Side Hug Unveil Darker, Bolder Sound with Debut Album New Language – Out October 31 on Easy Does It Records
Photo credit: Joanna Linda Uruchima
Chicago’s own indie shapeshifters Side Hug are back—and they’re not holding anything back. The band announces New Language, their first full-length album, landing October 31 via Easy Does It Records. A fearless reinvention of their sound and spirit, the 10-track record dives deep into transformation: embracing it, surviving it, and emerging sharper and more self-aware.
Leading the charge is the brand new single “Biweekly,” out now—a hypnotic, groove-driven anthem about keeping creative dreams alive while feeling trapped in a soul-crushing 9-to-5. Fueled by swirling guitars, pulsing basslines, and layered textures, the track hints at the record’s themes of discontent, quiet defiance, and resilience.
Produced and mixed by Erik Rasmussen at Chicago’s Palisade Studios, New Language pushes Side Hug into darker, more atmospheric territory—blending post-punk, shoegaze, and art rock while retaining their signature melodic core. Fans of Joy Division, The Cure, and local contemporaries like Deeper and Pool Holograph will feel right at home in its moody, immersive soundscape.
“The album really focuses on this idea of change: accepting it, learning from it, and letting things go,” shares vocalist Lyd Landor. “Things kind of suck right now, but they will get better. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Written in the wake of pandemic-era upheavals—relationship changes, lineup shifts, and newfound sobriety—New Language isn’t just a sonic evolution; it’s a statement of growth and hope. Side Hug re-emerges moody yet melodic, raw yet refined, offering a soundtrack for anyone fighting to build something better out of the wreckage.
Tour Dates:
08/09 – Chicago, IL @ Cubby Bear
08/15 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Music Joint
New Language Track Listing:
01. It’s Alright
02. Temporary
03. Telepathic
04. Biweekly
05. Strangers
06. Another Vacation
07. These Days
08. Everyone Else
09. Fernet-Branca
10. Currents
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Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehug.chi/
