Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away: "Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens

Ciao Bella! In this episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda return to Italy (figuratively) to share their travel tales from their second visit to Italy together. This time, they journeyed to Milan and surrounding areas of Lake Como and Crema, where one of Rachel’s favorite films Call Me By Your Name was filmed. Naturally, this episode’s namesake is one of the original songs for the movie’s soundtrack by Sufjan Stevens. In addition to their trip highlights, the duo also shares more advice about traveling around Europe. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: IBEYI

Photo by Melody Berkery

This week’s Artist of the Week goes to Ibeyi, a French duo composed of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz.

The Diaz sisters have woven in multiple languages into their songwriting, including English, French, Spanish and Yoruba—so it’s fitting that their band name means “twins” in Yoruba. I was first introduced to the duo with their single “River",” which was included both on their 2014 “Oya” EP and their 2015 self-titled album. The track includes a hypnotic percussive beat and spotlights the twins’ silky harmonies.

The entirety of Ibeyi’s catalog contains unique features and a variety of textures, meaning they are always keeping listeners on our toes. Besides highlighting their multilingual lyrics, the Diaz sisters weave in elements of R&B, Afro-Cuban, electronic and experimental influences. The pair currently live and have spent most of their life in Paris, but they also lived in Havana for their first couple fo years, as their dad was a Grammy-winning Cuban percussionist. With their mom also being French-Venezuelan singer Maya Dagnino, it’s obvious that music and creativity run in their blood, and their upbringing certainly shapes the characteristics of their sound.

If you’re a fan of FKA Twigs, Perfume Genius, and James Blake, you should immediately add Ibeyi to your musical rotations. In addition to their self-titled debut album, Ibeyi has put out 2017’s Ash and 2022’s Spell 31, which contains collaborations with Jorja Smith, BERWYN, and Pa Salieu. Make sure to also catch Ibeyi on the road this year, including a stop at Thalia Hall on March 19th.

Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away: "Final Girl" by CHVRCHES

Final Girl (n): The last girl or woman alive to confront the killer, ostensibly the one left to tell the story. For example, the badass Sidney Prescott from the Scream franchise. In this spooky-themed episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda seek inspiration from CHVRCHES’ song “Final Girl” to discuss all things associated with Spooky Season– including witchey practices, their “ESPN” skills, ghost stories, and Rachel’s visit to Salem, MA. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation.

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

This week’s artist of the week goes to Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, AKA Pigsx7 (and also, probably the longest band name ever).

Photo by Ania Shrimpton

Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England and composed of Matt Baty, Sam Grant, Adam Ian Sykes, John-Michael Joseph Hedley, and Ewan Mackenzie, Pigsx7 has a sound that’s impossible to ignore— as in their music packs such a punch that it’d probably be detrimental to your hearing if you went to one of their shows without ear plugs. All jokes aside, Pigs entrances their listeners with a cathartic cacophony that combines the heaviness of metal music with the fuzziness of psych and garage rock.

The band’s booming presence has continued to grow throughout their discography, especially on their most recent album Land Of Sleeper, which was released this past February. Talking about writing for this new record, vocalist Matt Baty says, “Shouting about themes of existential dread comes very naturally to me, and I think because I'm aware of that in the past I've tried to rein that in a little. There's definitely moments on this album where I took my gloves off and surrendered to that urge." 

The push-and-pull tension presents itself when listening to the album on a track like “The Weatherman,” which has a slow, ominous build up that leads into an eventual explosion. This track also has a collaboration with Bonnacons Of Doom vocalist Kate Smith and a choir including Richard Dawson and Sally Pilikington, which further adds to its massive and multi-dimensional sound. The slower moments on Land Of Sleeper also artfully contrast with the urgency felt immediately on tracks like “Mr Medicine” and “Ultimate Hammer.”

If you’re in need of music that will amplify your soul, make sure you throw Pigs on your listening rotation, and if you’re in Chicago you can catch them playing Sleeping Village on March 28th. See the rest of the tour dates here, and don’t forget your hearing protection!

Podcast Post: ANCHRS AWAY: "SOS" by ABBA

Today’s episode of ANCHRS Away is a very special one, because across-the-pond hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda recorded this episode together IN PERSON! The great ABBA soundtracked the majority of Amnesty and Rachel’s bucket list trip to Greece in August of 2022, and on their “final night” (the flight home the next day ended up getting canceled) in Santorini, the pair share their highlights and top tips for their week across Mykonos, Ios and Santorini. This vacation was truly once in a lifetime, so definitely add Greece to your travel plans ASAP. This week’s Wreck-ommendation even highlights one of the locals that Amnesty and Rachel encountered during the trip. Check out our 'Wreck-ommendations' Playlist On Spotify Check out Future Titles Here!

ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Fenne Lily

Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney

This week’s artist of the week goes to Fenne Lily, a singer-songwriter hailing from Bristol, UK.

The first time I heard one of Fenne Lily’s songs, I was both taken aback by her gentle, ethereal vocals and instantly comforted by the sense of coziness that’s threaded throughout her melodies.

Fenne Lily started playing some major UK festivals in 2016, including the BBC Music Introducing stage at T in the Park, which is a Scottish festival I was lucky enough to attend once. From there, Fenne Lily released her debut album entitled On Hold in 2018, and she has continued to deliver more music. Her sophomore album, BREACH, came out in 2020, and Lily recently announced her third album Big Picture will be released on April 14th.

Ahead of the album release, Fenne Lily listeners have been blessed with two singles; “Dawncolored Horse” and “Lights Light Up.” The second single to be released, “Dawncolored Horse,” is inspired by the Richard Brautigan poem “The Horse That Had A Flat Tire.” Lily details the inspiration saying, “[Brautigan] talks about the woman he loves as being a ‘breathing castle.’ I truly don’t know what that means, but for me he’s distilled a feeling of absolute closeness. When you know someone so well it feels like you’re almost living inside them. That can be claustrophobic, but before it’s too much, it’s incredible.”

The entirety of Big Picture was tracked live in Brad Cook’s North Carolina recording studio, and Cook co-produced the record. Just based on the glimpse of the album through these two singles, I can feel the life that Fenne Lily and her bandmates breathed into these songs during the recording process, and I know we’re in for something special. Lily further describes the album and its juxtaposition between theme and tone, adding, “These songs explore worry and doubt and letting go, but those themes are framed brightly.”

In honor of the new music, Fenne Lily will also be hitting the road this spring/summer. Be sure to catch her May 25th at Thalia Hall if you’re in Chicago, and see the rest of her tour dates here.

Podcast Post: "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion

The songs that soundtrack our favorite movies can easily make or break a movie scene, and dictate the emotions we feel from those said scenes. In this week's episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda follow up on the premise of the "Running Up That Hill" episode, only this time focusing on movie scores rather than TV show soundtracks. As Titanic is Rachel's all-time favorite movie and just celebrated its 25th anniversary, this episode is aptly named after the iconic song from the film's soundtrack.

As always, they wrap up with sharing their weekly Wreck-ommendation. Check out our 'Wreck-ommendations' Playlist On Spotify Check out Future Titles Here!

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.

Podcast Post: "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush

In 2022, Max Mayfield of Stranger Things rejuvenated the world's love for the epic song "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush. In this episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda use the song as inspiration to discuss the songs that would save them from Vecna's grip, music rights in TV shows and movies, and the legacy older songs can carry into new generations. They also dive into some of their favorite TV show soundtracks throughout the year, including Gossip Girl and Grey's Anatomy.  As always, they wrap up with sharing their weekly Wreck-ommendation.

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: 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.

Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away: "Heathrow" by Catfish and the Bottlemen

“Jack! This is where we first met”- We all likely know this legendary line uttered by Rose in Titanic. Well, in this episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda picked a song by Catfish and The Bottlemen named after the airport that they first met in London 2012. The pair talk about their experiences leaving home and moving to a foreign country for an entire year, and how Amnesty has now made that country her permanent home. They share the music and moments that got them through the homesick periods, and the songs that soundtracked some of their treks outside of London. Rachel also happens to have the lyric “Heathrow” tattooed on her, so she and Amnesty even dive into the musical connection to some of their ink. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation.

Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away: "Pompeii" by Bastille

This will come as a complete surprise if you know one of Amnesty and Rachel’s favourite bands (Rachel's FAVOURITE band, EVER), but this week’s episode of ANCHR’s Away centers around the sensational “Pompeii'' by Bastille. (That was NOT sarcasm). In this episode, we use the track to reminisce about our first trip to Italy in our early 20s. Naturally, the trip also taught them plenty of valuable lessons they passed on alongside their travel stories. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendations.

Note from Amnesty and Rachel of the future: Heads up, we originally planned to release “Pompeii” a few weeks later, but we’ve bumped up the release to coincide with the 10 year anniversary of the song. Hang tight for the future episodes mentioned in this episode- they’ll be coming soon!

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.

Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away: "What's My Age Again?"

Nobody likes you when you’re 23, but when you’re 33, even your own body doesn’t like you! In this episode of ANCHRS Away, hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda discuss the struggles and the joys of aging–which includes needing to sit during concerts now that they’re both in their 30s. They also dive into society’s expectations of certain life milestones at set ages, and share advice on how to maneuver life at your own pace. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation.

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.

Podcast Post: ANCHRS Away- "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles

For our second episode of ANCHRS Away, we talk about the ever-evolving music business and the technology associated with it. We all know that video may have killed the radio star, but will streaming gigs ever kill the popularity of in-person shows? Hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda reminisce on surviving covid-times by revisiting old concert videos, yet needing that sense of community that a live event brings out. We also discuss new ways that artists are able to connect to fans thanks to new social media and channels of communication. As always, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation.

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.

Podcast Announcement: ANCHRS Away

Big news ANCHR Mag fam! ANCHR founder Rachel Zyzda and her across-the-pond best friend Amnesty Coldwell have officially launched a podcast called ANCHRS Away. The premise is that each week, the co-hosts pick a song title and discuss topics related to that song title. For example, the inaugural episode is none-other than “Like a Virgin” by Madonna. Tune into the debut episode below.

Do you remember your first time? Not THAT first time…your first concert! Join ANCHRS Away as we pop our podcasting cherry and take a stroll on memory lane, revisiting the formative moments of our childhood that led us to become such big music fans. Hosts Amnesty Coldwell and Rachel Zyzda start off by reminiscing on their first meeting in London, England and then share tales about their first concert, their first musical crushes, and more. There might even be a story or two about Michael Bolton and Ryan Cabrera, who are infamous for their iconic hairstyles. And of course, we revisit our emo years, which were not just a phase, mom! Lastly, we wrap up with our weekly Wreck-ommendation.