ANCHR's Artist of the Week: DRAMA

Have you Vaxed & Waxed beauties been looking for some vibey dance music to wind down these final remaining weeks of Summer? Well thank goodness you are an ANCHR reader because we've got just what you're looking for. I present to you: DRAMA. If any readers know the dynamic of the relationship between myself and the editor-in-chief of ANCHR you'll know “Drama” is essentially a nickname I have given her for her anxious rambles and over-the-top reactions. Well, that's not the Drama I am talking about now. The match made in heaven duo of Na'el Shehade and Via Rosa is the only DRAMA that you all need in your life.

With Shehade on beats and Rosa on vocals, DRAMA has produced a lovely R&B and dance blend, which has transcended the Chicago scene and permeated the ears of many music lovers all over the country. Shehade is a home-grown Chicago boy that grasped onto the house scene as a teen and began DJing around the city until he started making music of his own. His talents lead him to eventually working in collaboration with the likes of Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, and Vic Mensa before he was introduced to Rosa via another Chicago talent, Jean Deaux. Rosa was born in Texas, grew up in Northern California and had a taste of the music world early in life, seeing that her parents were in a reggae band. According to DRAMA's bio, Rosa began showing interest in poetry in her teen years and that information revealed to me the correlation of her poetry and song writing, especially in songs like “Low Tide.” Outside of the song being a certified bop, it reads like a poem to me and I was able to tell that Rosa is one of those ultra talented people that uses one talent to fuel another in artistic coalescence. In 2010, Rosa moved to Chicago and eventually joined the THEMpeople collective. Hop in your DeLorean and fast forward a couple years, DRAMA is putting out music that gives us all the feels while simultaneously making our rumps shake.

A few years back when DRAMA played JBTV I was all set to go but something came up and I wasn't able to make it. I was sad I missed them, but all that sadness went away once I finally got to see them at Lollapalooza. Everyone reading this that wasn't at Lollapalooza should actually be sad they missed them because that means they didn't get to see the blouse Rosa was wearing. She was like a pink cloud. Via is short for Lluvia, and in Spanish, Lluvia means rain, and her pink cloud shirt was definitely raining dance grooves because not only was she dancing all over the stage but the audience caught the dance contagion and were also doing their part in the booty shaking department. With the 4 o'clock time slot at the Grove stage, it was the perfect setting to get your groove on in the middle of such a beautiful and sunny day. They're only playing a couple dates out west at the end of October, but you should definitely consider checking them out whenever they hit your city next.

Keep up with the latest DRAMA updates here, and check out the official video for “Years” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Mamalarky

This week’s spotlight falls on Mamalarky— yet another group on the ever dependable Fire Talk Records.

Photo by Sara Cath

Originating between LA and Austin, but now based in Atlanta, Mamalarky officially began in 2018 with a fateful meeting sparked by Tinder. The band’s singer and guitarist Livvy Bennett put out a call for a bass player on the app and ultimately connected with bassist Noor Khan. Bennett had already been working with drummer and longtime collaborator Dylan Hill, alongside friend Michael Hunter on the keys and synth bass, but once Khan rounded out the band lineup, they set to work on their debut album. Released via Fire Talk in November 2020, Mamalarky’s debut is just one of those albums that keeps rolling bop after bop. Throughout their catalog, the quartet produces a carefree air of joy, intertwined with warm tones and intricate audio effects. With tracks like “Almighty Heat” and “You Make Me Smile,” listeners are taken on a dynamic journey, and left with an experience of omnipotent delight after absorbing Mamalarky’s album.

Months after the debut’s release, the band will be hitting the road with their sonic sunshine later this year, and they’ve even gifted us with two new singles “Moss” and “Meadow” in the meantime, which both live up to the magic of their prior releases. The video for “Meadow” perfectly captures the sunny and bright vibes conjured up by its plucky guitar and dazzling melody. Bennett wrote both of the new singles outdoors, and each focus on different experiences of nature.

Talking about the songs, Bennett says, “Monotony is an illusion, or at least it’s a very tired way to look at things. Nature always has something new to offer when we slow down enough to absorb it - isolation made me appreciate and deepen this relationship significantly. I realized I’m never actually alone when I’m out under some trees. Moss offers more of a coming to terms that the surrounding landscape could be my anchor and company for the time whereas Meadow is a spark of excitement at finding a less traveled path on my daily route that opened out onto a beautiful stream with singing frogs. I wrote both these songs outdoors which I had never tried before. I still go to these spots often and they hold me up!"

You can check out Mamalarky's self-titled debut here, and see all of their upcoming shows here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Mysterines

The Mysterines are Lia Metcalfe, George Favanger, Paul Crilly, and Callum Thompson

I hope you guys are ready for some hot new rock out of Liverpool, because The Mysterines are going to be the next band you're blasting in your car, headphones, and/or speakers. The Mysterines are the creative love child of Lia Metcalfe and George Favanger. Metcalfe is the guitarist/singer-songwriter and Favanger rips the bass. The band is rounded out by Paul Crilly on drums and Callum Thompson on guitar. Although they have yet to release their first album, they have garnered much attention in the UK with the singles and EPs they have put out. Even more, touring with The Amazons, Royal Blood, and Miles Kane has captured the attention of their respective fans as well. If any ANCHR readers are Paul Weller fans, you'll hear Metcalfe on "True" from Weller's latest album Fat Pop.

I can't wait until they come to The States. Thompson's guitar work combined with Metcalfe's thunderous vocals can't help but set my expectations that their live show will be raucous. From what I have read about them, Metcalfe states that her influences vary from Bob Dylan all the way to Billie Eilish, but when I listen to songs like "In My Head" or "Who's Ur Girl", I get a Queens of the Stone Age vibe from them. Listening to the tracks The Mysterines have out there give me the same energy and aggressiveness as QOTSA and thus takes my mind straight to songs like "Go With The Flow" and "If I Had a Tail.” On the flip side, songs like "Take Control" and "Love's Not Enough" seem more melodic and like a classic, fun, fist-pumping, rock and roll show similar to what you would get with bands like Angels & Airwaves or old Arctic Monkeys. Regardless of whether you agree with my comparisons or not, you should give them a listen because I have a feeling we're going to be hearing more about them in the near future.

Make sure to keep up with the band on Twitter and Instagram, and tune into the video for “In My Head” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Tropical Fuck Storm

Photo by Jaime Wdziekonski

Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2017, Tropical Fuck Storm was born after Drones founder Gareth Liddiard and longtime bandmate Fiona Kitschin decided to hit the reset button and venture into a brand new project. Erica Dunn and Lauren Hammel joined Liddiard and Kitschin in this new group, and since their inception, Tropical Fuck Storm has created content that boldly discusses and dissects even the most dire of topics. From consumerism to fascism and climate change to the Capitol riot, Liddiard and the band do not shy away from questioning it all.

Liddiard describes Tropical Fuck Storm’s agenda best by stating, “We make pop records that don’t deny we’re all in a bit of trouble here.” Although they didn’t write any new material during the first six months of the global pandemic shut down—due to that ever relatable feeling that they call “give-a-fuck fatigue”— Tropical Fuck Storm has recently previewed their upcoming third studio album Deep States with new singles “G.A.F.F.” and “New Romeo Agent.” Just as no subject is too taboo for them to call out in their music, no genre or sonic territory is off limits for the band with their latest material. With a swirl of art punk, jazz, hip-hop, pop, new wave (just to name a few), Deep States explores a multitude of musical stylings to get Tropical Fuck Storm’s message across.

Out August 20th, the new record follows up 2019’s Braindrops and will be released by Joyful Noise. Pre-order the album here, and tune into the “New Romeo Agent” music video below. Make sure to also follow the band’s Instagram for all the latest updates.

Premiere: Dream Version's "A Mind Can Change"

Dream Version is Alec Harryhausen, Eric Brummit and Michael Kunik

Chicago three-piece Dream Version has always been an ANCHR favorite, thanks to their infectious energy during their live performances and their tendency to push their creative boundaries. That’s why this week, we’re honored to be premiering the brand new video for their single “A Mind Can Change,” from their upcoming self-titled album.

Dream Version says that for their third album, they’ve decided to take a moment to simply inhabit the space they’ve created— calling upon their two mantras of “Don’t waste time” and “Don’t condescend.” Throughout the span of time between this record and 2017’s Fight Fair, the trio has experienced marriage, divorce, relocation, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The band says, “The result is a looser set of songs that represents everything we like and everything we’re capable of.  We decided to name it after ourselves.”

Elaborating on the new single “A Mind Can Change,” Alec Harryhausen says the inspiration stems from his fundamentally cynical attitude. He adds, “A lot of the story of this album started with me looking up at a dirty ceiling fan in my apartment and thinking, ‘That’s just the way life is; the ceiling fan’s dirty and I’ll never have the time or energy to clean it.’  The notion that it can take about 30 seconds to solve a problem like that, believe it or not, has been kind of revolutionary.  It was a fundamental part of my world view that most problems are facts of life, and even that we as a species might not deserve to have clean ceiling fans.”

From there, he began to shift his own mindset and to rewire his perspective. That fresh outlook, coupled with Harryhausen’s appreciation for Plastic Ono Band, led to him working through his demo of “A Mind Can Change” with bandmates Eric Brummit and Michael Kunik to build out the dynamics of it and keep it interesting for the whole run time. “It was a challenge for us to play this slow; we had to practice it a lot,” the band says.

For the music video, Dream Version worked with director Patrick Betzold, who had some experience doing animated work at his job and wanted to try it in a more ambitious way. As the band describes it, the video tells the story of 3 astronauts leaving behind a dead planet and trying to find a new one.

Watch the video below, and be sure to pre-order the self-titled album ahead of its July 30th release date here, or snag a ticket to the record release show to pick up a copy in person!

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Vaccines

Photo courtesy of Red Light Management

In 2021, there’s been no shortage of discussion about Covid-19 vaccines, but today we’re here to talk about The Vaccines. With nearly two million monthly listeners on Spotify and a catalog of absolute bops like “Post Break-up Sex,” “If You Wanna” and “Wetsuit,” there’s a high chance a lot of you are already familiar with the London band composed of Justin Hayward-Young, Freddie Cowan, Árni Árnason, Timothy Lanham, and Yoann Intonti. If you’re not, now is the perfect time to get to know them ahead of their upcoming fifth studio album Back In Love City, which is set to be released in September.

With jovial drumbeats, bright guitar riffs and witty lyrics you can’t help but sing along to, The Vaccines is one of those bands that will put a smile on your face as soon as you hear the intro of one of their songs. That carefree spirit of their music translates perfectly to their live shows, with lead vocalist Young never failing to work the entire stage and keep the whole room entranced. I’ve been lucky enough to see The Vaccines perform several times, but my favorite memory of them has to be their sold-out show at London’s Roundhouse venue in 2019. There was an electrifying wave of positive energy in the crowd that night, something that transcended the normal hometown show vibes, making that gig one that I’ll never forget.

The latest singles from The Vaccines “Headphones Baby” and “Back In Love City” pack even more pep, delivering an expectation that Back In Love City will certainly be a record that keeps listeners dancing. About the new album, Young has said the idea for the fictional Love City stemmed from his experience partaking in a house swap in Los Angeles. “I literally swapped lives with a stranger. I lived in in house and drove his car while he lived in mine, but we’d never met and had no previous connections,” he adds, describing the experience that fueled his fascination with disconnection and escapism.

Make sure to pre-order Back In Love City here, and keep an eye out for upcoming tour dates from The Vaccines here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Squirrel Flower

Photo by Tonje Thilesen

You know how certain bands have that very particular signature sound where you can recognize one of their songs before the lyrics even kick in? Well, with Squirrel Flower— the project of vocalist, songwriter and musician Ella Williams— there’s a consistent air of experimentation and exploration of different energies and sounds in her music, leading to a completely different effect. Across the first Squirrel Flower EPs and debut album I Was Born Swimming, Williams delivers reflective lyrics and a sweeping vocal performance, lending varying timbres to her silky voice.

Back in April, Williams announced Squirrel Flower’s sophomore record entitled Planet (i), giving us the lead single “Hurt A Fly.” The track leans a little heavier than some of Squirrel Flower’s past releases, featuring distorted and frenzied guitar riffs and telling the story of manipulative lover switching back and forth between powerful emotions. Talking about the track, Williams says, “‘Hurt A Fly’ is me embodying a persona of gaslighting, narcissistic soft-boy type shit. The classic ‘sorry I acted violently, I'm not mad that you got upset at me, wanna hang out next week?’ I wanted to see what it was like to be a character trying to skirt around accountability. It's an angry and unhinged song.” Tune in below to experience the track in all its glory.

As for the rest of the album Planet (i), Williams says most of the songs were written ahead of the pandemic, but she spent a large part of quarantine demoing them in her bedroom. When it came time to safely record the studio versions of the tracks, Williams worked with producer Ali Chant out of The Playpen in Bristol, UK. Williams and Chant provided the backbone for most of the instrumentation on the record, but it remained collaborative with guest contributions (provided remotely) by the likes of Tenci's Jess Shoman, Tomberlin, Katy J. Pearson, Jemima Coulter, Brooke Bentham, and Williams’ family members.

Be sure to pre-order Planet (i) ahead of its June 25th release date here, and check out Squirrel Flower’s upcoming tour dates here. The majority of the shows are unsurprisingly sold out, but if you were lucky enough to snag tickets, Squirrel Flower will actually be playing two shows here in Chicago this weekend at Sleeping Village.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Nation of Language

Photo by Kevin Condon

I am very much looking forward to getting back to traveling and seeing live music soon, so this week’s AAOTW has ties to a near and dear memory of both of those hobbies. Back in 2018, I was in NYC for the weekend and had the chance to photograph The Wombats at Brooklyn Steel. I showed up not knowing anything about the band Nation of Language, who had filled in a supporting slot when UK band Blaenavon had to pull out of the tour. Despite my inexperience with their music, Nation of Language’s set left me blown away with their refreshing spin on the post-punk and new wave eras of music. I remember instantly going to their Spotify to save their songs “I’ve Thought About Chicago” and “On Division St,” which the band had recently released that year.

Nation of Language is a trio based in Brooklyn, fronted by songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Devaney and joined by Aidan Noell and Michael Sue-Poi. In the following few years since that show, the band has put out a steady drip of singles, some of which ended up on their highly-anticipated 2020 debut album Introduction, Presence.

There’s a certain magic to Nation of Language’s music; They manage to craft the perfect blend of infectious hooks driven by hypnotic synths and steady bass lines, topped off by Devaney’s robust vocals. The trio’s latest single “Across That Fine Line,” which happens to be the lead single off their newly-announced sophomore album A Way Forward, has that same quality I’ve come to love them for. There’s just something about Nation of Language’s sound that is equally soothing and jolting— their music can make listeners want to dance, yet provides and escape route from worries. Devaney describes his inspiration for the new song “Across That Fine Line” as being about that moment when a non-romantic relationship flips into something different. “Sonically, it’s meant to feel like running down a hill, just out of control. I had been listening to a lot of Thee Oh Sees at the time of writing it and admiring the way they supercharge krautrock rhythms and imbue them with a kind of mania, which felt like an appropriate vibe to work with and make our own,” he adds.

As for the remainder of the upcoming album, A Way Forward, I’m curious and excited to see how the group will push the boundaries on their sound. The band has described their approach to the album, stating, “We aimed to more deeply trace the roots of our sound, hoping to learn something from the early influences of our early influences. Experimenting with how they might be reinterpreted in our modern context.”

Make sure to tune into A Way Forward upon its November 5th release date— you can pre-order here. Additionally, Nation of Language will be heading back out on tour later this year, including a stop at Chicago’s Empty Bottle. See all the upcoming shows here, and tune into “Across That Fine Line” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: FUR

Photo By Julia Nala

This week we’re heading back across the pond to talk about Brighton’s own FUR, composed of William Murray, Harry Saunders, William 'Tav' Taverner, and Flynn Whelan.

Late last month, the group shared their first single of 2021 called “The Fine Line Of A Quiet Life,” a warm and uptempo track that’s perfect to add to your upcoming Summer playlists. The song stays true to FUR’s style with nods to a mix of influences— From NYC bands of the early aughts to 1960s rock n’ roll, the fuzzy distortion and staccato-style guitar strums on the single make it irresistible to bop your head and tap your foot along. Regarding the song’s theme, FUR describes “The Fine Line of a Quiet Life” as a tale about self-reflection and understanding. “It’s about detaching yourself from situations you’ve already been in and know the outcome of. Much like growing up, you learn not to do certain things and slowly but surely you learn that there’s a ‘fine line’ of what lifestyle becomes acceptable the older you get and also what you can hack as an adult (that maybe doesn’t feel too much like one). The feeling of regret and ‘how could I be so blind’ that everyone has felt in relationships that really only comes out once it’s done is something that also goes hand in hand with a mutual respect for a collapsed relationship, and that there’s no undoing of things you’ve done and it’s best to just move on and suck it up,” they say.

While FUR has released several singles since their onset— including the 2020 mixtape entitled Facing Home, featuring 7 of the band’s previously unreleased tracks— we have yet to receive a full length album from them. As the band recently signed to Norway’s 777 Music, we’re expecting news on a debut record from FUR at any moment now.

In addition to new music news, FUR has also announced several new tour dates for later this year in the UK and Europe, with more potentially on the way. Be sure to follow their Instagram for the latest updates, and check out the official video for “The Fine Line of a Quiet Life” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Marías

As artists find new ways to express their vision and experiment with different sounds, it’s become less and less common for a musician or band to become pigeonholed by a single-defined genre. The Los Angeles-based project of María Zardoya, aptly called The Marías, recently released their lead single off their highly anticipated debut album and further proved the vast range of musical styles that they have in their wheelhouse. The track “Hush” showcases Zardoya’s velvety, jazz-infused vocals laid over a hypnotic electronic backbone, but their back catalog features hints of anything from psychedelia to funk.

For example, the song “Only in My Dreams” from the band’s 2017 EP Superclean, Vol.1 has an atmospheric, cinematic sound— which leads nicely into the title of their debut album to be released June 25th: Cinema. Zardoya and bandmate Josh Conway say that the record drew inspiration from classic films and directors that they grew up watching— a la Pedro Almodóvar and Wes Anderson. Even more fitting, Conway and Zardoya originally connected because of their love and appreciation for cinema. “Through a friend, [Josh and I] were connected to a music supervisor who would send us requests for music for films. We’d receive a synopsis of a scene, and then we’d have to write music to it within a couple of days. Not only did that teach us how to write songs together fairly quickly, it taught us how to think like filmmakers. We’d imagine worlds in our minds based on the synopses – the colors in the scene, the lighting, the actors, the set design, and of course, the music,” Zardoya says about her songwriting partnership.

I only had the pleasure of seeing The Marías perform live once, but I still remember the way Zardoya and her bandmates completely captivated the room (enough for the audience to demand an encore despite the fact they were opening the show). I’m hopeful we’ll see some tour announcements released soon so that we can all hear some of their newer music performed.

Pre-Order the upcoming album Cinema before its June 25th release date here, and check out the trail that Zardoya and Conway co-edited and directed here. Lastly, watch the visualizer for “Hush” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: PACKS

If you need a little something to shake up your energy levels and get you over the mid-week slump, look no further than PACKS’ new single "Silvertongue.” The fast-paced and fuzzed-out tune premiered last week alongside the announcement of the band’s debut album Take the Cake. “Silvertongue” gave me my first taste of the Toronto-based project, but when I learned that Fire Talk Records will be putting out the album, I was not surprised at all because they’ve never steered us wrong with any of the other artists on their roster.

PACKS is led by vocalist and songwriter Madeline Link, who started this journey as a solo project but is now joined by bandmates Shane Hooper, Noah O’Neil, and Dexter Nash. While the Covid shut down might have thrown a wrench in the momentum that PACKS had gained in the Toronto live music scene, it did allow for a unique creative process behind Take the Cake.

Photo courtesy of artist

Link explains that the album is a combination of old and new, due to the fact that some of the songs came to fruition in 2019, while another group of songs were crafted while Link quarantined at her parents’ suburban home during the early days of lockdown. “Old songs from a year ago where I'm having really horrifyingly awful days at work, getting doored while biking in Toronto and flying into the middle of the street, or going on dates with guys who I'm either instantly in love with, or who end up creeping me out a bit. Those songs are more packed with that feeling of hurtling-through-time-and-space-at-breakneck-speed, manic energy. The newer songs are infused with a foggier, slower-paced disillusionment, and deal with the strangeness of a reality morphing before my eyes every day. I still try to be optimistic obviously, but these songs are really glorified coping mechanisms,” she says.

Make sure you pre-order Take the Cake on vinyl here, and mark your calendars for the May 21st digital release date. Tune into ““Silvertongue” below.

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ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Dehd

Photo by Alexa Viscius

I mean, seriously…Can we just get these vaccines moving already!?  Dehd released Flowers of Devotion last summer and I haven’t been able to rock with all the new songs in a live setting yet. Like many others, I was looking forward to their set at Pitchfork Music Festival, but of course the ol’ Rona had to stick her nose in our business and ruin everything.  Luckily, I've seen them once before at an “In The Round” show at Thalia Hall so that’s been able to hold me over for now.  Once live music is back though, I highly recommend checking out their performance if they hit a stage near you. Unless you’re one of those people that doesn’t enjoy dancing, good music, and feeling good. If you identify as such, then please stay away— but even then, Dehd is a great band for anyone since they tend to take serious subjects and place them in fun, groovy melodies.

Dehd is a trio out of the Windy City composed of Jason Balla, Emily Kempf, and Eric McGrady. They have three albums to their name and have also found themselves on “Perez’s Best” annual CD mix for the last two years (if you know, you know).  Balla and Kempf were previously in a romantic relationship during the early years of the band, but thankfully their songwriting partnership didn’t die when the romance did. Instead, they continued to hit us with bangers and keep making the people happy. 

If this is the first time you are ever hearing of Dehd, their album Flowers of Devotion is a great album to start with, but don’t sleep on their self-titled debut or 2019’s Water either. I dare all readers when listening to “Haha” or “Loner” to not groove with the music. It’s just not possible.

Be sure to also check out the amusing music videos that the band has released for their recent singles, and snag your own copy of their newest record here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Sir Sly

Sir Sly is Landon Jacobs, Hayden Coplen and Jason Suwito. Photo courtesy of Press Here Publicity

One live music trope I can’t stress enough is to always catch the opening band when you get a chance. Back in early 2014, I showed up to St. Lucia’s show at Lincoln Hall having never heard their supporting band before, and now Sir Sly is easily one of my favorite bands.

Since those early days of being the opening band and the era of their debut album You Haunt Me, Sir Sly has continued on a trajectory of slow and steady maturity. Thanks to lead singer and songwriter Landon Jacobs’ vulnerability and transparency as a storyteller, listeners can sense a stark shift in tones from their first album to their sophomore release Don’t You Worry, Honey; An artistic shift that stems from the major changes that occurred in Jacobs’ personal life. At surface value, you could listen to 2017’s Don’t You Worry, Honey and hear glossy, upbeat melodies destined to gain popularity because of their catchiness, but at its core, Jacobs candidly shares his struggles of losing his mother to cancer and dealing with the disintegration of his young marriage. On top of that, Jacobs managed to turn an experience of a panic attack in a hotel room into the hit “High,” which saw chart success and made appearances in shows like 13 Reasons Why and Riverdale.

Almost four years later, Jacobs and his bandmates Hayden Coplen and Jason Suwito are ready to embark on a new chapter with their third album The Rise & Fall Of Loverboy, which is slated to be released on April 23, 2021 via Interscope Records. To accompany the news of the album, Sir Sly released the fourth and fifth singles off the upcoming record last week: “thx.” and “Loverboy.” In contrast to the mellow vocals and faded instrumentals of the former, “Loverboy” jumps right into an effervescent hook that expresses the joy and ease of a new relationship. On the third album as a whole, Jacobs has said, “The Rise & Fall Of Loverboy is an album about falling in love with someone new, and the magic that brought into my world.”

You can pre-order the new album here, and listen to “Loverboy” in full below.

Keep up with Sir Sly on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

PREMIERE: "Underwater/Outerspace" Music Video by Sugarpulp

Today we’re pleased to share the premiere of the brand new music video for “Underwater/Outerspace” by Chicago’s own Sugarpulp.

Translating their sound from audio to video was a challenge that inspired Sugarpulp and music video director, Kevin Pickman. But the main goal was to have some fun. “When the band and I started discussing the aesthetic, we wanted something that was visually eerie and psychedelic but also didn’t take itself too seriously,” said Pickman. “Our main goal was to have fun with costumes and science fiction tropes.” Sugarpulp singer Deb Chesterman agreed. “Building the costumes and the storyline was like being a kid again and putting on a play for your parents.” To help them play dress-up, Aro Farmilant created the set and costumes. “Dreaming this universe into existence with the group was definitely mind-altering…there’s an ether of infinite possibilities to Underwater/Outerspace.”  Developing a visual world with musical elements posed another challenge to the band’s process. “We all got to use our creativity in ways that don’t manifest directly into music,” said Chesterman. Pickman’s storyline supported this process by combining plot with aesthetic. “I incorporated an idea my brother and I created for a graphic novel: a heartbroken woman travels to another dimension to steal the identity of her parallel self to continue a relationship she had lost.” In the world of Sugarpulp, anything is possible.

Get your first look at the music video below, and keep up with Sugarpulp on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram. The band will also be hosting a release show for the music video at Demons on Damen this Friday, January 31st-details here.

PREMIERE: "Deadly Stare" by Thompson Springs

Today we’re sharing the first single “Deadly Stare” from Thompson Springs’ upcoming debut album Undertones.

Photo by Kayla Thornton

Lead vocalist and songwriter Matt Smith of the group wrote the leading track while he was living in Memphis, and ultimately the group recorded it in Nashville last year with the assistance of Patrick Sansone (Wilco, The Autumn Defense) on the 12-string guitar and as a producer. “I still have the video of the [“Deadly Stare”] demo, and I remember being really excited about the chord changes. I was new to Memphis and didn't have a lot of friends yet, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I had lots of time to work on songs! It's a slower pace of life down there, and I like to think that influenced the song,” Smith says.

Eventually Smith brought the song to drummer and synth player Jake Bicknase, who added his own melody on the synth that really tied together the track. Smith says he and Bicknase got to that point by just jamming and letting everything fall together. “'It’s kind of my mentality not to talk about it too much or else the magic might disappear,” he adds. The final version of the song came about with the help of Pat Sansone and engineer Andy Freeman in the recording studio. “Originally this song existed just with just vocals, guitar and synth. We went into the studio with that instrumentation, but after showing the song to Pat and Freeman, we experimented with a few different things and decided that the song would have a totally different vibe and edge with this driving drumbeat pushing it along. It definitely became dreamier,” says Bicknase. “It was really cool to see in a matter of hours how the song changed from being stripped down to really full and complete, just by being open to each others ideas,” Smith adds.

To accompany the song, Thompson Springs worked with Chicago director Joe Martinez Jr., who has directed videos of other local acts like Ryley Walker. “I was really pleased to work with Joe after seeing some of his videos with local groups around town. He has that special vibe where you can feel he cares and has an eye that is artistic, not financial. He pulled out all the stops with a low budget,” says Smith. The video was shot in one day between the Pilsen and Logan Square neighborhoods with the help of friends and family.

Take a look at the finished piece below, and make sure you catch Thompson Springs at their next show at Sleeping Village on January 21st.

Video Credits:

Director

Joe Martinez Jr.

@instrajammer

AD

Jessica Batson

@jmayb

Cinematographer 

O’Connor Hartnett

@ohartnett

Movi Op

Michael Monar

@mmonar

AC

Christian Meija

@seemejia

Key Grip

Johnny Weichel

@weichel.jordan

Car Passenger 

Matt Smith

@thompsonsprings

Alley Keys

Jacob Bicknase

@jabickus

Car Driver

Jose Martinez

Kid on Bike

Ben Parks

Basketball Girl

Ellie Parks

Roller-Girl

Danielle Brod

@cptnd

Gas Station Hipster

David Alan Thrift

@thriftayyy

Street Clown

Sean Mills

@sdavidsonmills

Dog walker 

Emily Lindeman

Dog Thief 

Savanna Dickhut

@burroak

Mom

April Brossett

Big Sister

Aaliyah Montana

@aaliyahmontana1

Little Sister

Aria Denali

@ariadenali

Mobster #1

John Mcdonnell

Mobster #2

Michael Bonesteel

Editor 

Joe Martinez Jr.

@instajammer

Colourist 

Lindsey Mazur

@lindseyemazur

PREMIERE: "Good News" Music Video by Fauvely

Photo by Sean Kelly

Today we’re sharing the first look at Fauvely’s music video for “Good News,” from the band’s 2019 EP This is What the Living Do.

For the music video, the band teamed up with Sean Kelly and Remsy Atassi of Emulsion Lab to shoot the project on an Eclair NPR Ultra 16mm vintage camera, which interestingly is the same model that was used for Texas Chainsaw Massacre. “We've more or less adopted a deer as the Fauvely mascot and wanted to run with this theme, albeit in a really silly way. Our music can be on the sadder side…“Good News” is essentially a tongue-in-cheek anthem of self-defeat, so it was nice to do something absolutely ridiculous to off-set this,” says Fauvely’s lead vocalist and songwriter Sophie Brochu.

Tune into the new video below, and make sure you catch Fauvely at The Empty Bottle on Sunday, December 8th with Say Sue Me.

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Keep up with Fauvely on Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

PREMIERE: "Dream Milk" by Sunshrine

Sunshrine is Bryson Foster, Jeramie Anderson, and Ryan Simpson

Today, we’re sharing the first look at Sunshrine’s complete video album for Dream Milk, which was directed by Sunshrine and Kelsey Gould.

In the days leading up to the premiere, the band teased the video album with clips for individual songs, like “Will You Give it Away?” and “Salty Lace.” The songs and their corresponding videos are a “culmination of directionless creativity,” the band says. “We did what was easy and fun and this is what came out. After all the content was compiled we saw a story…we saw a drama, and it needed to be shared with the world,” they add.

Sunshrine’s next show is on October 18th in Lawrence, Kansas— Keep up with them Facebook and Instagram for more updates, and watch the video album in full below.

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PREMIERE: "Something Teenage" Video by Dream Version

Today we’re bringing you the first look at the video for Dream Version’s latest single “Something Teenage.” The trio from Chicago has an unwavering knack for crafting fun and catchy tunes that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head or get you dancing, and “Something Teenage” achieves both.

Dream Version performing at ANCHR’s September Showcase

Although the lyrics read as a love letter, lead singer and guitarist Alec Jensen says it was not written for a romantic interest. “It's a love song for Iggy Pop, and references some things he said in this John Peel lecture,” Jensen clarifies. “In general it's supposed to be about the way I listened to music in high school, and how exciting it is now when something hits me that viscerally. Usually, it's nothing particularly smart or highbrow. Blah Blah Blah is a super glossy, plastic 80s record Iggy made with Bowie, and it's singing in the shower music.  ‘Something Teenage’ sounds more like Yo La Tengo than Iggy, but it's our little love letter,” he adds.

The video, shot and directed by local musician Emily Jane Powers, captures the buoyant energy of the track as it cuts back and forth between the band members enjoying a carefree, summer day at Montrose Beach and performing the track. Talking about the inspiration behind the video, Jensen says, “I came to Emily with the idea of basically doing the ‘Can't Buy Me Love’ sequence from Hard Day's Night,” adding that they wanted the video to focus in on the friendship between himself and bandmates Eric Brummitt and Michael Kunik. “Emily did a great job. She made us seem really funny, which is good, because we, like, are.”

Now that you know the backstory, get your first look at the video below!

Keep up with Dream Version on Facebook + Twitter + Instagram

PREMIERE: "Apple Tree" by Dreamboats Music Video

Photo Credit: Reilly Drew

Today we’re sharing the first look at Dreamboats’ debut single and video for “Apple Tree.” Dreamboats’ current line up recently came together when siblings Jeremy and Maddy Marsan and bandmate Dave Hubbell (formerly known as Maddy, Dave & Jerry) joined forces with John Duray.

The new four-piece blends together influences of country and shoegaze music to create a unique sound that they dub as “dream pop western.” The track “Apple Tree” gives listeners a sneak preview of what is to come on Dreamboats’ upcoming debut album. With the help of filmmaker Reilly Drew, the accompanying video for “Apple Tree” shows a juxtaposition of real life and daydreams, cutting back and forth between dreamy scenes and clips that showcase a mundane reality. Check out the finished product below, starring Dreamboats, Kubrick the dog, and Sheila the cat.

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Keep up with Dreamboats on Facebook and Instagram

PREMIERE: Rookie "I Can't Have You But I Want You" Music Video

Earlier this year, Chicago music scene veterans Joe Bordenaro and Max Loebman decided to put aside their separate musical projects and join forces to form ROOKIE, along with musicians Dimitri Panoutsos and Kevin Decker. The new group quickly took the city by storm, performing everywhere from house shows and dive bars to The Empty Bottle, Lincoln Hall, and Thalia Hall. Chances are, if you’ve caught one of ROOKIE’s live shows around Chicago this year, you’ll remember them performing “I Can’t Have You But I Want You”— with its belt-along chorus and relatable sentiment, it’s hard to forget. Today, the setlist staple finally gets a proper release with a music video and a physical release from Treehouse Records.

Recorded live to tape at the Treehouse Records studio by engineer Barrett Guzaldo, with assists from Elan Frankel on Rhodes, Steve Kostakes on organ and Chris Kulwin playing a Les Paul, the track keeps all its same character as when it’s performed at a ROOKIE show. The video for the song, filmed and directed by Tim Nagle, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process. Check out the premiere of the music video below, and if you like what you hear, pre-order the record from Treehouse here— which includes a B Side of “The Move.”

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You can also snag your copy of “"I Can't Have You But I Want You"/ “The Move” at Virgin Hotels for a release show on December 1st with Ovef Ow, Glyders, and Knox Fortune & Friends. 

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Keep up with ROOKIE on Facebook + Twitter + Instagram

Front Cover acknowledgements: Photography by Alec Basse and design by Yasmine Sayre