Bug Charmer, Horror Movie Marathon, The Violet Hearts

Bug Charmer is an indie folk-rock group based in Chicago. With comparisons to trailblazers like Big Thief and Weyes Blood, the group doesn’t shy away from their genre blending songs combining aspects of folk, indie rock and slow core to create their unique sound. They find inspiration in nature and their personal experiences. Their music is defined by Kristin’s haunting vocals and visual lyrics, Evan’s cozy guitar solos, and Dan’s sensitive drumming.

The songs on Horror Movie Marathon’s new album, Discount Death Mask, paint a colorful swath of human emotion, but what solidifies their staying power is the synergistic magic produced by Will’s stripped-down guitar parts and Dash’s tender-yet-confident performance on the keys. The instrumentation presents as its own fraught family dynamic, while Rutledge and Flach’s vocal harmonies melt into one another with a palpable sense of trust, love, and understanding. The atmosphere of the records runs the gamut between speedy, tongue-in-cheek punk songs ("NYC Traffic" & "Crying & Laughing"), bluesy piano rags ("Did It Do Anything At All" & "Conners Color TV") and hauntingly tender ballads ("Living Hard" & "Town Car Death Drive").

The Violet Hearts is a genre-bending collective of friends who enjoy swapping instruments and trying new things.