ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Elizabeth Moen

This week’s ANCHR’s artist of the week goes to singer-songwriter Elizabeth Moen.

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Based right here in Chicago, I had the chance to see Moen perform live back in July at Out of Space Festival in Evanston. Moen instantly won me over with her silky yet powerful vocals and folky, alt-country guitar styling. Stylistically she gave me Steve Nicks vibes, but I’d recommend adding her to your playlists if you’re a fan of Allison Ponthier, Waxahatchee, Alabama Shakes, or Faye Webster.

Moen has a few albums in her discography already—her most recent releases include 2022’s album Wherever You Aren’t and the 2023 EP For Arthur, which features covers of Arthur Russell songs.

While she currently resides in Chicago and Moen has toured around the US, UK and Europe, she got her start as a musician in the nearby state of Iowa. She wrote her first songs while studying at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, but her 2022 album came together in the different places she visited after leaving Iowa City. For example, “Headgear” was recorded during a session in Dublin, Ireland and “Synthetic Fabrics” came together in Alabama. When the pandemic hit, Moen tracked vocals and overdubs wherever she could–apartments and studios across the States, Canada, and Ireland and finished mixing and mastering the record in late 2021. Moen summarizes the tracks on Wherever You Aren’t by saying, “These songs are about mental health, joy, panic attacks, falling in love, falling out of it, and accepting that sometimes it will stay with you forever.”

Tune into Moen’s video for “Sorry That I Love Yoy” below, and see where you can catch her on tour here.

ANCHR's Artist the Week: Orla Gartland

This week’s artist of the week goes to singer-songwriter Orla Gartland, who I had the chance to see perform in England last week.

Photo by Karina Barberis

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Gartland first garnered a fanbase by posting covers of other songs on her YouTube channel. When I saw her in London and Leeds, her setlist featured a medley of bits of cover songs, so she still mixes in those covers along with her original material.

Speaking of original material, Gartland has released a handful of EPs and a debut full-length record called Woman on the Internet (another nod to her start in music). There’s a vulnerability in Gartland’s songwriting that’s both raw and relatable—her Spotify bio even reads “I find it easier to put my feelings into songs than to explain them out loud.” Personally, I’m glad Gartland has given us all a soundtrack for our feelings. In one of my favorites from her, “Pretending,” she sings “All the people over there/they don’t seem to have a care/I’m so fucking self-aware, it’s exhausting” about the strain of being a people pleaser. I also love her anthem about the highs and lows of life that we all experience, called “You’re Not Special, Babe.'“ Standout lyrics from the song include “People always let you down/find the ones that get you/stick to them like hot glue/dance if you want to.”

If you can’t get enough of Gartland’s solo material, make sure to check out her other band called FIZZ. The group released their debut single “High in Brighton” just this past June, and have already followed it up with two more singles. The debut single has an epic, show-tuney chorus and is about, you guessed it, wanting to get high in Brighton (but mostly, escaping real life). What’s not to love?

You can keep an eye on Orla Gartland’s upcoming tour dates here, and be sure to follow her on Instagram.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Joy Oladokun

This week’s ANCHR artist of the week goes to singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun, in honor of her recent album entitled Proof of Life, which was just released at the end of April this year.

Photo by Brian Higbee

Joy Oladokun was born and raised in Casa Grande, Arizona, but currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Oladokun has had a mix of musical influences during her life, including growing up in a Christian church and being inspired by artists like Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley at a young age. Prior to releasing Proof of Life this year, Oladokun put out the albums Carry, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings) and in defense of my own happiness (the latter being a sequel to the second album).

A single from her most recent album, Oladokun’s collaboration with Noah Kahan called “We’re All Gonna Die” has become my own personal anxiety lullaby that reminds me we’re all just doing the best we can with our one life. In contrast to the upbeat, jovial melody, the song’s chorus features the blunt and realistic lyrics we all sometimes need to hear “We’re over our heads so I’ll say it loud/We’re all gonna die tryna figure it out.”

Encompassing a mix of folk, pop, and rock genres, the rest of Proof of Life details both the little things that make life an adventure and the more nuanced experiences of life. The record contains collaborations with multiple artists, including Chris Stapleton, Manchester Orchestra, Mt. Joy and Maxo Kream.

You can catch Joy Oladokun out on the road this year performing these songs. See where you can catch the tour next here, and tune into the video for “Changes” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: OWENN

This week’s ANCHR artist of the week goes to singer-songwriter OWENN.

Photo courtesy of The Oriel

I had another one of my favorite in-the-wild encounters with OWENN when I got the chance to see him support Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour in Detroit. What captivated me most about OWENN was his magnetic stage presence; whether he was playing a more slow-tempo ballad like “Show Me” or the euphoric “Rest Of My Life,” he has an aura around him that can captivate and hold an audience’s attention.

OWENN’s long history of being an entertainer, mainly as a dancer and choreographer, has probably made it an easy transition for him to command the stage for his own musical performance. In addition to working with Taylor Swift, he had worked with starts like Beyonce, Rhianna, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Megan Thee Stallion before releasing his debut single “Baby Girl” in 2021.

Today, June 16th, OWENN released his new single “Dark Side Of The Moon” which starts with a goosebump-inducing A capella, layered vocal introduction before the beat begins to slowly wind up. OWENN’s small but mighty catalog has a diverse sound, but I pick up tinges of Rudimental in his song “Rest Of My Life,” which I definitely recommend adding to your Summer bops playlist. I’d also recommend checking OWENN out if you’re a fan of A R I Z O N A, Maggie Rogers, and Miguel (I know, that’s a random mix, but trust me!)

Follow OWENN for more music and tour updates, and tune into his new song below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Beach Fossils

Photo by Sinna Nasseri

This week’s artist of the week goes to a long-time favorite of ANCHR’s; Beach Fossils, in honor of their new album Bunny.

Released just last week on June 2nd, Beach Fossils’ fourth studio album follows up 2017’s Somersault. The band’s lineup currently consists of vocalist and songwriter Dustin Payseur alongside Tommy Davidson on guitar, Jack Doyle Smith on bass, and Anton Hochheim on drums. Payseur has been releasing music with Beach Fossils since 2009, and their latest release acts as a culmination of their previous works met with a refined lens. Bunny’s opening track “Sleeping On My Own” has the dreamy, epic feeling of a song from a 1980’s coming-of-age film—picture it playing as the main character experiences a pivotal moment. The second track “Run To The Moon” introduces a twangy, western sound and feels like the perfect road trip track. The twangy vibes weave in and out throughout some of the other songs, but as we get further into the album, listeners can also hear some psychedelic rock influences on “(Just Like The) Setting Sun.”

Payseur produced and recorded Bunny himself, and has stated the record was inspired by the psych-pop of early Verve and Spiritualized albums and perennial influences like The Cure, Wire, The Byrds, and The Velvet Underground. Talking about the songwriting structure of these news songs, Payseur adds, “When I wrote the first record, there were no choruses; it was instrumental guitar parts in between verses. This is the first record where I’ve consciously thought about writing a chorus.” Lyrically, the album examines some of his most personal experiences, including a family member’s battle with cancer and the journey into fatherhood.

Tune into Bunny here, and watch the video for “Don’t Fade Away” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: TOMI

Photo by Julie Pacino

This week’s artist of the week goes to the singer-songwriter and producer TOMI.

The project of musician Pam Autuori, TOMI was born after Autuori had been scammed by other “music producers” while in a band in NYC and decided she needed to take creative control over her music career (with the stage name being inspired by her dead pet lizard named Tommy). TOMI had moved to NYC to start playing music, originally hailing from the suburbs in Connecticut. Thank gosh she decided to take matters into her own hands with her music because only two weeks after posting her debut single “Carry You” to Soundcloud in 2017, TOMI had signed a record deal with RCA records.

Since then, TOMI has released several singles and a couple of EPs that all explore different tones and sonic landscapes, but one aspect of her music that remains constant is her stunning vocal abilities. Whether it’s the flawless falsetto displayed on the track “Stay” or the multi-layered harmonies on “If I Wasn’t Yours, Who Was I,” there’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks quality to TOMI’s voice. If you’re a fan of Gordi, Overcoats, and Kyla La Grange, you should add TOMI to your playlists.

Most recently (as in just today), TOMI dropped the debut single “If You Tried" from the upcoming debut album Late Bloomer, due out this August. Autuori came out at the age of twelve, and she has attributed the songs on her forthcoming record as exploring “coming out, growing up, and the growing and acceptance pains that come with both.”

This album also sees TOMI going back to the creative helm, as this record will be an independent release. Speaking of independence, the theme of the new single "If You Tried" explores the feelings of a tedious and drawn-out breakup, and the realization of an ex-partner who never put in effort (we’ve all been there!)

Tune into the new track below, and see where you can catch TOMI on tour this year here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Nova Twins

This week’s ANCHR’s Artist of the Week goes to Nova Twins.

Photo by jamie Walters

Today’s feature stems from one of my favorite modes of discovery; the “in the wild” find. I first heard Nova Twins just this month when they joined MUNA as the support act on their tour. Their performance was packed with massive energy, deafening guitar riffs and cheeky commentary that instantly made me a fan of theirs.

Nova Twins is a London-based duo composed of vocalist and guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South. The pair have been friends since childhood and played in other bands with each other, but the project of Nova Twins began in 2014. Since then, Love and South have released a few EPS, several singles and two full-length albums entitled Who Are The Girls? and Supernova.

The sound of Nova Twins is uniquely distinct— they seamlessly blend the heaviness and grit of punk and metal with the cadence and cleverness of rap lyrics. For example, “Cleopatra” from their 2022 album Supernova has a distorted, bass-heavy intro and lyrics that say “I’m the type of girl who likes taking the lead/I don’t give a fuck what they say about me” and “I’m a samurai, samurai, samurai dancer/warrior, warrior, warrior fighter.” While they have an exciting style that sets them apart, Love and South’s stage presence also exudes an affable nature that has a universal appeal.

Because of their trailblazing sound, I won’t even give you a “recommended if you like” band for the Nova Twins, but trust me they are worth a listen and worth seeing perform. See where you can catch one of their gigs here, and watch the video for “Choose Your Fighter” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Aquadolls

This week’s artist of the week goes to The Aquadolls, a trio composed of Melissa Brooks, Keilah Nina and Jacqueline Proctor.

Brooks initially formed The Aquadolls ten years ago, and the project started as a way for her to have a creative outlet to escape the angst she felt from being bullied in high school. Brooks remains the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter for the group, but she actually released an EP and the project’s debut album Stoked on You in 2013 before she was joined by Nina and Proctor.

In 2018, the trio released the sophomore full-length album for The Aquadolls, entitled The Dream and Deception, which features a whopping 19 tracks. In 2020, the band even put out a remix version of the record, featuring 8 remixes. Outside of the albums, The Aquadolls have put out a handful of singles and EPs, including their 2020 cover version of the iconic “Take Me Away”—which you may originally know from the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis version of “Freaky Friday.”

A lot of The Aquadoll’s earlier material has a sound that I would describe as bedroom surf rock— it’s dreamy and hazy lo-fi rolled into cheeky beach vibes. Their newest single “Burn Baby Burn,” which came out just this past month, has an edgier and more amplified sound that’s reminiscent of The Donnas or The Runaways. This track acts as the third single from The Aqualdoll’s upcoming third record Charmed, due out June 2nd, and it follows the pattern on a more intense sound for the band.

In celebration of the new music, The Aquadolls are hitting the road for a headline tour, including a stop in Chicago on Friday, May 19th at The Subterranean. Check out all of the upcoming tour dates here, and watch the video for “Burn Baby Burn” below.

ANCHR'S Artist of the Week: Alice Phoebe Lou

This week’s artist of the week goes to Alice Phoebe Lou, a singer-songwriter hailing from South Africa but now based in Berlin.

Photo by Andrea Arie

Lou started performing at the age of 18, and over the span of her career, she has released four albums. Her first album Orbit was released in 2016, with her sophomore not following up until 2019, entitled Paper Castles. While fans waited a few years for the second record, they didn’t have to wait long for the third and fourth albums—both of which were released in 2021 and titled Glow and Child’s Play respectively.

My first listen of Alice Phoebe Lou didn’t happen until this year (I know, I’m late to the party!) when she released the single “Shelter” from a forthcoming album in March. The song lured me in with its breezy, easygoing melody that melds beautifully with Lou’s celestial vocals— it makes for the the perfect summer vacation soundtrack by conjuring sunny beach-day vibes. “Shelter” contrasts with Lou’s most recent single called “Open My Door,” which was just released last week. This track abruptly cuts to Lou singing the phrase “I used to open my door” as a jazzy piano melody kicks in on the second beat. In this second single, listeners get to experience a richer, velvety texture from Alice Phoebe Lou.

Much of Lou’s earlier catalog, like the 2020 single “Witches” or the 2021 album’s title track “Glow,” have a distinct yet versatile sound that I’d describe as mythically quirky. With Lou’s newer material, there’s still a sense of her unique artistry in the music, but there’s also a sense of maturity and exploring new territory.

If you’re a fan of Faye Webster, La Luz, and Hand Habits, you should add Alice Phoebe Lou to your playlists, and be sure to catch her on the road soon. She’ll be performing at Thalia Hall on May 13th if you’re in Chicago.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Blaze

Oui! Oui! Croissant!  The ANCHR Artist of the Week this week is The Blaze, and since they are French, I thought I would greet all of our French speaking readers in their native tongue. The Blaze is a duo of Parisian electronic musicians and music video creators, who also happen to be cousins.  Guillaume Alric and Jonathan Alric blessed the world with their partnership for the first time when Jonathan was in film school and asked Guillaume to help him out with a music video soundtrack he was making.  Now, they make the smoothest sounding ambient EDM your ears crave.

The Blaze aren’t exactly “new”.  Their first album, DANCEHALL, came out in 2018 and was ridden with bops, but their latest album, JUNGLE, is so hot, I didn’t want to keep them to myself and wanted other people to see if they dig them as well.  When I first started collecting records, one of the first albums I put on my list was DANCEHALL.  Songs like “Heaven”, “She”, and “Faces” are impossible to not move to.  I actually dare anyone reading this to put on “She” from The Blaze and try not to move.  It’s impossible.  JUNGLE, however, is forty five minutes of incredible music. I can’t wait until I get this album.

JUNGLE is a “no skips” for me. Tracks one through ten all hit.  I particularly like “Lonely”.  I feel like if Daft Pank were still active in 2023, they would have made something like this. Thankfully though, we have The Blaze to create this song and make it even better with such lovely singing and lyrics. Some people may be able to relate, but there’s times where I don’t want to do anything except be by myself.  “I’d rather be lonely. Just to be lonely” spoke to me. I have yet to go to France, but listening to this song, makes me think of what going to a club in Paris would be like.   

The first time I saw them live was at Concord Music Hall in Chicago in 2018 shortly after they released DANCEHALL.  I went into the show really liking the album but left liking it even more after seeing them perform the songs.  It turned into a dance party midway through the show.  If anyone’s music that they’ve been exhausting has gotten stale, The Blaze would be a great band to mix it up with.  If any millennials are reading this that had a Sega Genesis, I feel like their music would be in that Ecco the Dolphin video game.  IYKYK.   

They presently don’t have any Chicago dates on their tour, but I’m hoping something will be announced soon.  In the meantime, they’ll be at Coachella this weekend for any of my festies heading out to the desert this year and for anyone who streams Coachella that may want to check them out.   See all of their tour dates here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Disq

Photo by Daniel Topete

This week’s artist of the week goes to Disq.

Composed of Isaac deBroux-Slone, Raina Bock, Logan Severson, Shannon Conor, and Stu Manley, the Wisconsin-based musicians have been making music together since 2016, but Bock and deBroux-Slone have been friends since middle school. Disq’s discography includes two full-length records, 2020’s Collector and 2022’s Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet. Across both of the albums, Disq’s expansive soundscape refuses to be pigeonholed into one specific genre, but I pick up on elements of garage rock, 90’s Britpop, and psych rock. You know how some bands just have that distinct sound that you immediately recognize one of their songs when it comes on? Well, Disq isn’t one of those bands—they constantly surprise me as I listen to their material. If you’re a fan of Post Animal, Dehd, or Wednesday, I’d suggest giving Disq a spin as well.

Disq’s smorgasbord of musical influences likely stems from their unique formation and collaborative nature—on their sophomore album that was just released this past October via Saddle Creek records, Logan Severson and Shannon Conor branched out from their roles of guitarist to share songwriting and singing duties with deBroux-Slone and Bock. The album included singles like “If Only” and “The Hardest Part,” the former of which deBroux-Slone describes as being a song to listen to when there’s confusion about someone’s intent in a relationship, and the goal of the song’s sound was to stir up plenty of nostalgia. “The feeling of the song is longing and I thought some of the wistful chords and moods from the plethora of ‘90s and 2000's indie I'd been listening to at the time would fit just right, so I pulled those influences in,” he says. The latter track was one of the contributions from Severson, which he says originated years ago with the riff and melody, before the lyrics finally and suddenly came to him one night. “Because I just let the words come to me, I don’t know exactly what the song is about, but I can feel what the song is about and it holds deep meaning to me. I’m still in the process of understanding what I was trying to tell myself when I wrote it,” he adds.

Disq will be touring this fall with Shame, but if you’re in Chicago and want to catch them sooner, they’ll be at Sleeping Village on April 20th. See all of their tour dates here, and watch the video for “The Hardest Part” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Bodywash

Photo by Kristina Pedersen

This week’s artist of the week goes to Bodywash, the pairing of Montreal musicians Chris Steward and Rosie Long Decter.

Although Steward grew up in London and Long Decter grew up in Toronto, the two met in college back in 2014, and they used their contrasting musical backgrounds to form their own unique creative style. If you’re a fan of Wild Nothing, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, or Slow Pulp, you should make sure to add Bodywash to your rotation.

Bodywash’s sophomore album entitled I Held the Shape While I Could is slated to be released April 14th, as a follow up to the duo’s debut album Comforter and handful of earlier singles. The band has teased the new album so far with the songs “No Repair” and “Massif Central,” which was the lead single. The latter of these two tracks starts off with a quick-paced and hypnotic guitar riff that melds with Steward’s feather-light vocals to create a dreamy oasis. Steward describes the track as “the sound of wailing into a cliff and not knowing if you’ll hear an echo.” The track was written after Steward lost his legal status to work in Canada due to a typo in a government letter. “With the help of friends, family, music, and a few immigration lawyers (and the rest of my savings), I’m now a permanent resident here. But this song remains as testament to my experience with an exploitative institution,” he adds.

The sense of upheaval that Steward felt as a result of his situation, as well as similar alienating experiences in Long Decter’s life, continued to be a common theme for the new record. This theme gave the duo something edgier to explore in the new material when they recorded with drummer Ryan White and recording/mixing engineer Jace Lasek.

You can pre-order I Held the Shape While I Could here, and catch Bodywash on tour this spring. They’ll be playing a Free Monday show at the Empty Bottle this Monday, April 10th if you’re in Chicago.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Murder Capital

Photo by James Kelly

This week’s artist of the week goes to The Murder Capital.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, The Murder Capital consists of members James McGovern, Damien Tuit, Cathal Roper, Gabriel Paschal Blake, and Diarmuid Brennan. The group has a sound that tiptoes the lines between experimental rock, punk and post-punk— if you’re a fan of Shame, Dry Cleaning or Fontaines D.C., then they should definitely be on your radar as well.

The Murder Capital first started playing together back in 2017, but their first recorded release came in 2019 with singles like “Feeling Fades” and “Green & Blue,” which led up to their debut album entitled When I Have Fears. The band actually released this album on their own label called Human Season Records. Most recently, the band put out their sophomore album entitled Gigi’s Recovery, which just dropped in January of this year. The album begins with an atmospheric, slow-burn of a track called “Existence” that starts off with an eerie instrumental as vocalist James McGovern slowly recites the lyrics “Existence fading.” Eventually the introductory track swells into a crescendo that runs right into track 2, “Crying,” which features similar atmospheric, electronic elements that blend into more traditional guitar riffs. This push-and-pull pattern continues throughout the album’s twelve tracks, where certain moments soar to an explosion before being met with a more serene plateau on the other side. The record’s title track really exemplifies this motif, with another gradual build-up that ebbs and flows throughout the course of the song.

In support of Gigi’s Recovery, The Murder Capital is currently on the road in North America, including a stop in Chicago at Lincoln Hall on April 3rd. See all of their tour dates here, and tune into the music video for their single “Return My Head” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Wallice

Photo by Nicole Busch

This week’s artist of the week goes to the LA-based singer-songwriter Wallice Hana Watanabe, better known simply as Wallice.

I had the chance to see Wallice at Thalia Hall last week, when she was touring in support of Jawny. This particular show was sold out like many that I’ve been to at Thalia Hall, but the energy seemed next level that night—and the fans were just as enthusiastic for Wallice as they were for Jawny.

Wallice’s lyricism reads effortlessly cool and honest, and her sound overall gave me hints of nods to Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast and Snail Mail.

In the song “Punching Bag,” which was a single released back in 2020, Wallice describes modern-day reminders of a breakup with lines like “I still got your number saved in my phone, I only every think of it when I’m alone/ I’ve still got your place saved in my maps, I’ll keep it for a rainy day when I relapse/Left my Hydro Flask in the back of your car, I’d like to have it back, but you live so far,” showing off her clever ability to take a timeless subject and add a refreshing spin to it. I also have a personal affinity to her song “Hey Michael” (which starts the chorus with lines “Hey Michael, you American psycho”) because I too, have had a less-than-positive experience with someone named Michael.

Wallice has been playing music since the age of six, and she’s said she’s inspired by “the lyricism of Thom Yorke, Lana Del Rey and the punky irreverence of Weezer and No Doubt,” which definitely comes across in her work. Creative and witty lyrics aside, Wallice put on a great live show that featured the perfect mix of banter, while letting the music do most of the talking.

She has yet to release a full-length album, but Wallice has released a couple of EPs and several singles, including her most recent, “Japan.” Talking about the backstory of this single, Wallice says, “My father was born and raised in Tokyo and lived there until he was 27, and my mother lived there for a couple years in the 90s, so Japanese culture has heavily influenced my identity. I don’t know my father’s family in Japan at all. I’ve only met them once when I was little at my grandfather’s funeral, and since then my grandmother has passed. Recently my mother moved across the country from California to Georgia which has left me without that familial sense of home. This song explores where home is and why I am so drawn to Japan.”

Tune into the video for Japan below, and keep up with Wallice on Instagram and Tik Tok.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Joseph

Photo by Shervin Lainez

This week’s artist of the week goes to one of ANCHR’s long-time favorites, Joseph.

Joseph is a trio of sisters, composed of Natalie Closner Schepman, and twins Allison Closner and Meegan Closner. Hailing from Oregon, their mellow folk melodies and goosebump-inducing harmonies make for the perfect soundtrack to the breathtaking aesthetic of the Pacific Northwest. While their sound almost embodies the feel of their native region, I’m very glad Joseph’s music has spread far and wide, as it also has a timeless appeal to it.

Just last month, Joseph announced their newest project—their fourth studio album entitled The Sun, which follows up 2019’s Good Luck, Kid. Along with the album announcement, Joseph shared the record’s lead single “Nervous System.” The anthemic new song has a weighted confidence to it, boldly marking the band’s return since their prior EP entitled “Trio Sessions (Vol. 2),” which was a collection of stripped-back versions of their music released in 2021. “Nervous System” details the relatable struggle with anxiety and the importance of self-care and compassion during those struggles with lyrics like “no it’s not selfish if you save yourself” and “hold yourself, say you’re okay/say your’re the one who keeps you safe.” Talking more about the song, Allison says, “I’ve struggled with a lot of anxiety over the years, at times a constant inner storm, and it’s been easy to look outside myself to feel safe and secure. I’ve fought to find my inner peace, and through that process I’ve found that so much of the time I already have what it takes to calm my nervous system.”

Just from this first peek into The Sun, I can’t wait to hear what else Joseph has in store for us in this new wave of music. The album will be out on April 28, and the sisters collaborated with different producers like Tucker Martine and Christian “Leggy” Langdon to bring a fresh perspective to their work.

Joseph will be on the road this year in honor of the new music, including a stop at Thalia Hall in Chicago on July 1st. See all of their tour dates here, and watch the video for “Nervous System” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Games We Play

Here at ANCHR, we love an “in the wild” artist of the week discovery, and that’s exactly what happened with this week’s featured artist!

I was blessed enough to catch Fall Out Boy at their special show at Metro back in January, and even luckier to discover Games We Play during the opening set. Obviously this show was nostalgic for me because I had FOB CDs (yes, actual CDs) playing in my Walkman CD player between classes in high school, but I wasn’t expecting the support act to also elicit that sense of nostalgia. However, that’s exactly what Games We Play, the moniker for pop-punk artist Emmyn Calleiro, did.

If you’re a Millennial like me, think back to the deep cuts of your pop-punk playlists, or mixtapes in some cases. I’m thinking along the lines of Mayday Parade, The Audition, and Cute Is What We Aim For. Games We Play’s sound has nods to those quintessential artists of our youth while also punching in a refreshing pep in our step, like the sparkling gleam of a new era. Calleiro’s goofy stage presence during the band’s live show perfectly complemented the witty and quippy lyrics of songs like “I Hope You’re Happy,” “Deadbeat,” and “Hey Ben.” Take the chorus of the latter of those examples, where Calleiro sings “Hey Ben, I’m sorry, but I might have slept with your girlfriend/I was under the impression she was my girlfriend/Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”

In my short time of becoming a fan of Games We Play, it comes as no surprise why Pete Wentz has signed him to DCD2 Records, alongside Fueled By Ramen Records. If that’s not enough to convince you, tune into the “Get A Job” EP, and see where you can catch Games We Play on tour to get the full experience!

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Julia Wolf

This week’s artist of the week goes to Julia Wolf.

Good Thing We Stayed summed up in a mood-board!

A singer-songwriter based in Queens, NY, Wolf crafts an extremely unique soundscape by fusing together elements of alt-pop, electronic, and hip-hop to express her narratives. If you’re a fan of K.Flay, renforshort, or Kiiara, then run to add Julia Wolf to your playlists.

Most recently, Wolf dropped her debut album entitled Good Thing We Stayed on Friday, January 13th of this year, which is fitting because with song titles like “Dracula” and “Hot Killer” there’s definitely some spooky nods on the record. To further expand about that theme, Wolf has said that her mood-board for Good Thing We Stayed is infused with her obsession for horror films, Jack Skellington of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the dark suburban streets of New York City where she was raised.

Just as much as Wolf’s fascination with horror presents on the record, her lyrics ooze with nostalgia and biographical content. “The woods back in my hometown and Friday night Blockbuster countdowns,” she sings in “Gothic Babe Tendencies,” a single that also features blackbear. We also get a “the floor was lava” reference in “Virginity,” in which Wolf poetically describes her first time, a nod that’s equally as nostalgic as Blockbuster. While there’s no shortage of those light-hearted, childhood callbacks and Wolf delivers plenty of her lyrics with a cheeky flourish, Wolf artfully contrasts that playfulness with a transparent lens peering into some of her most personal memories. “This album is a collection of memories that have left heavy marks on my life,” Wolf says, and as a listener, I can’t help but be in awe of the amazing balance between hearing a catchy song and being blown away by the vulnerability in the writing every time I listen to these songs.

Once you’ve had your fair share of her debut record, make sure to check out Julia Wolf’s earlier singles and her 2021 EP Girls In Purgatory for more of her incredible work. She’ll also be touring this year, including a stop at Schubas here in Chicago on February 20th. See all of Julia Wolf’s upcoming tour dates here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Cheekface

Photo by Miriam Brummel

Everyone has heard the saying “When life hands you problems, make problemade,” right?  Well, we can thank southern California trio Cheekface for that life quote. Cheekface is a fun and amusing threesome composed of Mark Edwards, Greg Katz, and Amanda Tannen. Presently, they have 3 albums under their belt, with their most recent, Too Much to Ask, just being released this past summer.  A couple of weeks before the album was released, the band sent out postcards announcing the new album and release date, but mine must’ve gotten lost in the mail because it was a delightful surprise to me when my Spotify told me there was new Cheekface out. 

Cheekface, personally, sounds like if Cake, Gustaf, and Mitch Hedberg had a love triangle that birthed a musical, lyrical, and jocular progeny.  Cheekface's songs are a cocktail of jokes, fun, wit, and melody that touch on subjects ranging from politics to instances when life just kicks you in the nads. 

I haven’t gotten the chance to see them live yet, but I’m hoping the stars align so that I can attend their TNK Fest show at Lincoln Hall on January 19.  Cheekface will be treating the Chicago audience to special edition merch and they will even be playing their Too Much to Ask album front to back. You can grab your tickets to catch their show in Chicago tomorrow here, and follow them for more updates.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Grapetooth

Photo by Alex Hupp

This week’s ANCHR Artist of the Week goes to another Chicago group— Grapetooth!

The duo of Twin Peak’s Clay Frankel and Chris Bailoni (Home-Sick) made a splash with Grapetooth’s debut single “Trouble” that released in the summer of 2018. It’s one of those ear-wormy songs with a hook that will latch onto your brain and remain there for hours, or possibly days. “Trouble” featured whimsical synths and an air of giddiness alongside its massive hook, characteristics that rang throughout the majority of Grapetooth’s self-titled debut record, which was released later in 2018. Bailoni and Frankel’s artful blend of New Wave influences and blissful dance beats crafted the perfect recipe for their rowdy and effervescent live performances. Off the back of their album’s release, Grapetooth performed sold out shows across the US and even play at Pitchfork Fest in 2019.

Every time I saw them perform there was an unwavering sense of joy and camaraderie that filled the venue, so it was sad to see Grapetooth take a bit of a hiatus after their bout of success. If you, too, enjoyed Grapetooth’s short-but-sweet stint, then you can rejoice in knowing they’ve made a resurgance at the end of 2022. This past December, Grapetooth released a double single (their first music drop since February 2020) with “Infinite Source,” featuring Knox Fortune, and “Shining,” featuring Squirrel Flower. There’s something slightly refined and subdued about the new material, but at the heart of it, Grapetooth’s wild and youthful nature remains just below the surface. And of course, they’re still just as addictively hooky as before.

Talking about the new track “Infinite Source,” the band says the song captures the “endless well of creativity, gratitude, and positivity that exists within all of us.” “We’re turning that feeling into dance music and feel blessed to have Ella (Squirrel Flower) and Kevin (Knox Fortune) singing on these songs. They’re both so talented and have incredible voices,” they add.

Grapetooth also returned with a live performance at The Empty Bottle on NYE 2022. Be sure to follow them for any additional show or music updates, and tune into the video for “Infinite Source” below.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Friko

The first Artist of the Week for 2023 is Chicago’s own Friko!

Photo by Nando Espinosa Herrera

I had the chance to see Friko when they opened up for Horsegirl at Thalia Hall, and their set that night proved that Chicago really does have the one of (if not the) best music scenes in the world as they mesmerized the audience with their dynamic indie rock style.

The trio composed of Niko Kapetan, Bailey Minzenberger, and Luke Stamos are relatively new to the Chicago scene, but Kapetan and Stamos have been friends since their kindergarten years. The pair officially became Friko when they joined up with Minzenberger during their senior year of high school. Now they’ve already made a big impact locally and released a steady stream of singles— most recently putting out their debut EP entitled “Whenever Forever” in March of 2022. Songs like “Half As Far” and “IN_OUT” captivate listeners by exploring quieter lo-fi moments that contrast against crescendoing guitar riffs.

Friko has also recorded an Audiotree session, featuring live versions of the majority of their aforementioned EP, and they kicked off on their first ever tour at the end of November last year, which ended with a hometown show at the legendary Metro. The band shared their excitement for getting out there and playing more shows by saying, “After spending a lot of time in the studio, we feel like we’ve really come into ourselves as a band and what we have to say, and can’t wait to share that with as many people that are willing to listen.”

Be sure to give Friko a follow to see what they get up to next, and tune into their music video for “IN_OUT” below. Also, if you’re in Chicago, catch them at Schubas on January 28th, along with a bunch of other Chicago bands, for an abortion funds benefit show.