed to get paid, but I ended up with none
You may think this is a game, but I got myself a —

Holzman argued in court that Tyler was making a "clear reference" to her when she and her lawyer filed the petition in Montgomery County, Maryland. Tyler denied making any threats (and later posted a follow-up video in which she states: "I would like you to know, unequivocally, that I have not, do not, and will not ever have plans to cause bodily harm to any human being") but did not appear in court with a lawyer or contest the order.

Tyler is unable to contact Holzman for the next six months and violating could result in a $1,000 fine, jail time, or both, but because she consented to the order, she has the right to remove the petition from her record after it expires.

Holzman filed the petition that understanding, and also stated in it according to City Paper: "I do not want to see Miri Tyler go to jail and do not think that is a remedy here. 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." Tyler's other band Pretty Bitter is also slated to play Liberation Weekend but could be barred from attending the fest due to the order. To this, Holzman told Stereogum that Tyler is “absolutely not barred” from playing the festival, calling it "a community event for anyone, the order speaks nothing on that, and I would do anything to make sure that mission stays true.”

All of that leads up to yesterday, when Topshelf Records announced in an Instagram post that they're dropping Ekko Astral and no longer releasing, promoting, or taking pre-orders for The Beltway Is Burning. The post reads:

"We can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. This includes the end of in-house PR service from the label. Refunds for pre-orders will be issued within 5-10 business days."

The label also commented to Pitchfork that the above events were the impetus for ending their relationship with the band:

"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."

Holzman responded to Pitchfork as well, confirming that The Beltway Is Burning ("our pride and joy") will still see independent release, and stating:

“There is a lot of misinformation spreading about this story. We will have more to share in the near future.”

Topshelf's Instagram post can be viewed below, as well as Ekko Astral's video for "Lil Xan Goes to Washington."

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