The Emo/Pop Punk trio Hospital Bracelet has released their debut full-length album South Loop Summer. This is the group that began as the solo project of Eric Christopher that we first wrote about back in August of 2019. Since that time, and the release of their debut split EP, they have added Arya Woody and Manae Hammond to turn her acoustic bedroom sounds into a full blown punk assault.

The album’s lead single, "Sober Haha Jk Unless", was released right at the beginning of 2020 and has seen a huge amount of success over the last year. However, the powerful and emotional lyrics seem more relevant today than they did a year ago. When Christopher cries "any closure/any closure/because it’s been a long year" we can’t help but scream along.

Jennifer Hall is back with a new single called "SFA". This is the first new music from Hall since her 2019 single, "In The Water", and both singles followed up her highly acclaimed 2015 self-titled EP.

"SFA" was co-written by Hall, Noam Wallenberg, and Woody Goss and is accompanied by a Alex Sheyn directed video.

The Lemons have released the first single, "Gummy Worm", from their forthcoming album WLMN. The album, which is due out the Spring via We Are Busy Bodies, will be their first since since 2019’s At Home.

WLMN is a fictional radio station that only broadcasts song by The Lemons. "Gummy Worm" is accompanied by the Jordan Speer’s directed video below.

Rat Tally (aka Addy Harris) has signed with the Richmond, VA label 6131 Records, and has released her first single with them, "Shrug".

According to Harris, "This song is about navigating romantic relationships while struggling with mental health. Sometimes we know we aren’t in the best place to start something, but it can be difficult to separate that idea from the feeling of being undeserving of love because of mental illness."

Ben Astrachan of the duo Berta Bigtoe has released the first single, "Ladakh", from his forthcoming self-titled solo debut album. This jis oyful Indie Folk music that was crafted by Astrachan while studying secular nomadic music in the ancient city of Leh.

The single is accompanied by the Austin Koenigstein directed video below.

Heartcore quartet Splits recently released their sophomore EP, "Vice Versa". This is the first new music from the group since their 2019 debut EP, "They Let Us Go".

This is the work of Taylor Ericson (vocals), Claire Zhang (guitars), Matthew Bactat (bass), and Ethan Urborg (drums).

Mock Nine has released their first single of the new year, a Psych Rock tinged journey called "LavaLamp.mp4". This is the group’s fourth single since the released of their 2020 full-length debut, Leaving Solitude.

This is the work of Tommy Langford, Mac Campbell, Stas Gunkel, and Ben Kremer.

R&B artist Bimi released a series of singles in 2020, and the most recent was called "Too Fast". Last month she released a video for the single via Pink Room Studios. Bimi was born in Nigeria, but relocated to Chicago at a very young age. She has been making music for the last five years, but seems poised for something big in 2021.

Blues guitar master Joanna Connor has released the first single, "I Feel So Good", from her forthcoming 14th album, 4801 South Indiana Avenue. The album, which was produced by Joe Bonamassa, will be released on February 26th via the independent label Keeping The Blues Alive.

The name of the album was also the street address of the legendary South Side club, Theresa’s Lounge. Joanna had this to say about the origin of the inspiration for this album “This album is a homage to the blues school that I attended in Chicago. We attempted to capture the spirit of tradition and inject it with raw energy and passion.”

Minor Moon has released the first single, "No Lightning Fix", from their forthcoming album Tethers. This will be the group’s, which is led by Sam Cantor, third studio album and first since 2019’s An Opening.

Tethers is set to be released on March 26th via Ruination Record Co. & Whatever’s Clever and can be preorder here.

Photo by V.V. Lightbody

NASHU is the solo project of Shaun Burk, formerly of Hunt Hunt Hunt Camp, and he has released his debut, Ghost Gardens. The album was recorded independently during quarantine and has a LoFi, acoustic, bedroom pop sound. Burk is joined by Charlie Evans on electric guitar and backing vocals, but this is primarily Burk’s project.

The album’s lead single is called "Maktub" and is accompanied by the video below.

Multi-instrumentalist Blase has released a breezy three song Psych Pop EP called "Blending In A Clash". This Blase’s third release and the follow-up 2020’s Perpetual Motion.

On this project he enlisted the help of local like-minded musicians, B Forrest and M. Baptista Benedict.