The Roundup July 2024
Oruã Q&A, Brijean review, Pitchfork recommendations
July 4th hit weird this year. I’ll always take an excuse to watch fireworks, but the irony of Independence Day in our current political climate lingered in my mind throughout the festivities. Luckily, good music remains–even thrives–in the face of chaos.
July isn’t the biggest month for new releases, but there are lots of opportunities to see music live and in person. From Pitchfork Festival to smaller street fests and endless tours, artists are out and about throughout the U.S.
Feature: A Q&A with Brazilian indie rock group Oruã
The first track on Oruã’s Passe was born when the band read a news story about a white man with blue eyes robbing multiple, wealthy homes in the Southern part of Rio de Janeiro. “With his privilege, he left the scene unnoticed and unpunished,” says band member and producer Lê Almeida. “It’s like he was endowed with real internal grandeur,” hence the song title “Real Grandeza.”
The subject matter captures Oruã’s overall ethos, a DIY outlook deeply embedded in the group’s beloved Rio. The band garnered US attention in 2019, when Doug Martsch invited Almeida and synth player João Casaes to join Built to Spill temporarily and eventually record When the Wind Forgets Your Name.
The band’s newest album weaves together influences from krautrock and noise to Afrobeat and jazz. I discussed the release with the band over email.
Lê, I have to ask – are you related to famed Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida?
Heheh, he's not related to me. Are you related to Ty Segall? (*Note: I’ve spent extensive time trying to figure this out, and the answer is a solid maybe.*)
Your roots as a band are deeply entwined with Rio, in particular the region of Baixada Fluminense. How has your relationship with those roots evolved after all of your collaborations with Doug and other people outside of Brazil?
These roots have matured with the road and experience. But I confess that it's very difficult to return to live in Baixada Fluminense after touring the world. I realize more and more that my place is no longer here, and I believe that Oruã's new album represents this break in my history—new steps around the world.
Much of your music is influenced by structural violence and racism. Beyond the robberies that inspired “Real Grandeza,” can you give examples of this influence in Passe?
Perhaps the most direct is the theft of part of our equipment that happened after a show in São Paulo at the beginning of the year. I lost all my guitar pedals, [which informed] a sound that I had been putting together since 2019 and which is clearly heard in Passe. I let go of that sound, even more so after some of the thieves called me for a while trying to sell me my equipment. This kind of difficulty is very real for us in Brazil, but we have to move on.
How did you come to all of the genres you blend within your music? Afrobeat has played a big role in Brazil, but I’m curious to hear what you led to noise and krautrock.
For me in particular, the loop is a rich essence in many ways. When I got into krautrock, Can was the most significant thing for me–we even recorded a cover of “Mother Sky” at some point, hehe. Apart from the sound, I liked the band's image. They had something a little marginalized about them that got to me.
When I was younger, I became friends with a guy who owned a record store in the center of Rio de Janeiro, and it was this guy who introduced me to krautrock. I was already a big fan of Sonic Youth. I come from a very poor place in Rio de Janeiro, and this kind of sound and information was almost non-existent here. But the few people who did get into this kind of culture always passed it on, and I was lucky enough to come across many of those people.
Passe is available for streaming and on vinyl Julia 19 via Transfusão Noise Records.
Other New Music
Out Now
Julia Gaeta, Blur Divine EP (Galore), darkwave / synth-pop
Fusing electronic beats and electric guitar, Paris-based Gaeta infuses darkwave with something both novel and familiar. Fans of Chelsea Wolfe will appreciate the duality of ethereal and heavy on Blur Divine, though Gaeta’s voice is lower and more forceful. At times, the album drifts into slowcore territory–“Hangin’ on a Dream” in particular is drawn-out and spacious.
Upcoming
Brijean, Macro (Ghostly International), disco / pop (July 12)
Perhaps the most narratively successful album I’ve heard this year, Macro brings listeners along on a full night out. The opening track, “Get Lost” creates a hazy, instrumental build into “Euphoric Avenue,” which in turn pairs lyrics like “watch the moon as it wanes” and “Let’s go try something new” with glistening strings and loungey rhythm and bass. Brijean continues with several songs that incorporate a plucked, upright bass and other elements that elicit the feel of an old-school cocktail hour before pivoting into an electronic-dominated sound. Jamie XX-esque samples and high-energy beats peak with the irresistibly danceable “Workin’ On It” and “Rollercoaster” before winding down with a loungey closer.
Bizhiki, Unbound (Jagjaguwar), Ojibwe powwow / indie electronic (July 19)
When I posted a link to Bizhiki’s upcoming album to my Instagram story yesterday, a friend who had also had the chance to listen to the pre-release DMed me to rave about the project and share his plans to order it on vinyl. The titular track on Unbound starts hazy yet sleek, a simple synth line that pulsates until Ojibwe powwow singing pierces through. This juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional makes up the album’s fabric, reflecting Bizhiki’s multicultural membership–the band comprises Wisconsin-based powwow singers Bizhikiin Jennings and Joe Rainey along with Bon Iver drummer and supporting vocalist Sean Carey. The trio transforms their expansive backgrounds into captivating, lush soundscapes and lyrics that grapple directly with territorial displacement and environmental destruction.
Sylvia Sawyer James, Sylvia Sawyer James (self-released), lo-fi/indie ambient/folk (July 26)
The Chicago-based artist, a long-time friend of mine, is out with her first full-length album since 2020. James’s 17 tracks dance between folk and ambient, with acoustic guitar anchoring her uniquely bright, quivering vocals. She layers in a variety of instruments–the violin on “Prayers to a Turning Page” bring to mind Alex G on Rocket–and samples. The result is a wistful feel aligned with subject matter related to family, transgender identity and romance.
Crack Cloud, Red Mile EP (Jagjaguwar), art-punk (July 26)
The Canadian band creates a whimsical sound that’s still quite rough-around-the edges, a product of poppy synth lines, piercing punk vocals and noisy guitars. Frontman Zach Choy’s lyrics are honest, human and energetically delivered. The EP will resonate with fans of Dehd and Mannequin Pussy.
Chicago Events
7/5 – DJ Seinfeld, Jak Attaque and Kailyn at Smartbar
7/6 – DISMVL Chicago and Liar’s Club Present: Iron Years, Neon Funeral, Miss Misery and Clarissa at 1665 W Fullerton Ave
7/13 – Club Drugs, Matt Hart, DADDYBEAR and DJ Veganinblack at the Fallen Log
7/14 – Queen! Ft. Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Ricardo Roessel at Smartbar
7/17 – Various Distractions (Signal DJ and Beau Waner monthly residency) at Empty Bottle
7/20 – Hyperdub 20th Anniversary ft. Kode9, RP Boo, Jana Rush and DJ Hank at Metro
7/26-28 – Wicker Park Fest ft. Jamila Woods, Superdrag, Citizen and more
7/28 – Sylvia Sawyer James bedroom concert (TBA)
Pitchfork Festival and aftershow recommendations
July 19
Fest:
1-1:40 – Black Duck at Green Stage
5:15-6:10 – Yaeji at Red Stage
6:15-7:15 – 100 Gecs at Green Stage OR 6:30-7:15 – Sudan Archives at Blue Stage
Aftershow – Hotline TNT at Subterranean
July 20
Fest
1-1:40 – Lifeguard at Green Stage
2:45-3:30 – Hotline TNT at Blue Stage
3:20-4:10 – feeble little horse at Red Stage
4-4:45 – Water From Your Eyes at Blue Stage
4:15-5:10 – Wednesday at Green Stage
5:15-6:10 - De La Soul at Red Stage
6:15-7:15 – Jessie Ware at Green Stage
8:30-9:45 – Jamie XX at Green Stage
Aftershow – Audio Tree Presents Feeble Little Horse with Cusp at Lincoln Hall
July 21
Fest:
1:45-2:25 – Joanna Sternberg at Red Stage
3:20-4:10 – Model/Actriz at Red Stage
4:15-5:10 – Jessica Pratt at Green Stage
5:15-6:00 – Mannequin Pussy at Blue Stage
6:30-7:15 – Crumb at Blue Stage (I know a lot of my fellow queers are going to give me shit for not choosing MUNA)
8:30-9:45 – Alanis Morissette at Green Stage
Lifeguard and Font at Empty Bottle
North America Tours
VR Sex (synth-punk) - July 5-17
Cola (punk) - Now - July 20
The Body & Dis Fig (doom metal) - Now - August 4
REZN (doom metal) - Now - Aug. 28
Hana Vu (indie rock) - July 9 - Aug. 9
SNÕÕPER (punk) - July 12 - September 29
DIIV (shoegaze) - July 15 - August 7
The Japanese House (indie pop) - July 26 - Aug. 15
Put on some sunscreen, grab your water bottle, and go enjoy some live music outdoors!! Talk to you next month <3