ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC

2026 has been a hell of a year for Chicago’s indie rock community. With noted bands such as Friko and Rat Boys making waves with recent releases, it is only natural that some artists who deserve the same limelight will unfortunately fall to the wayside.

One such artist who has fallen under the radar is Sports Boyfriend, whose new single “Ringing” shows that their belongs in any conversation about the genre’s best artists.

”Ringing” follows a similar playbook as the band’s previous single “Crystal Ball,” fusing some weighty, slow burning guitars together with understated, evocative vocals and a slight country twang.

Despite the soft hum of lead vocalist Eileen Peltier’s voice, she delivers some raw, forlorn vocal lines that punch through:

”When I’m not with you, I sit around and miss you ringing on the slot machines,” she whispers.

”Ringing” is the second single off of the band’s upcoming debut album Slice of Life, due out June 9.

Listen to “Ringing” here: https://open.spotify.com/album/71PcIcCFh8JPx58ZxlGYxW?si=y0cGsXjbTyKgRVdVMaRxDg

Over pulsating drum hits and a dreamy set of strings, Sól finds herself at home. 

The Chicago-based R&B artist’s new single “Talk to Me” is a sensual, inviting slow burn of a track staged as an intimate conversation between lovers.

The plucky bass notes, quick guitar chords and breathy strings work in perfect unison to create a nocturnal, jazzy vibe.

Sol’s understated vocals sound as if she’s kissing the mic, or, better yet, whispering gently into her partner’s ear:

“Tell me your desires, whisper your dreams/Under the full moon, what does it mean to be alive?” She asks at the song’s halfway point.

On “Talk to Me,” Sól, who takes inspiration from artists such as Roy Ayers and Marvin Gaye, shows she can make love music with the best of them.

Listen to “Talk to Me” here:

Few artists I’ve encountered recently carry the same level of societal awareness as Chicago-based R&B artist Moyana.

On her new single “NON-FICTION,” which dropped Feb. 27, that awareness is on full display.

“NON-FICTION” opens with a thick, low-end grumble and icy synth chords before settling into mid-paced, head-bobbing drums and a hazy atmosphere.

Despite that cloudiness, a sense of urgency runs throughout the track, driven largely by those same synths.

Tackling heavy subject matter, Moyana’s lyrics are as kaleidoscopic as they are incisive:

“I don’t want to see another flag at half-mast from kids’ mass cut short by ‘stop and get down, class,’” she raps in the song’s first verse.

Even with its weighty themes, “NON-FICTION” remains a track with plenty to celebrate artistically. Most striking is how vividly Moyana captures the urgency of the current moment in her lyrics.

Listen to “NON-FICTION” here:

PLAYTÖ, an Arizona-based R&B duo, have landed on the pages of Roundhouse with their lovestruck, smoky new single “PEGASUS,” which dropped back on Feb. 25.

Producer JayRewind pulls together a minimalistic yet intoxicating production palette, fusing steady bass hits with feathery cymbal work and stretchy, watery synths that ripple and dissolve as the track winds down. It’s a sound that feels weightless but slightly disorienting, like floating just a little too far from solid ground.

Matching the hazy toxicity of the production, vocalists Z. Lew and Jonny Haze effortlessly trade verses, capturing the dizzying aroma of being in love with a kind of blurred, nocturnal clarity:

“Riding my high, like a white Pegasus, baby / Losing your mind while floating in time, babe / In love for the hell of it,” Lew sweetly whispers in the track’s first verse.

With “PEGASUS,” Lew and Haze pull together a moody, dreamy alternative R&B jam worth celebrating. They capture the hazy intoxication of love across the track’s instrumentation, lyricism, and vocal performances, their chemistry oozing through at every moment. It’s a feeling they never quite try to ground—and that’s exactly what makes it linger.

Stream “PEGASUS” HERE.

It’s not even mid-March, and it has already been quite the year for Kiran the Nomad.

In January, he released his latest project Nomad, a concise, inward-looking seven-track offering steeped in glistening pianos, soulful synths and chipmunked vocal samples.

In late February, he returned with the single “BANKROLL,” putting his lyrical dexterity on full display over a skeletal, kaleidoscopic instrumental.

Now he’s back with another new track, “HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN,” a slow-burning jazz rap cut built around a spacey vocal loop and a thick, menacing bass line.

Matching the laid-back energy of the instrumental, Kiran sounds right at home, delivering his bars with a patient flow and calm demeanor.

The stripped-back production lets Kiran’s cutting breath:

“On this highway to heaven, heaven is a metaphor for who you truly are / Will you reach your destination, will you see what’s wrong?”

“HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN” stands as another highlight for Kiran in a year already full of them. According to his Instagram bio, he’s currently dropping a new single every two weeks — meaning it won’t be long until we hear from him again.

Stream “HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN” HERE.

Chicago-based indie rock outfit Friko return with their new single “Choo Choo,” the second release from their upcoming sophomore album Something Worth Waiting For, set to arrive April 23.

In contrast to the slow emotional ascent of the album’s first single, “Seven Degrees,” the smooth yet weighty guitar lines that open “Choo Choo” establish tension from the outset, gradually cascading into a blissful catharsis of freedom and reckless abandon.

Lead singer Niko Kapetan’s fluttering vocals capture the boredom and restless angst of a young band chasing its dreams on the road—from racing across state lines to the less glamorous realities of a fast-food tour diet.

“Chili dog, Philly steak, feelin’ it in my gut / ’Cause Pepto, it don’t do it strong enough,” Kapetan muses in the track’s third verse.With “Choo Choo,”

Friko delivers a more explosive offering than “Seven Degrees,” yet the listening experience proves every bit as satisfying. The contrast in mood between the two singles highlights the band’s versatility, hinting that their upcoming album may prove just as compelling as its predecessor, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here.

Stream “Choo Choo” HERE.

Sammyoffthewall has shared a new single, “The Code”. Emerging from New York, Sammyoffthewall has steadily carved out a reputation for his versatility and soulful, yet hard-hitting releases. His music moves fluidly between vital atmospheres and unfiltered intensity, pairing dynamic soundscapes with raw, cathartic lyricism. Across projects like Coat of Armor and WALLS OF STONE, he’s built a catalog that reflects both emotional depth and stylistic range- qualities that continue to define his latest release, “The Code.”

On “The Code,” Sammyoffthewall sharpens that balance between grit and elegance. The track opens with swelling, colorful synths that feel both atmospheric and expansive, laying the foundation for a rhythm section that hits with a booming, buoyant pulse. Crisp drums cut through the mix while wide, rumbling 808s give the production a sense of weight and momentum.

Over this vibrant backdrop, Sammyoffthewall delivers the kind of performance listeners have come to expect- gritty, character-driven flows that feel focused and deliberate. His voice carries a textured urgency, weaving through the beat with precision while maintaining the emotional edge that has become a hallmark of his sound.

As the track unfolds, “The Code” builds with a sense of movement and immersion, its energy growing without losing its clarity or control. The result is a track that feels both polished and visceral- another compelling entry in Sammyoffthewall’s growing body of work and a reminder of his ability to fuse raw expression with dynamic, engaging production.

Listen to “The Code” here now:

Check out “The Code” on more platforms HERE.