Model Actriz’s Aaron Shapiro tells us about his favorite albums of 2025

As the year winds down, we’ve been asking artists about their favorite albums of 2025, and here’s a list from Model/Actriz bassist Aaron Shapiro. Read his picks (which are in no particular order) and commentary below.

Model/Actriz released their fantastic sophomore album Pirouette this year; stream it below.

AARON SHAPIRO OF MODEL/ACTRIZ’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2025

MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinball II
alien drum placement choices, so many crazy pockets throughout the entire project. “shaq & kobe” with niontay favorite track.

Scalp – NOT WORTHY OF HUMAN COMPASSION
probably my most listened album of 2025. scarily ignorant / inventive violence displayed on this thing.

Laurie Torres – Après coup
it makes my heart go ***~~boom**~*~ and it makes my brain go ~***~~*zoom~~~*~*~***

Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love
the beat flip on “live” is my favorite moment in music this year.

Rooster – Rooster Slipped
yung gud beats feel like this rare and magical occurrence. rainy day on tour, walking around a random city, brain on pause soundtrack

Maria Somerville – Luster
extremely powerful and transportive album. always delivers me to this same floaty “my body is made of putty” state of being, regardless of where i’m at physically or mentally.

VS-55 – Psykofarmaka Handcuffs
favorite new artist of the year. i think i found from a skate edit, which is probably my favorite way to discover new stuff ever since i was in high school.

Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance
another taylor young helmed album. i feel like his work always finds the right balance between rawness and impact.

Ferment – Ferment
i got really into this while i was in arizona, taking my brother’s dog out for walks in some truly depraved 105+ heat.

weed420 – amor de encava
sample manipulation wizardry, six radios playing at once, beautifully trollish, down-the-rabbit-hole brain shaking sideways sound.

BONUS EP

TLIM SHUG – hard disk dancer
⁃ 24 minutes of micro beauty. makes me feel like a little ant wandering a metallic sand maze.

Model/Actriz have their “A Very Model/Actriz Karaoke Chrismukkah 5” happening on Saturday (12/13) at Baby’s All Right. Proceeds go to the Immigration Defense Project, and sh4dows hosts karaoke. “Sign up in-person at perform our songs with us, on a first come first serve basis,” they write. “Tickets only provide entry, and do not guarantee a karaoke spot.” Tickets are on sale.

They’ll also be on tour in 2026 for headlining shows, festivals, and dates with Peaches and Agriculture. Their NYC show is at Knockdown Center on February 28 with Peaches. See all dates below.

MODEL/ACTRIZ: 2025-2026 TOUR DATES
Dec 13, 2025 Baby’s All Right Brooklyn, NY A Very Model/Actriz Karaoke Chrismukkah 5
Feb 18, 2026 Snug Harbor Charlotte, NC
Feb 20, 2026 ZeyZey Miami Miami, FL *
Feb 21, 2026 The Beacham Orlando, FL *
Feb 22, 2026 New World Tampa Tampa, FL
Feb 24, 2026 Buckhead Theatre Atlanta, GA *
Feb 25, 2026 The NorVa Norfolk, VA *
Feb 27, 2026 9:30 CLUB Washington, DC *
Feb 28, 2026 Knockdown Center New York, NY *
Mar 1, 2026 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA *
Mar 3, 2026 Rialto Theatre Montreal, QC *
Mar 4, 2026 The Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON *
Mar 25, 2026 Cat’s Cradle Back Room Carrboro, NC
Mar 27, 2026 Big Ears Festival Knoxville, TN
Mar 28, 2026 The Blue Room – Third Man Records Nashville, TN
Mar 31, 2026 Saturn Birmingham, AL
Apr 1, 2026 Gasa Gasa New Orleans, LA
Apr 3, 2026 Mohawk Austin, TX
Apr 4, 2026 Paper Tiger San Antonio, TX
Apr 12, 2026 Coachella Music and Arts Festival Indio, CA
Apr 19, 2026 Coachella Music and Arts Festival Indio, CA
Apr 22, 2026 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO #
Apr 24, 2026 Duck Room at Blueberry Hill St Louis, MO
Apr 25, 2026 Thalia Hall Chicago, IL #
Jun 1, 2026 – Jun 7, 2026 Primavera a la Ciutat Barcelona, Catalonia
Jun 12, 2026 Best Kept Secret Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
Jun 13, 2026 NOS Primavera Sound Festival Porto, Porto District

* with Peaches
# with Agriculture