Dear Diary
Dear Diary is an open mic for second hand embarrassment. Come read your old diary entries out loud in front of strangers! Handle with care is a wellness brand that promotes vulnerability in community spaces. Created by Soso, she hopes to connect individuals through unique events and shared experiences.
Dew from 2001, Yiyo, Divinecowgurl
Dew From 2001, Chicago MC and producer well-known among local art spaces, is not new to making and releasing songs online. His curiosity and love for music continues to drive his desire to test sonic capabilities by skipping between sounds and approaches, sometimes multiple times in the course of one track. With dedication, Dew is equally at home rapping over sample-driven hip-hop beats or finding pockets in experimental, electronic production.Yiyo is a 22 year old Mexican-American producer/dj born and raised in Chicago who aims at making people dance through any sub-genre of electronic dance music. Whether it’s house, UK garage, or electronic-dembow.Divinecowgurl is the mother of Pussycore. The diva.
California Cousins (NY), Inkjet, Ira Glass (EP Release), Shotgun Funeral
California Cousins – Riffy emo/post-hardcore from Rochester, NY. Inventor’s of the double EP. “stray.” out now.Inkjet – printer-rock from chicagoIra Glass – ira glass is a post-post-hardcore band from chicago, IL.Shotgun Funeral – a queer 3 piece alternative, emo, punk band with post-hardcore elements. Three writers/vocalists, two guitarists, one bassist (and a slew of rotating drummers) who experiment and ultimately have fun bending genres to leave listeners feeling nostalgic for the past, yet ingrained in the present.
Nahaules Underground, Headless Mary, Central Dogma, Turn N Fire
Nahuales Underground began as a trio in the early 2000s. Now a 5 piece band known for its great energy, with its diverse way of mixing genres of Rock, Ska, Punk, Reggae with a touch of aggressive energetic flavor. Headless Mary combines gritty, distorted guitars and driving rhythms, with slower-paced songs featuring shimmering guitar, dreamy vocals, and haunting melodies. Their music has a mix of dark, brooding lyrics and infectious pop hooks, creating a blend of noise and melody. Central Dogma are a 3 piece instrumental band from Detroit with heavy inspiration from J-Rock and anime intros.
Miniskirt, The Scratch-Offs, Cam’s Jams
Miniskirt is a four piece based in Chicago, IL. The band draws on a love of 60’s girl groups, garage rock, power pop, and punk to make dreamy and energetic sound. They can inspire a raucous pit or a joint to be passed around. Their self release debut album, Paint It Rad, came out on April 23, 2024. The Scratch-Offs play rock n’ roll (emphasis on the “roll”) from Madison, Wisconsin (emphasis on the “sin”) Cam’s Jams play reverb-y vocal melodies mix with a flurry of percussion, 12-string guitar, and a slough of psychedelic effects to make an all around transcendental experience for one and all. – Midwest Action
SJOD (EP RELEASE), No Antics (STL), Ludwig Chavez ft. Charlie Barlow
SJOD is the self-proclaimed preeminent livetronica dark horse legend of Chicago. The Jod is in his element in a live setting, expect a high energy experience with a wide range of tempos, vibes, and electronic instruments. 2024 marks SJOD’s villain era with a new aesthetic of intense eldritch imagery and whimsical interludes. C U On The DanceFloor.No Antics is a premium rock experience; melting alternative, grunge, and punk genres into a contemporary array of fresh sounds. From the fray of Midwestern skateparks and basements, their DIY methodology welcomes the audience into the world of Modern Femme Grime. A new space, built on the bones of the fallen patriarchy, Modern Femme Grime is a higher realm of consciousness where the complexities of life and love in the 21st Century can be focused into a continuous beam of raw power. Come for the guitar solos and scream-along anthems, stay for community.LUDWIG CHAVEZ is a CHICAGO based collective who deliver atmospheric soundscapes and chugging rhythms that just have a way of getting into people’s bones. Jamie Clemmons (guitars/vocals); Ross Wall (synths/keys/noise/percussion); Charlie Barlow (Drums/percussion)
Candy, sponj, AAAYYYAAA
Candy is a pop icon created by actor and singer-songwriter Martin Levy. Candy is the revolutionary popstar of the apocalypse.sponj is two people and a drum machine. Formed in Chicago in the winter of 2023 by long-time friends, the band is made of a material-driven designer by trade, building beats that make us move, paired with the poetic vocals of a multimedia artist.AAAYYYAAA is a Midwest Industrial project.
Anessa Rivera, PIWA, Gayun Cannon
Anessa Rivera is a force to be reckoned with in the realm of Alt-Pop/RnB. Her ethereal vocals weave a tapestry of melodies that push the limits of traditional Pop and aside her band, blends heartfelt lyrics with airy instrumentals. Raised in Tucson, now calling Chicago home, Rivera is an ever-evolving artist committed to growing her craft.PIWA is a Chicago based Zimbabwean artist here to make us move to the rhythm of her drum; with the use of her alternative R&B tones and afrofuturistic energy, Piwa is known as a force to be felt.Chicago singer, self-produced, and multi-instrumentalist Gayun Cannon is known for creating a process of healing within each song whether it is about love or her own trials and tribulations through life. Her main goal is for her listeners to tap into their emotions. Incorporating her own infectious melodies with influences from multiple backgrounds and inspirations, Gayun has created a sound like no other.
MellowPhobia, Ione, Lydia Cash
Based in Kansas City, Kansas, MellowPhobia is an alt-rock band that brings a lively and dynamic sound to the music scene. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the band relocated and recorded their debut EP, “Is This Seat Taken?” Their single, “Jackal,” gained attention, leading to performances at festivals and indie venues. Notable highlights include sharing stages with national touring acts such as The Greeting Committee, The Regrettes, The Velveteers, Colony House, and more. By 2024, “Jackal” had surpassed 40,000 streams. Looking ahead, the band is gearing up for new releases, each contributing to their evolving sound.Ione, A 25 year old Singer/Songwriter from Sioux City Iowa, started her singing career at the age of 11. Since that time she has toured extensively throughout the Midwest developing her unique style. Ione’s powerful, soulful voice is undeniable whether singing her empowering Alt Rock compositions or more intimate heartfelt confessionals.Lydia Cash’s latest release, “Indigo”, boasts her fresh indie take on country music, weaving synths with traditional pedal steel, her airy voice floating with stacked harmonies and emotional, heartfelt lyrics. The five songs share a common theme of longing, whether that be for a person, a feeling, or for the past. While heavy on the nostalgia, there is nothing dated about this EP; honest, full of heart, with confessional lyrics, Cash is creating something new in country music and leaves us feeling good and wanting more.
Adjy, Patrick Jasper, Slow Riser
Adjy is a musical mythopoic apparatus based in undisclosed locations in Appalachia.Patrick Jasper is a Chicago based guitarist and songwriter. Drawing from his roots in folk, math-rock and experimental rock, his new project tumbles into new sonic territory while maintaining a down to earth musical sensibility.Slow Riser is a Chicago-based dark indie-pop project comprised of two longtime musical collaborators, Ian Young and Claire Watkins (Scout Ripley, Morning Arms).