Sooper Records

14/08/2024

Happy birthday Meredith! A true ride or die. The best birthday gift you can give to an indie artist is presaving the next Warm Human single "My Moods!!" Out 8/20. Lincoln DeBayou

13/08/2024

Welcome to Save Point 1, the first save point in the musical realm of Marcus Drake. A realm where popular forms of the past collide at warp speed with Marcus’s mutant inspirations to produce sounds & genres hitherto unknown. Save Point 1 is a visionary and singular Debut work of Art Rock and Avant Pop Alchemy, blown apart and reassembled under the laws of Quantum Musical Mechanics. The album was written, produced & performed by Marcus Drake, and releases 11/01/24 on Sooper Records. Save Point 1 is the first release under Drake’s own name, and the latest since his 2017 release as Anthony Fremont’s Garden Solutions—his idiosyncratic side-project with NNAMDÏ, Water From Your Eyes' Nate Amos, and Options' Seth Engel

Watch the video for "Heaven's in the Rot (Director's Cut)" out now, and preorder the album on black vinyl, limited edition transparent blue vinyl (ed. of 200), and ultra limited edition Wax Mage vinyl (ed. of 25), Here: lnk.to/heavensintherot

Save Point 1 isn’t just a new beginning, but a reintroduction to Marcus Drake the artist and composer. Drake experimented with new techniques and approaches for many years while recording Save Point 1, a process that transformed his sound, voice, and artistic identity. The resulting oeuvre is giddy and dreamy, an Olympic-height diving board from which to descend through indie rock and videogame soundtracks, thrilling math-rock riffs that turn experimental, and synths that glow in rainbow hues. Just turn to the glitchpop of “Heaven’s in the Rot” or the slow-motion acoustic glitter that is “Dragon It Out” to hear it in motion. And note the two-part “Haunted” suite that funnels his unpredictable experimentation into darker, weirder directions.

VIDEO
Directed and Edited by Nic Collins
Cinematography & Color by Ryan Bender

ALBUM
Written, Produced & Performed by Marcus Drake
Engineered & Recorded by Marcus Drake
Additional Engineering by Seth Engel
Mixed by Seth Engel & Marcus Drake
Mastered by Brok Mende at Friends of Friends Recording in Chicago, IL
Photos by Dennis Larance
Additional Photography by Marcus Drake
Layout, Text, Logos & Design by Izzi Vasquez

06/08/2024

Out today, "What Hurt Me The Most" is the 3rd single from Carlile 's forthcoming debut LP, Human Human. Stream / Watch / Preorder the LP on Vinyl:

Listen to What Hurt Me The Most by Carlile.

30/07/2024

Our latest newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/8d80acf65dd1/sooper-news-hamartia

29/07/2024

Join us for the Carlile Human Human listening party on 8/16 at Archer Beach House in Chicago. DJ sets by Misia, ROYA and Sparklmami

RSVP Here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/human-human-a-listening-viewing-party-tickets-964690985707?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaJ1qrHGyzDfYQLFOcJjQf-Lxz9JqB-DDfeC8EtOl9c77iG6IJn8PuyQls_aem_8Jk1soeMF7HWcPYxf2RyFA

26/07/2024

Alternative Press says you should know Warm Human and Sport agrees. "Love 2 Hate" out now.

✍️
📷

"Love 2 Hate"
Produced by Meredith Johnston &
Mixed by
Mastered by .chi

16/07/2024

ha·mar·ti·a
/həˈmärdēə/

noun

1. a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.

Announcing Hamartia. The next LP from Warm Human, the moniker of singer-songwriter & producer Meredith Johnston. Out 10/11/24 on Sooper Records. Preorder Vinyl and Digital, and Listen to the First Single "Love 2 Hate" and watch the video now.

lnk.to/whlove2hate

An often sarcastic and nearly absurd level of self-awareness is evident throughout Hamartia, a literary term from the ancient Greek tradition meaning the fatal flaw that inevitably leads to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. Hamartia is laden with references to the flawed figures & storylines of literary tragedies through the ages; reference points for the self-mythologizing of Johnston's own flaws and tragedies, which she lays bare in an almost too-much-information display that is as deviously fun as it is psychologically disquieting.

Johnston wrote and produced the album with Chicago composer and producer Conor Mackey (Lynyn, Monobody, NNAMDÏ). Together, the pair crafted an album that draws liberally from its diverse influences, incorporating down-tempo electronics, indie rock, synth pop, drum n’ bass, and elegant, unstructured soundscapes. Accompanying the announcement is the release of lead single "Love 2 Hate," an up-tempo, irresistible Do Revenge cut about the reality of embracing your own negativity. The song arrives with a video directed by Johnston & Dana Shihadah where Warm Human personifies a mix of characters inspired by Marie Antoinette, Mozart and Salieri (“The O.G. hater”, as Johnston calls him). Sitting in her high castle of hater-dom, Johnston looks down on all the things she hates in the world, barely remembering that the thing she hates most of all is herself. All while eating cake and dancing.

Johnston says: "This record is about my fatal flaw of always hating myself no matter how much better I get. ‘Love 2 Hate’ is the cornerstone song of the record, reflecting how deliciously good it feels to turn your self-hatred onto someone or something else, even if the relief only lasts for a couple of minutes.” Credits on Last Slide.

Written and Produced by Meredith Johnston and Conor Mackey
Guitars on “2 Steps” by NNAMDÏ
Guitars on “Maybe” by Nick Levine
Mixed by Brok Mende at Friends of Friends Recording in Chicago, IL
“Love 2 Hate” Mixed By Carlos de la Garza in Los Angeles, CA
Mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios in Chicago, IL
Cover Photo by Gavin McDonald
Back Cover Photo by Meredith Johnston
Layout and Design by Clare Byrne

"Love 2 Hate" Video
Directed by Meredith Johnston & Dana Shihadah
Editor: Carol Brandt
Director of Photography: Dana Shihadah
“Love 2 Hate” cake design by Haley Anne Butters

11/07/2024

Happy Birthday Frances Farlee, who also happens to be our June & July Employee of the Month! We ❤️ you Frances and thank you for everything you do for us. Congratulations on 4 consecutive months as Employee of The Month. A new record! Put that on your turntable and spin it!

📷

11/07/2024

Sooper shows in Chicago this week.

Tonight, 7/11: John Langford / Rami Gabriel / Al Scorch at Hideout

Saturday 7/13: Carlile at Sleeping Village for the Javier Reyes (Slow Pulp) album release

04/07/2024

Sen Morimoto today at

04/07/2024

We started this year with a song about Empire and Imperialism. It's a great time to revisit Rami Gabriel's "That's what I been sayin'". Add it to the BBQ playlist

Lnk.to/RamiGabriel

📹 Jake Karlson

04/06/2024

Carlile 's debut LP Human Human is out 8/30/24 on Sooper Records. Paired with the announcement is the release of the album's lead single "Illusion" and a Music Video directed by Aliya Haq. Preorder the LP, and watch / stream "Illusion" here: lnk.to/Carlile-Illusion

"Carlile is the middle name and performance alias of Emily Nichols, a longtime figure in Chicago's thriving underground music ecosystem. Over the past decade, she's issued a streak of glossy synthpop EPs while performing at storied venues like Metro and Pritzker Pavilion. Through those years, she meticulously laid the groundwork for her debut LP. An unselfconsciously playful and thrilling work of synth-pop, Human Human radiates with the joy of unfettered self-acceptance -- and all the awkward, terrifying moments of surrender it takes to get to a place where you can finally fall in love with your own beautiful mess."
- Sasha Geffen (from the Official Artist Bio)

ALBUM CREDITS:

Music and Lyrics by Emily Carlile Nichols
Executive Producers: Carlile and
“As I Am” produced by , Carlile & Noam Wallenberg
Mixed by Noam Wallenberg at
Mastered by at

Featuring:






annemarieandchupa


Noam Wallenberg


3D and Graphic Design by .pls
Photography by .antonakis
Styled by
Makeup by

03/06/2024

Happy Birthday . Thank you for always channeling a sense of excited optimism and adventure about the future, and for having a nearly religious belief in the power and importance of authentic artistic expression. Your influence on this label and everyone involved in it is immeasurable and life changing. We love you.

📷

01/06/2024

Join us for Lynyn at tomorrow (Sunday 6/2) at 3 PM on the East Stage at Damen & Division. Lynyn has been cooking up a special all hardware set that is not to be missed. Brought to you by Empty Bottle Presents.

31/05/2024

This is the move tonight

29/05/2024

Read about Rami Gabriel's debut LP That's what I been sayin' in the Chicago Reader

Words by Leor Galil

Join us for the Record Release Show this Friday at Constellation

TIX:
https://wl.seetickets.us/event/rami-gabriel-thats-what-i-been-sayin-record-release-party/587522?afflky=ConstellationChicago

READER:
https://chicagoreader.com/music/gossip-wolf/rami-gabriel-sayin-sooper-martin-levy-candy-juicy/

Guitarist and oud master Rami Gabriel releases a multifaceted solo debut, and Martin Levy drops a video for his postgender pop-diva persona.

29/05/2024

Read about Rami Gabriel's debut LP That's what I been sayin' in the . Words by .

Join us for Rami's record release celebration this Friday at

📸 Noor Shawaf

28/05/2024

[Sooper News] Rami, The Water Cooler & More.

Read our latest Newsletter and subscribe if you don't already:

https://mailchi.mp/4b9e92141681/sooper-news-rami-the-water-cooler-more?e=e3090b3f87

28/05/2024

Rami Gabriel Release Party Friday at . TIX in Bio.

Come join us for this special performance and celebration of That’s what I been sayin'.

24/05/2024

Today, the Lebanon by way of Chicago punk / experimental / jazz scene stalwart Rami Gabriel releases his debut LP, under his own name and in his own voice for the first time via Sooper Records. That's what I been sayin' is not so much a debut LP as a conflagration in Rami Gabriel's worldly underground. Rami notes of That’s what I been sayin’: “On this record, I use the sound of my voice to unite the diverse range of my musical pursuits and songwriting. Through integrating lo-fi solo home recordings with analog studio work, this album also showcases the devotion to sound quality, which brings together my community of collaborators.”

Listen / Order:
Lnk.to/TWIBS

Bandcamp named That's what I been sayin' its Album of The Day on 5/21, noting it "feels like a Rami Gabriel's Greatest Hits Compilation. There's no-wave, dub, garage rock, Moog synths, and none of them ever feel out of place."

Today along with the album, Rami has dropped a video for “Love stop Hugo” directed by Stefan Fernandez, a prime example of the intentionally subversive approach that Gabriel brings to the full record using his 4-track to manipulate the propulsive thump of a “sh*tty drum machine” into a mangled and danceable beat turning harshness into something jubilant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axngdSYBwpA

“Love stop Hugo” by Rami GabrielStarring Nikayla Fernandez Directed, Photographed and Edited by Stefan Fernandez Analog Post Production by Jeremy Cilberto Co...

21/05/2024

Bandcamp Album of the Day.

We're honored to have Rami Gabriel's solo debut That's What I been sayin' selected as Album of the Day on . The album comes out this Friday and we cannot wait for everyone to hear it.

📷
✏️ Eli Schoop

20/05/2024

Rami Gabriel's That's What I been sayin' LP is out this Friday.

📷 Noor Shawaf

15/05/2024

Not gonna lie, I teared up while reading the profile of Sooper co-owner / co-founder Steven Daoud in Leor Galil's new piece about Palestinians in the Chicago music community for the .

"More Palestinians call Cook County home than any other county in the United States."

❤️

https://chicagoreader.com/music/palestinian-amira-jazeera-steve-daoud-sooper-nael-shehade-drama/

15/05/2024

Not gonna lie, I teared up while reading the profile of Sooper co-owner / co-founder Steven Daoud in Leor Galil's new piece about Palestinians in the Chicago music community for the . ❤️

Read it at the Link in Bio.

10/05/2024

Next Wednesday 5/15 join us for an early listen of Rami Gabriel's That's what I been sayin' LP, playing through the massive hi-fi sound system at the (designed by album collaborator K-rAd). The album is out 5/24. Very excited to be sharing this listen on a bill with performances & Jnana.

09/05/2024

Sooper's May 2024 Employee of the Month is our dear friend Frances Farlee, who is once again being selected because she is our Best and also Only employee.

📷 &

01/05/2024

Lynyn live at Do Division in Chicago. Sunday 6/2 on the East Stage.

📷

25/04/2024

Nee Sen Morimoto EP
BONK! (The Cops, The Banks, The Legislature): Outtakes from the Album Diagnosis
OUT NOW

http://senmorimoto.lnk.to/Bonk

23/04/2024

Too high to die
Out Now
Lnk.to/toohightodie

🌟 Martin Pfefferkorn
🎶 Rami Gabriel
📹 Stefan Fernandez

From Rami Gabriel's That's what I been sayin' LP
Out 5/24 on Sooper Records