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: 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: 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: 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: Otoboke Beaver

Photo by Mayumi Hirata

You know those bands that you just know by looking at them that you’re in for a treat? Well upon my first listen of Otoboke Beaver, I was able to confirm my hunch that they rock just as hard as I’d suspected at first glance.

Otoboke Beaver has earned this week’s artist of the week title thanks to their fun and playful spin on Riot grrrl/punk influences. Their sound is like if Bikini Kill, CHAI and The Linda Lindas had a lovechild.

Formed in 2009 in Kyoto, Japan, the four-piece group is composed of Accorinrin (Lead Vocal & Guitar), Yoyoyoshie (Guitar & Vocals), Hirochan (Bass & Vocals) and Kahokiss (Drums & Vocals). The band members all met at their university’s music club, and their band name stems from a local “love hotel” (wink wink).

Since their inception, Otoboke Beaver has released several EPs and three albums, the most recent being Super Champon, which was just released in May 2022. The newest record is a whopping 18 tracks long, but it speeds by in under 22 minutes, thanks to fast-paced and fleeting nature of the songs. The majority of the songs are under 2 minutes, but some are as brief as 12 seconds-long! The journey through these tracks with humorous titles like “Dirty old fart is waiting for my reaction” and “Do you want me to send a DM” flies by in such a flash, it’s a challenge not to get whiplash.

Based on the intensity of their records, I just know Otoboke Beaver will put on a phenomenal live show, but don’t just take my word for it! The legendary Dave Grohl has described their performances as “It’s the most fucking intense shit you’ve ever seen.” To experience the whirlwind for yourself, be sure the catch the band on tour this year. They’ll be a SXSW festival, and stopping in Chicago for a show at Thalia Hall on February 26th. See all of the tour dates here, and warm up for one of their gigs by catching their KEXP set 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.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: The Orielles

This week’s artist of the week goes to The Orielles!

Photo by Neelam Khan Vela

Hailing from Halifax, England, The Orielles are composed of Esmé Dee Hand Halford on the bass and vocals, Sid Dee Hand Halford on drums and vocals, Henry Carlyle Wade on guitar, and Alex Stephens on keys. The group’s Spotify bio describes them as “Post-Disco Punk” and I have to say that’s a pretty spot on description of their dreamy, atmospheric anthems. The Orielles achieve their eccentric sound by mixing hypnotic synths with distorted guitar riffs and emotive melodies.

Most recently, the band released an EP this month of remixes of their fourth album Tableau. The remixes featured collaborations from Manchester/Berlin duo Space Afrika, London based DJ/producer Shy One and Edinburgh based producer Eyes of Others. The album Tableau was just released in October 2022 and it was self-produced in partnership with producer Joel Anthony Patchett. The record features singles like “The Room” and “Beam/s,” the latter of which Space Afrika remixed on the EP. Space Afrika says they really loved the vocals on this track, adding, “In our world it makes less sense to take away from that. We approached it as, if this was our song how would we write it. It’s in line with our energy and sound and makes sense as continuation.”

To date Tableau definitely feels the most experimental and boundary-pushing of The Orielles’ catalog, but don’t be afraid to dive into their entire discography. Since releasing their debut full length Silver Dollar Moment in 2018, the band has consistently delivered with albums released in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

If you like what you hear— and you’re bound to like something in The Orielles’ diverse soundscape— make sure to catch the group live on tour next year. They have several upcoming shows on their website and will also be featured as an official showcasing artist at SXSW 2023.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Automatic

This week’s artist of the week goes to Automatic, the trio from LA composed of Izzy Glaudini (synths, lead vocals), Lola Dompé (drums, vocals) and Halle Saxon-Gaines (bass).

Photo by Dana Trippe

Automatic released their sophomore record Excess during the summer of 2022, which includes singles like “Skyscraper” and “New Beginning.” When writing the new album, the band began by imagining the time between the 70’s and 80’s that they describe as “that fleeting moment when what was once cool quickly turned and became mainstream all for the sake of consumerism” and reframing it through a modern-day lens. The end result is a glossy blend of cheeky punk, dreamy psychedelia, and hazy pop that encompasses themes of alienation and escapism.

The bandmates collaborated on the songs together before moving on to work in the studio with producer Joo Joo Ashworth. Many of the songs on Excess stemmed from jam sessions, but Saxon-Gaines says that these newer songs didn’t come as easily as their debut record, and that all three band members had to be resilient with trying out new techniques in the studio. Talking about their song “Teen Beat,” Saxon-Gaines says, “To us, the name came to be about Gen Z inheriting the world at the eleventh hour, before they’re even old enough to drink. Before we landed on ‘Teen Beat,’ we affectionately called it ‘Madness’ — the madness you feel with the state of polarization today.” With the song “NRG,” Dompé says it discusses “the unknowingness that comes with testing boundaries and exploring one’s own values while finding your place in the world as an individual.”

Ultimately though, Automatic wants to leave listeners with a sense of hope with the final song on the album “Turn Away.” The band sings “There’s a light in the dark, feel the world open up” in hopes that listeners will “feel empowered to do what they can to save the world, to reject any complacency of watching the world burn,” as Saxon-Gaines says.

See where you can catch the band on tour here, and tune into the video for “Skyscraper” below,

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Moon Kissed

This week’s Artist of the Week goes to Moon Kissed, another incredible band I had the chance to see at this year’s Riot Fest.

Moon Kissed is a trio based in NYC composed of Emily Sgouros on synth, Leah Scarpati on drums, and Khaya Cohen on vocals. The band has strived to make their shows an atmosphere where “anyone is free to be themselves, gender isn’t real, and the person you’re dancing next to is your best friend but also could be your next makeout partner.” Their set that I caught at Riot Fest definitely had an intense yet free-spirited vibe to it that was both inspiring and mesmerizing, and it stuck with me as one of the best performances of the weekend.

To date, Moon Kissed has released two full-length albums, including 2019’s I Met My Band At A New Years Party and 2021’s follow up called I’d Like to Tell You Something Important. If you couldn’t guess by the debut album title, Sgouros and Cohen happened to meet Scarpati at a New Years Eve Party, and since that moment, the rest is history—the trio has continued to tour, write music, produce music videos and sell out shows at iconic NYC venues. The band has said that the sophomore record showcases some of their most collaborative writing yet, since Cohen had actually written a majority of the songs on the first record before they all met and banded together. “I think it’s really special that we help bring things to the table and just really zoom out and see them as a work of art or a song and just be excited about them no matter who wrote them,” Cohen says about Moon Kissed’s creative partnership.

The second album highlights Moon Kissed’s limitless range and exploratory creativity throughout its 12 tracks. The introductory song “Bubblegum” has a bouncy, sweet introduction but explodes with a crescendoing chorus, and “Dance” fades in with a hypnotic beat and atmospheric vocals that describe the feeling of unrequited or lost love. Then there’s also “Saturday Night” that’s a punchy, synth-drenched dance anthem about tuning out the real world for a night. The spoken-word track “I’ll Ask for It” vividly captures the too-often experience of victim-blaming that women encounter in its short 39 seconds, once again holding up the album’s promise of telling the listeners something important.

Make sure you tune into Moon Kissed’s entire discography, including their 2022 EP “I’m On My Way” and see where you can catch them live here.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Destroy Boys

This week’s ANCHR Artist of the Week goes to Destroy Boys, who I just had the pleasure of seeing perform at Riot Fest earlier this month.

Photo by ASH GELLMAN

Destroy Boys is a trio from Northern California, consisting of Violet Mayugba (guitar/vocals), Alexia Roditis (vocals/guitar), and drummer Narsai Malik. To date, Destroy Boys’ refreshing take on West Coast punk music has seen them selling out shows across the world and garnering nods from none-other than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.

“California punk rock changed my life. It showed me exactly what I want to do and who I want to be,” Violet Mayugba says about the inception and inspiration behind starting the band with Alexia Roditis. From their early days getting inspired by other bands and playing in crowded garage shows, Destroy Boys have now released three full-length albums, including 2021’s Open Mouth, Open Heart. The band released their latest record via Hopeless Records, and through the label, they’ve still been able to maintain and grow their own vision. One key aspect of their vision, which comes across in both their music and the way the run their team, is that representation of everyone matters. “Men have made the rules, and those rules fuck everyone else over. Having more women and nonbinary people behind the scenes, which is where [a lot of] the power is, will hopefully curtail the abuse in the industry,” Roditis said. “It’s important to have women and queer people, people of color, and differently-abled people in all aspects of the music industry, to have that support.”

Open Mouth, Open Heart is chock-full of amped-up gems—take the distorted lead in and drum-heavy intro to “Te llevo conmigo” or the quick-cadenced and candid lyrics to “Muzzle” and it’s difficult not to get riled up listening to the album.

See where you can catch Destroy Boys on the road next here, and tune into the video for “Drink” below.

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ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Renforshort

renforshort is the moniker of Toronto-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lauren Isenberg, who crafts emotive alt-pop/bedroom pop tracks.

Photo by Nathalie Benshmuel

Although she wrote her first song as a young teenager and began singing at open mic nights in addition to releasing covers of songs online, renforshort didn’t release her first official single until 2019’s "Waves.” Nearly immediately after its release, the song drew attention from Geffen Records, and she ended up signing with them. renforshort’s debut EP teenage angst was released via Geffen Records and the seven tracks on it really embrace the bedroom pop feel because there’s such an intimate and vulnerable feel to the storytelling and the songwriting.

Earlier in July, renforshort released her debut full-length LP after following up teenage angst with several additional singles. The debut record called dear amelia features my favorite song from the artist to date, called “moshpit.” The song so vividly illustrates the pain of a toxic relationship by metaphorically relating it to getting beat up in a moshpit. The accompanying songs on the album also see renforshort exploring other mental health struggles, such as depression, disassociation, anxiety, and self-erasure, but she delivers it in a way that listeners can relate and find comfort in the message. Each song is tied together by that common thread, but we also experience an expansive sonic range that takes her artistry to another level. The songs move from the dazzling electronic beat of “we’ll make this ok” (featuring Travis Barker) to the mellow acoustic melody of “let you down” (featuring Jake Bugg) to the stunning piano and vocoder-driven title track “amelia.”

renforshort will be on tour throughout the fall in support of dear amelia— see where you can catch her here, and tune into “moshpit” below.

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ANCHR'S Artist of the Week: The Regrettes

Photo by Lissyelle Laricchia

You know that iconic quote from 10 Things I Hate About You that describes Kat Stratford’s music taste as “angry girl music of the indie rock persuasion”? Well, originally I might think of Bikini Kill or Sleater-Kinney, but nowadays I can pick up tinges of that descriptor with moments of The Regrettes’ catalog. There’s a playful edginess to lead vocalist Lydia Night’s vocal inflections that blends perfectly with their catchy riffs. Take a listen to their popular track “Seashore” or “I Dare You” for a prime example.

The LA-based band consists of Night alongside Genessa Gariano, Brooke Dickson, Drew Thomsen, and they just released their third album Further Joy to follow up their 2017 debut Feel Your Feelings Fool! and their sophomore record How Do You Love? Night describes the title of the new album as a concept I think we can all relate to; that constant drive to obtain happiness against moving goalposts. “We’re obsessed with social media, which makes it easy to obsess over self-growth and unhealthy amounts of productivity. That phrase, ‘further joy,’ summarized what it meant to be on the hamster wheel of constantly chasing happiness, but in turn, that’s what makes you unhappy,” she says. The new songs explore the band’s desire to end that toxic cycle.

The record came together after a year in isolation and shut down, when the band members finally got a break from their consistent touring schedule that kept them playing live music essentially nonstop. The band met up in January of 2021 for a writing retreat in Joshua Tree, where they outlined the album and crafted demos while hiking, stargazing, dancing and having deep conversations. After the retreat, they fleshed out the material over Zoom writing sessions and worked with Jacknife Lee and Tim Pagnotta. The break from touring and the time that the bandmates spent together on the retreat really allowed for The Regrettes to connect more and broaden their sonic horizons with the new tunes. The underlying theme on the record of being present and appreciating the moment is a sentiment that has resonated with so many people throughout the pandemic— which acted as a wake up call in a lot of ways. Night says she hopes listeners take this lesson away after listening to Further Joy; “We all deserve happiness and to be present, and we'll never get there if we feel so much shame and guilt for not being there already.”

If you truly want to live in the moment, make sure you catch The Regrettes when they come to Chicago to play The Metro on May 13th and/or when they return for Lollapalooza in the summer!

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: poutyface

Photo by Javi Perez

When I think of the alt-pop singer songwriter poutyface, I think of an artist marching to the beat of their own drum. Hailing from Southern California, poutyface first began garnering new listeners and fans by creating songs on the app Voisey, when it was still in beta testing in 2019. Since then, poutyface has released a several singles— including “Fboys Anonymous” that starts off with a beat that sounds like a video game soundtrack and “NEVER FUCKIN KNOW” which features poutyface speaking in a storytelling cadence during the verses before launching into her singing in the chorus.

Every song she’s released has its own unique DNA, but like the artists she admires most, all of poutyface’s songs share a common thread of great lyrics. “I’m a massive believer in the importance of pen game,” she says. “All of my big­gest inspirations are incredible lyricists, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Mereba, to name a few. I’m also a huge fan of Doja Cat… I think I’m attracted to music with a lot of soul, but honestly, I listen to every genre and pull inspiration from every angle. And my taste is constantly changing,” she adds.

Most recently, poutyface released her new single called “Cherry Picking,” which is reminiscent of pop punk music of the early aughts, and tells the story about the ups and downs of a toxic relationship. Poutyface talks about the single, saying, “‘Cherry Picking’ is about being used by someone for their own personal validation. I’ve had relationships and friendships where I gave way too much. This song feels like spinning out. It’s about losing your mind trying to keep someone around who isn’t concerned with anyone but themselves… the ones who pick off your energy whenever the fruit looks ripe enough to feed them.”

poutyface is currently on tour with YUNGBLUD, see where you can catch her upcoming shows here, and tune into “Cherry Picking” below.