The windy city’s known for a lot of goodness, music being high on the list. Hip hop, jazz, soul, pop– some of the most dynamic sounds seem to come out of Chicago. There must be something in that breezy air. Here are five Chicago artists from the Sofar community that we cherish.
Mara Love
Mara Love just nails her pitch and delivery– tone, vibrato, all coming together in a stunning vocal sound. It’s no wonder the artist ended up on The X Factor in the U.S., along with providing backing vocals for the great Barbra Streisand. This Sofar performance of “Crash” is simple, leaving ample space for Mara’s voice to take the lead in a subdued yet powerful way.
Femdot
Femi Adigun, aka Femdot, is a staple of the Chicago rap scene and it’s apparent why– the artist moves fluidly through his verses between deep observations and lighthearted quick lines, and even some singalong moments. This performance of “No Scholarships” encapsulates that multiplicity and ease. (When you’re done watching this, go listen to his latest album, Not for Sale.)
Lester Rey
Lester Rey can’t be pinned to a single sound– could be pop forward, hip-hop laced, or soulful songs held by Latin rhythms. The kaleidoscopic nature makes for a heck of a good show. This Sofar performance in particular catches Lester’s sound in a more subdued, easy going pace, where the groove is wide and comfy, and the artist’s voice just rings out (especially around the 3 minute mark).
Wyatt Waddell
Complex yet unwavering– Wyatt Waddell’s melodies feel like a magic trick. How can they be so lush and complex, but so conversational and simple? Take this Sofar, where with just a few lyrical lines the artist weaves a full tapestry of a tune. We could watch this thing on repeat (confession– we do).
Violet Crime
Fact: Violet Crime makes some of the sweetest retro pop tunes around. Just take a look at their cover of The Zutons’ classic, “Valerie”– rich voices coming together for those choruses, and a nice even keeled, laid-back rhythm to match, with the crowd leaning in on claps.
Photo credit: Femdot, photo by Tim Harper
