Varsity

Parallel Person

Chicago five-piece Varsity jokingly characterize their music as "too cute for the punks, too raw for the bubble-gummers." Formed in 2013 by singer-keyboardist Stephanie Smith, the band has developed their indie-pop sound—sweet melodies, cathartic guitar riffs, heart-on-sleeve lyrics—across digital singles, EPs, and cassettes, sharing bills with the likes of Alvvays and Courtney Barnett. On new LP Parallel Person, they navigate the hurdles of isolation and creative frustrations with their most cohesive and compelling work to date. It's out on Baby City Records.