by Shea Roney (@uglyhug_records)
Indianapolis’s newest band, Wishy, is a racketeering force of Midwestern exceptionalism; a blanket of whirling guitar music and a breeze of soothing pop melodies all brought to life by leaders Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites. Being friends since high school, Wishy wasn’t officially formed until 2021 when Pitchkites moved back from Pennsylvania and Krauter asked her to be in the band. With their new label home, Winspear, and help from friend and producer, Ben Lumsdaine (Durand Jones), Wishy has released their debut EP, Paradise. As the name entails, on the contrary to the tropical association, Paradise is intuitive of the band’s love for where they are and where they are going.
As the album begins with the title track, “Paradise,” the band opens up a retro box that never feels like a nostalgia chaser, but rather embracing and expanding the sounds of their collective influences. With atmospheric guitar and a trade off of relaxed vocal harmonies, a chorus of “do-do’s” becomes a hideout of warm euphoria, one that the band seems keen on creating. The leading single “Donut” is an unapologetically loud song, striking a bold and exciting debut release from the band. “Don’t follow me I’m fine, but I’m driving on a donut,” a cautionary tale in part of capitalistic urban layout where a car is a necessity, Pitchkite’s writing has an underline of doom and gloom packaged beautifully in a swarm of catchy rock-pop. Not to mention the guttural effects when the band descends into an unsettling break, as Pitchkites repeats, “I’m not a killer”.
Cutting through the noise on all of the tracks are mature and exciting melodies that Krauter and Pitchkites perform with unified luxury. “Spinning,” one of the last singles released, relishes in the ease of momentum with Pitchkite’s melodies, longing voice, and swarming instrumentation. “I didn’t know me then, I don’t know me now, Spinning around on the kitchen floor, I don’t know what I’m dancing for,” she sings in a swerving chorus; the melody seemingly jumping and dancing around itself. “Blank Time” is a stagnant tune of light guitar work and a groove driven chorus that stands abide to the louder songs in the collection. Finishing the EP, “Too True,” a song by Krauter, is about a noticeable shift in the people you chose to idolize from when you were a kid. “Too true I wanted to be like you, Wanted to reverse me,” Krauter sings, a wisp of honesty that further defines personal growth. The band wholeheartedly embodies this natural process; doing the best with what you have and surrounding yourself with “homies” that will help you grow into your best self.