A new sound is emerging from the heart of Kansas, one rooted in history, shaped by land and legacy, and carried forward by three highly respected musicians who work internationally, but whose paths converge in the capital city. QUIVIRA is a progressive rock project rooted in a deep musical lineage and a shared commitment to storytelling through sound.
Who Is QUIVIRA?
Lisa LaRue
(2KX, Federico Fantacone), composer, keyboards, and computer programming
Jake Livgren
(Emerald City Council, Proto-Kaw) vocals and multi-instrumentalist
John Baker
(Forever Twelve, Mars Hollow, Little Girls), guitars, bass, and vocals
Together, they are crafting a bold, modern interpretation of progressive rock that honors the past while forging something unmistakably their own.
For more than half a century, Topeka has stood as one of America’s most unexpected yet influential centers of progressive rock. Long before the genre even had a name, the musical curiosity of Northeast Kansas listeners helped cultivate a scene that would ultimately give rise to Kansas, the nation’s first commercially successful progressive rock band. Since then, Topeka has remained a quiet but powerful engine of progressive innovation, a place where the genre did not simply arrive but took root, evolved, and continues to inspire new generations. The city has also produced numerous other respected musicians and fostered vibrant creative communities that continue to shape the genre’s legacy.
QUIVIRA stands firmly within that lineage, carrying it forward with intention and respect.
QUIVIRA’s debut single, “Quivira Bound,” draws its visual identity from a defining piece of Kansas history: “The Coming of the Spaniards,” the monumental mural inside the Kansas State Capitol. The artwork depicts the moment Spanish explorers entered the region that would become Kansas, a moment of cultural collision, consequence, and transformation.
QUIVIRA approaches this imagery with honesty and perspective. Rather than romanticizing the past, the band uses it as a lens to explore the stories, tensions, and legacies that shaped the Plains. Their music becomes both a reclamation and a confrontation, giving voice to histories and perspectives long overshadowed.
The introductory single “Quivira Bound” is available on Bandcamp and all popular Digital Streaming Services
QUIVIRA ONLINE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583312171993
MRR Artist Profile: https://mrrmusic.com/project/quivira/
Stream & Purchase Links
Amazon Digital: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0GHC8YMDX?
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/quivira-bound/1869804574?i=1869804575
Bandcamp: https://quivira.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7gA0JAjkQ5rlct250huANi?si=5e72868f5a5f4bbf
