The Slaps / RobinAugust

Formed in 2016 after a chance meeting at a party in their first year at DePaul University, the Slaps—Rand Kelly (guitar/vocals), Ramsey Bell (bass/vocals), and Josh Resing (percussion/vocals)—are bound together by a spirit of pastoral music-making and the notion that collaborating using available resources can produce stunning results. Their latest album, Tomato Tree, documents the trio's deepening friendship and artistic maturity. “We trust each other so much. We trust each other to live in different places and keep this thing going,” says Resing, referencing Bell and Kelly’s recent move from Chicago back to their homes in Lexington, Kentucky. “You can’t do that with just anybody.” Despite sounding effortless, the record was pieced together meticulously from June 2020 to April 2021 at Pallet Sound in Chicago, with assistance from engineer Michael MacDonald. Certain tracks, such as the distorted-yet-bright instrumental “Fire on Fire,” were finessed during marathon rehearsal sessions before they were committed to record.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennesse, RobinAugust has spent the majority of her life funneling her personal experiences into art. Her aggressively raw lyrics and passion-driven melodies place her at the perfect intersection of indie-pop and alternative rock. 

Released during her freshman year at Berklee, Avocado Head blends RobinAugust's appreciation for '90s-era female icons (including Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, and Fiona Apple) with the psychedelic crunch of acts like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and the Beatles. It's an album for the modern world, inspired by enduring sounds of the past. For RobinAugust, the record also serves as a form of therapy, allowing her to channel the pain of a recent breakup into songs that are hard-hitting, heartbroken, and melodic. "It's basically my diary as an album," she says.