Chicago four-piece Deeper celebrate signing to Sub Pop with new single
The Chicago four-piece sign to the acclaimed label and release their latest single ‘Sub’.
Photo: Drake Sweeney
If there’s an up-and-coming act in Chicago, it’s Deeper. The band, comprised of Shiraz Bhatti (drummer), Nic Gohl (vocals/guitar), Drew McBride (bassist), and Kevin Fairbairn (guitar), have signed to accredited label Sub Pop; home to artists such as Maya Hawke, Beach House, Weyes Blood, and more. This isn’t a stroke of luck; it’s a testament to the band’s hard work since 2018.
With two albums already under their belt, Deeper is looking forward to their third under the label. Using the power of DIY in the scene, they have already amounted to a monthly listening number of over two hundred thousand — and high regard. Ahead of the album’s release, they will embark on a series of US tours with synth-pop band Future Islands and alternative artist Foyer Red before returning to their hometown to play at Pitchfork Music Festival. They will also play a handful of solo shows and Kilby Block Party.
The band’s sophomore album, Auto-Pain, was released at the start of COIVD, however, that didn’t get in the way of the band finding success. Acclaimed by critics and listeners alike, it was obvious that the four-piece had something special. Asking themselves the questions “What do you do when pain blots out joy? How do you learn to take care of yourself? What happens when the things you think are helping end up doing the most harm?”, they created a twelve track record. It was in part inspired by the infamous novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and takes on the subjects of pain and depression the way they know best: through music.
Their latest release, Sub, is a single that had been shelved. Resurrected with a new tempo, an indie rock flare, and a reflection on their lives and the lore behind the band, it’s a surefire indie hit. The music video combines claymation, trippy video effects, and a TV to create a never-ending loop as the band makes appearances in random, unexpected moments. It reflects existentialism in its lyrics with creativity and a tinge of nostalgia with the claymation style that is hardly used in a heavily digitized world.
While there has been no news of a third album being released any time soon, the signing to Sub Pop and the new single leave behind some optimism. If Deeper has managed to make this much of a splash by themselves, it’s only a matter of time before they become even bigger.
Sub is out now via Sub Pop.