OK Cool

If you long to fill the hole that Swearin', Camp Cope, and Retirement Party left in your heart, look no further than Chicago's OK Cool. Last week, the young rising duo of Haley Blomquist and Bridget Stiebris announced their new EP fawn will be released on April 28th alongside its soaring lead single "normal c," which Stereogum praised as "full of snaking riffs and fiery vocals, and on first listen it strikes me as quite good." The band also announced a hometown EP release show at Schubas Tavern on May 4th (tickets). Stream fawn privately via Soundcloud HERE and download MP3s, photos, artwork, and full bio HERE (lyrics/credits included). EP highlights include upcoming singles "nissanweekends" (out March 15th) and "soaked in" (out April 19th), but the entire EP is a thrill - hope you dig it as much as we do! And FYI if you're in the Chicago area: the band will next support Rust Ring's show at Beat Kitchen on February 24th.Eight songs clocking in at a head-spinning, 17-minute runtime, fawn is at heart a direct line into the minds and creative processes of Stiebris (26) and Blomquist (25). It's a kaleidoscopic stride that showcases the ongoing evolution in their charming union of glistening math rock and fuzzed-out dream pop that the two shredders have been working on since their inception in 2020. Written and self-produced over the course of two years, the duo's curiosity for experimentation is reflected throughout: linear, untraditional song structures are bolstered by their athletic musical precision, acute sense for hooks, and wall-of-sound mastery crafted with reverberated Telecasters and transcendent effects. The two harmonize and play all the instruments on the EP, with Stiebris on guitars and drums, and Blomquist on bass and additional guitar. Though fawn packs a confident punch, neither Stiebris nor Blomquist had ever taken on main songwriting duties in a band before starting OK Cool. The EP's lyrics are notably honest and vulnerable and are inspired by their queer coming-of-age, ranging from their internal struggles with depression and external struggles with relationships.