For L.A. Witch, “Dog God” is both a return and a departure — a record shaped by distance, change and the kind of raw devotion that’s long echoed through the streets of Los Angeles.

“I just saw the billboard in L.A. for the first time, and that was a pretty cool moment for me — especially since this is home,” says front woman and guitarist Sade Sanchez, reflecting on how the band is feeling ahead of its upcoming tour. It was a full-circle moment, one that the trio could feel deeply as they gear up to take their new songs on the road.

Their spring tour kicks off May 23 with a hometown stop at Highland Park’s Lodge Room — fitting for a band whose roots still run deep through the city that raised it.

But before the long list of U.S. cities on the itinerary, there was Paris.

“Dog God” was recorded at Motorbass Studios in the French capital — a deliberate change of scenery that infused the record with new sonic and visual textures.

“I think we’d all agree that, even though it was challenging, it was really nice to change our environment and search for inspiration somewhere else — somewhere familiar but different, like Paris,” bassist Irita Pai said. “We’ve all been there multiple times, we’ve had some of our best shows there, and we all genuinely love the city.”

She continued: “There’s so much it has to offer — obviously, it’s one of the most visited places in the world — but as artists, it was great to soak up that energy and incorporate it into the record. Sure, we could’ve recorded in L.A. — we know the studios; we know the people — but it felt important to get out of our comfort zone, to work with different people and to evolve our sound. We’re all really happy with how it turned out, and we’re glad we made that choice.”

The record’s title, a palindrome, reflects the band’s fascination with duality. “It’s about love and devotion,” Sanchez said. “But also about dependence, and how those feelings can get messy and reversed. It’s god and dog — it’s worship and wildness, it’s power and submission.”

From the haunting, cathedrallike reverbs to its medieval visual themes, “Dog God” doesn’t shy from the dramatic. That’s intentional. “We wanted to lean into something moodier, darker,” Pai added, citing influences like Joy Division and Bauhaus. “The post-punk world just felt right this time around.”

And yet, the L.A. Witch DNA is still fully intact. Raw edges, hypnotic rhythms and a spirit rooted in the band’s early DIY days in Los Angeles still run strong. “Back then, it was all house shows and small venues, where the scene felt like a family,” Pai recalled. “That kind of intimacy and community — it sticks with you, even as the stages get bigger.”

It’s a kind of loyalty that shows up in unexpected places — including the recent music video for “The Lines,” which features sign language interpreter and dancer Lark embodying the song’s lyrics through movement and expression. “We didn’t have a budget, but we had the right people who believed in the vision,” drummer Ellie English said. “And that made all the difference.”

The same ethos applies to the songwriting process, which the band describes as entirely collaborative. “There’s no set formula,” Sanchez said. “Sometimes it starts with a riff, sometimes a mood. It just builds organically between us.”

Even after more than a decade together, the trio continues to evolve. Touring habits have shifted, as well as their understanding of self-care and sustainability on the road. “We’re better at resting, better at knowing our limits,” said English. “And honestly, that’s what keeps us sharp creatively.”

As they prepare to play hometown shows again, the three admit there’s always added pressure in performing for friends and family. “You want to give them your best,” Sanchez said. “But it’s also beautiful, because they’ve seen us grow from the beginning.”

When asked what kind of film “Dog God” could be the soundtrack for, Sanchez grinned and said, “It would be a French vampire film. Very moody. Lots of fog.”

And if she could give advice to her younger self? “Save more money,” she said with a laugh. “And don’t force it. Everything unfolds how it’s meant to.”

For a band that started with grit, guts and ghostly reverb in the L.A. underground, “Dog God” feels like an arrival point — but one that opens up a whole new chapter.

It’s clear L.A. Witch isn’t just holding space in rock music. It’s building a world of its own.