These Days
Chicago Artists to Watch
Fall / Winter 2022
When we say that Chicago births and nurtures transcendent talent, it’s not a statement that we take lightly. In fact, it’s a daunting task attempting to cover a city that’s always brimming with brilliance —especially when it’s done as a labor of love.
Our 2022 Fall/Winter Chicago Artists to Watch class not only serves as a glimpse into some of the different musical enclaves across Chicago, but also reminds us of why we started the publication: finding a favorite new artist or song is an exhilarating experience.
The write-ups, photography, and video interviews (remarkably shot by Audiotree) found below reflect the goosebumps-inducing feeling of music discovery and connecting with up-and-coming artists. Brooklynn Skye, Casper McFadden, Cece Maravilla, FINGY, Godly the Ruler and Pretty Liyah have all ignited their own version of that excitement among These Days contributors.
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you also enjoy the process and thrill of discovery. We hope going through this feature has a similar effect on you and that it leads to further exploration of the local scenes these Artists to Watch inhabit. - Pedro Gonzalez
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Brooklynn Skye
When Brooklynn Skye is not on stage supporting noteworthy Chicago artists such as Noname, Dreamer Isioma and theMIND, the R&B artist is striking out as a star in her own right, delivering both soulful production and vocals on her own work she has just started to release. Hailing from the West Side of Chicago, Skye is a self-taught musician, producer, and artist who studied bass, jazz, and classical music growing up. Though her lyrics are riddled with themes of love and lust, she finds inspiration through one exceptionally uncommon medium: horror films. “Good horror movies [or films in general] have the anticipation,” says Skye. “It doesn't need to scream at you or do stupid jump scares. Good horror movies put [the] intensity in the climax, and that's how I look at music. It's not about playing all the notes that come into your head; you build it [to its pinnacle].” Additional influences of Skye include Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, and the 90’s grunge era, all of which are felt through her slow jams with a modern twist. Her ability to tell stories through her words and symphonies doesn’t go unnoticed, and despite being at it since the age of nine, the musician’s evolution is still unfolding. - Hannah Gonzalez
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Casper McFadden
Casper Mcfadden is making dance music for those who geek out on cool shit. Attuned to the magic of sampling, Casper pieces together eccentric, yet sentimental scraps of pop culture with ambient melodies and fast breaks to form a captivating patchwork quilt of sound. In sampling everything from anime to commercials ripped straight from his VHS collection, Casper’s music calls for an attentive ear to catch these fleeting motifs.
Growing up, Casper’s formative years were anything but static. While Chicago has always been home base, with the exception of a period spent in Vegas, Casper recalls moving around into different neighborhoods across the city. Perhaps this variability in environment is what influenced his flexibility in music. Casper’s early beginnings started with a guitar and a love for Daniel Johnston, making a transition into the electronic space once he got more familiar with sequencers and drum machines. Nevertheless, his acoustic experience lives on amongst his digital sound. Casper Mcfadden’s music embraces the weird and unconventional, allowing listeners the space to unwind and freely enjoy themselves, “I just wanna be me and everyone else should wanna be them too.” - Ellie Naughton
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Cece Maravilla
Influenced by the music they would freestyle to alongside their brother on their way to school —like Outkast and Amy Winehouse—along with some of the jazzier finds their ears naturally gravitated towards to —like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong—Cece Maravilla uses their guitar and youthful voice to create a melodically shimmering haven for listeners to find refuge in. A resident of Chicago’s North Side via Wisconsin, Cece’s music perfectly entwines the poise and maturity that comes from moving to a new city on your own with a sense of youthful innocence and openness. With a diverse catalog under their belt, which includes songs for healing and reflecting (“Malbec”), as well as songs you can simply have fun while listening to (“Lose Myself”), their talent is sure to grab the attention of those who enjoy experiential pop with a soulful twist. Keep an eye out for their upcoming debut project, dropping sometime this year! - Josue Olivares
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Listen to Cece Maravilla on Spotify & Apple Music
Follow Cece Maravilla on Twitter & Instagram
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FINGY
FINGY makes music for the dimly-lit dance floors that stay open way after all the other clubs have closed their doors. Weaving together crisp melodies and classic house beats, each track takes on a different personality, and cutting through each song’s individuality is a pervasive get-up-and-move feel. Their 2021 EP, Taste Test, sways listeners via funky, lo-fi rhythms while the upbeat single “Tied Up” takes on a pulsating warehouse club sound, layering gritty synths and wispy vocals over head-bopping tempo changes. When producing music, the L.A-to-Chicago artist goes off intuition; if they don’t feel that spark in the final mix, they know the audience won’t either. As the weather cools and the days get shorter, FINGY looks forward to the possibilities of the coming year (someone take them on tour!). As for their artistic journey leading up to this point, they’ve learned to trust the process and to exercise patience when putting out music. - Halle Mohr
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Godly the Ruler
Godly the Ruler uses music to invite us to peek into the inner workings of their mind. Born in Nigeria and raised in Rogers Park, Godly gravitated towards art as a means of expression starting at the age of 14. After immersing themselves in photography, poetry, graphic design, and fashion, they began to tinker with GarageBand in early high school, quickly opening up a world of music that they’ve made their own. Their sound—coated in glitchy synths, guitar riffs, and pummeling drums—demands attention. Carefully layering in lyrics that explore the intricacies of human experience, Godly offers a striking blend of tech and humanity. They’ve let go of any meticulous creative process, allowing life to naturally reveal its most precious inspirations when the time is right. Most of the recordings happen inside Godly’s home studio, where the physical space offers a steady presence that encourages creativity, patience, and collaboration. Rest may not be in Godly’s vocabulary, as they’ve already released an EP, two singles, finished a U.S. mini-tour, and are looking to continue their prolific run in early 2023. The focus remains unwavering: Godly wants to create understanding and forage connections in a world that sometimes feels a little out of whack. - Allie Antonevich
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Listen to Godly the Ruler on Spotify & Apple Music
Follow Godly the Ruler on Twitter & Instagram
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Pretty Liyah
Away from the major label-dominated space of glossy DSP playlists, Pretty Liyah has emerged out of the thriving —yet unheralded—Chicago street rap ecosystem living primarily on YouTube. With a captivating mic presence, sticky ad-libs, and an ability to commandeer high-energy drill beats, the Englewood native has racked up hundreds of thousands of views online and a legion of hardcore fans in real life. Her biggest release to date, “It’s a Throw,” is a footwork-inspired track that became a lowkey summer hit on the city’s South Side through sheer word-of-mouth. Its success also led to performances at homecoming events at high schools like Simeon and Lindblom, as well as the HBCU College Fair at Soldier Field, underlining Lyiah’s strong connection to Chicago’s youth. Lyiah’s most popular releases are fun and carefree, indulging in revelry and some trouble. In her recently released mixtape, On Go, the usually boisterous Lyiah also welcomes vulnerability as she shares stories of heartbreak, struggle, and overcoming adversity. The 21-year-old, who also became the first-ever expecting mother to be part of a These Days Artist to Watch cover shoot, has an EP in the works that will further unveil her full self. - Pedro Gonzalez
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FURTHER LISTENING
CREDITS
Interviews by: Pedro Gonzalez, Ellie Naughton, Halle Mohr, Hannah Gonzalez, Allie Antonevich & Josue Olivares
Produced by: Eric Montanez, Patrick Welby, Brent Butcher, Carlos Castillo, Pedro Gonzalez & Iman Music
Photography by: Michael Salisbury & Julien Carr
BTS Photography by: Patricia Aquino, Naima Woods & Karla Bruciaga
Lighting by: Brian Crawford
Video Shot by: Tom Conway (Audiotree Media)
Video Edited by: Elly Tier (Audiotree Media)
Captured at South Facing Windows (Chicago)
