Author: Hayley Snell
The end of 2018 marked the end of a significant and successful year for Lindsey Jordan. Recording and performing under the name Snail Mail, Jordan has spent the last year dazzling indie fans with her truthful and dreamy music. Since her youth, Jordan has been playing guitar and writing songs. As a teenager, she began playing small shows and festivals for the punk-indie community in her home state of Maryland. Her developed lyricism and unique vocals made her recognizable and unforgettable. She quickly captured the attention of label Sister Polygon and was given a platform to record and produce her music. Snail Mail's first single “Thinning” and EP Habit were released in 2016.
Influenced by iconic 1990's indie women like Liz Phair, Jordan works to create music that is reflective of her personal experiences. With the release of her first full album, Lush, in June of 2018, Snail Mail gained major traction. With a raw, yet matured, sound, Snail Mail sits in a sweet spot between DIY punk-indie and heavily-produced music. At just 19 years old, Jordan is capable of a great deal of vulnerability and courage as she sings about self-discovery and understanding love. She has been given praise for her lyrical depth, musical precision, and enviable ability to grow. Lush has been named one of the best albums of the year by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and more, as well as being a favorite here at WSUM.
Snail Mail, originally being a solo-project, has since expanded to include bassist Alex Bass (nice) and drummer Ray Brown. Supporting artists like Girlpool and Waxahatchee, Snail Mail has toured North America, as well as selling out numerous headliner shows. They are currently touring the United States and will continue to play in cities around the world in 2019. Snail Mail is set to play a sold-out show at The Metro in Chicago on January 17th. The show is part of the Tomorrow Never Knows Festival and will begin at 9pm with openers Lala Lala and VARSITY.
Lala Lala is the creation of Chicago-based singer and songwriter, Lillie West. In her music, West explores her personal journey of becoming sober and relearning how to be herself. Her music is a juxtaposition of a heavy grunge sound and the tender feel of classic indie music. West plunges into conflict, discovery, acceptance, and change. She uses Lala Lala to truthfully communicate her insecurities and weaknesses. VARSITY is an indie-rock band, also native to Chicago. It is the collective work of lead singer and synth player Stephanie Smith, vocalist and guitarist Dylan Weschler, guitarist Patrick Stanton, bassist Paul Stolz, and drummer Jake Stolz. VARSITY's music celebrates angst and frustration with catchy melodies, upbeat rhythms, amazing guitar riffs, and telling lyrics.
