Inspired by artists like Andrienne Lenker and Pinegrove, New York based indie-folk artist Coco Smith has been surrounded by music their whole life. On July 10th, the singer released their sophomore album, You Won’t Get my Message but You’ll Hear It. We spoke with Smith about their creative process, their love for Pinegrove, and much more.

In our latest artist profile, we feature experimental indie rock/folk act Lesbiana. Her contribution to our compilation daylight x darknight is a personal and powerful “stream-of-consciousness song” written in high school. In our “Get to know” article, we discuss influences, processing emotions through songwriting, strange comparisons, and synth folk.

Chicago’s Wide Orbit shares their new live music video for “What’s the Point.” The song is off the band’s debut album Introducing... Wide Orbit and explores the beauty in simplicity. Watch it now!

Hannah Frey's second full-length album Lucky Girl is a heartfelt tribute to her life-changing move to Chicago in 2021. She found a thriving, supportive indie music community there that influenced her artistry. Recorded live with her band, the album captures the joy of collaboration and the magic of a city that promotes creativity. Frey draws inspiration from strong female songwriters, blending introspective lyrics with a communal spirit. Learn more about Hannah Frey as we discuss recording highlights, vulnerability in songwriting, the records that shaped her musical taste and more.

Italy’s Flame Parade made their U.S. debut at New Colossus Festival last month. Their diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from classical training to emo bands, fuels their sonic experimentation. We spoke with Flame Parade about music’s power to connect, their songwriting process, and the energy of live performance.