SYLVAN ESSO
If dark, moody pop is something that interests you, Sylvan Esso is the perfect band to get into before Lollapalooza hits Chicago in August. The band took a brief break after their debut self-titled album came out in 2014, where they established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the indie-pop world with the single “Coffee.” The band’s newest album “What Now?,” which was released in April 2017, is a continuation of what they created with a darker tone as is evident with the singles “Radio” and “Die Young.”
HIPPO CAMPUS
Hippo Campus originates from St. Paul, Minn., and are bringing their indie-rock style to Grant Park for the first time ever this year. “Suicide Saturday” brought the band into the spotlight through repeated play on Sirius XM AltNation, and they released their debut record “Landmark” earlier in the spring. It is impossible to not crack a smile when listening to “Way it Goes,” a track about the millennial lifestyle and how life gets tough at times. If you want sunny music to match the (hopefully) sunny weather, Hippo Campus is a set to see.
MONDO COZMO
Alternative and indie-rock singer Josh Ostrander from Pennsylvania began recording under the name Mondo Cozmo in 2016. Without an EP, the singer and his band scored the opening act for UK band Bastille’s U.S. Wild Wild World Tour after their single “Shine” hit the charts. On tour, his songs preface Bastille’s well since they have a similar tempo and style. Mondo Cozmo will be performing at Lollapalooza for the first time this summer as they finally break through into the music scene.
THE JAPANESE HOUSE
The Japanese House, from Buckinghamshire in East London, has released three EPs and several singles under the label Dirty Hit Records. Currently on tour in Europe, The Japanese House will stop in Chicago for their first performance ever at Lollapalooza. Solo artist Amber Bain has a mellow, indie pop sound that will be sure to draw a crowd at the fest. Her new EP, “Swim Against the Tide,” was released in Nov. 2016 and leans more on the edge of pop than her other EPs. The songs on the album have an electronic indie feel to them, which is unique to The Japanese House, and also feature intimate and vulnerable lyrics.
Contributing reporting by Jimmy Bright.
