Matthew Lux’s Communication Arts Quartet is releasing their debut album, Contra/Fact, on vinyl this Friday, June 22nd, via Astral Spirits Records. The Quartet is Mikel Patrick Avery, Ben Lamar Gay, Jayve Montgomery, and Matthew Lux. The album was previously released in 2017, but this version is an entirely new edit of the album by Leroy Bach, complete with a new running order, and transitions.

Below is a Kim Alpert directed video for “Paw Paw” from Contra/Fact.

Matt Muse has released the first single, “Shea Butter Baby”, from his forthcoming album, Nappy Talk. The track feature vocals from Shawnee Dez, and production from Timmy V.

Muse, a teaching artist at Young Chicago Authors, released a mixtape last year called, The SiKK Tape. “Nappy Talk” will be released on July 13th.

Paul Moody and Luke Henry have teamed up to release split single “California Ghosts” b/w “Postcards”. Both songs are examples of these musicians’ takes of modern Americana, both can be streamed below.

You can catch Paul Moody at Hungry Brain on July 19th.

Chicago’s Orindal Records announced this week that the full-length debut album from Gia Margaret, There’s Always Glimmer, will be released on July 27th. Below is the LP’s first single, “Birthday”, which blends dream pop, shoegaze, and folk into a sound Margaret calls “Sleep Rock”. We call it beautiful and a must listen!

You can help Gia Margaret celebrate the release of her debut album at Hideout on July 26th with Brendan Losch and Advance Base.

Makaya McCraven and International Anthem announced last week that he will be releasing a new mixtape on June 29th called Where We Came From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape) via Apple Music. The mixtape features the following musicians Makaya McCraven (drums), Soweto Kinch (saxophone, vocals), Theon Cross (tuba), Joe Armon-Jones (keys), Nubya Garcia (saxophone), and Kamaal Williams (keys).

Below is the first part of a well-shot documentary on the recording process of this album from International Anthem. You can find all four episodes of the series here.

On July 1st at the Apple Store on Michigan Ave. McCraven and Sons of Kemet will be performing and will host a discussion panel after the performance.

Electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist Solomon Kimrey released a new single last week called ”Landing”. Kimrey has released a string of singles this year in follow-up to his debut album, A Place to Be, which came out back in February.

Anna Agosta may be one of the most underrated musician in the city today. Last Fall she released her debut Ep, “Greenhouse”, which featured the standout single, “Never Fall” (video below). Through out the five songs on the EP, Agosta demonstrated powerful, soulful vocals and an ear for talented production partners. We are eagerly awaiting her next release and strongly feel that more of the city should be as well.

You can catch Anna Agosta on June 21st at Beat Kitchen opening for Emily Blue and LA’s Tim Atlas.

Joseph Chilliams released the video for the first single, “Karen’s Song”, from his forthcoming EP, "The Plastics” late last week.The video was beautifully directed by Zoe Rain and features Kaina and Sen Morimoto. "The Plastics" will be released in full tomorrow, June 19th.

Joseph Chilliams is hosting a listening event for “The Plastics” on Wednesday, June 20th at 1875 N Milwaukee Ave and you can RSVP here.

Circuit des Yeux has released a Veronica Crockford-Pound direct video for her song “Falling Blonde”. The track is taken from her 2017 Drag City release, Reaching for Indigo.

You can catch Circuit des Yeux at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 21st at 4pm on the Blue Stage. 

SoloSam has been preparing to release his first self-produced EP, “ITIS", for several months. The EP’s first single, “Fast”, came out back in December and really started to build the hype.

SoloSam is hosting an EP listening party on June 21st at Traditions Barber Parlor 3 (1111 N. Ashland), and you can RSVP here.

Clearance released a new video for their latest single, “Destination Wedding”, from the forthcoming LP, At Your Leisure, late last week. As we mentioned earlier, their new LP will be released via Topshelf Records on July 27th.

You can help Clearance celebrate the released of their new LP at The Hideout on August 3rd with Deeper.

Chicago’s Sematary Records released their first ever complication cassette today called Seminary Forever. The label launched last month with a 10 point ambitious and laudable mission statement headed by the goal to give a platform to POC and LGBTQ+ youth to be able to present their art on a wide scale.

The collection contains 11 tracks ranging from noise pop to R&B and features contributions from musicians across the country and local musicians Asbestos Lead Asbestos, Graves, Dog Mom, and Fahrenheit 808.