Lowertown

If you’re not yet familiar with Lowertown, now is the perfect time. It took a few years for the New York-based indie duo to catch their breath: after years of teetering on the brink of collapse due to disputes with record labels, creative frustrations, and an unhealthy attachment to their artistic partnership, the band was ready for a fresh start. Their new album, Ugly Duckling Union, which is set to be released on May 22 via Summer Shade, opens with a restrained sigh from Osby—a symbolic moment that sets the tone for their most thoughtful, unrestrained, captivating, and eccentric collection of songs to date. It’s a concept album based on the band’s own experiences of forging a community through their music.