Hometown Pride
(4 min read)
A couple years ago we put together a piece that addressed why a production music library would call Milwaukee home when so much is happening on the coasts. A lot has changed since then, but our Wisconsin roots remain firmly planted and we won’t stop spreading the word on why Milwaukee is nothing to sneeze at.
The entire License Lab team is quite literally all over the map with composers in cities like Nashville, New York, Portland, and our internal team in California, Washington, and Wisconsin. In that spirit we wanted to highlight a few Milwaukee artists who have spread their wings and have been making waves on a national scale this year.
Buffalo Nichols
Buffalo Nichols delivers dark and dusty blues for the modern age. After releasing his self-titled debut album via Fat Possum Records, Milwaukee native Carl Nichols recently performed a soulful rendition of the album’s opening track “Lost & Lonesome” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. It’s a stirring performance that showcases his subtly virtuosic guitar in a style that feels familiar, but also dances on the boundaries of the blues with spacious effects and a more confessional, introspective narrative. Nichols currently calls Austin, Texas home, taking the opportunity to film his NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert in an empty downtown office. Buffalo Nichols isn’t just playing the blues in 2022, he’s infused the blues with what it means to be alive in 2022. Read on for what that means to him in this profile by Rolling Stone.
SistaStrings
Sisters Monique and Chauntee Ross recently relocated from Milwaukee to Nashville and it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the move has opened some doors. While the duo continues to play their soul-stirring blend of classical, R&B, and gospel influences, they are making appearances left and right and finding new stages by collaborating with other artists. In a very short amount of time, SistaStrings has backed Allison Russell on Jimmy Kimmel, The Ellen Show, oh, and the Grammy Awards themselves playing cello and violin right next to the Grammy-nominated musician. They’ll also be touring with the one and only Brandi Carlile this spring/summer. You don’t need a crystal ball to know that you’ll undoubtedly be seeing more of SistaStrings sooner than later.
Sylvan Esso
While Sylvan Esso would probably never claim to be a “Milwaukee band”, the electronic duo does have some history with the city and the state of Wisconsin, most notably through producer Nick Sanborn’s previous work with Megafaun. Sylvan Esso is made up of lead singer and songwriter Amelia Meath and the aforementioned Sanborn and are celebrating their first Grammy nomination for the band’s 2020 record Free Love. Based in Durham, the band’s recording studio (named Betty) has become a home for the musical community in North Carolina with credits that include Flock of Dimes and The Mountain Goats. Their bouncy and animated dance pop explores themes of sexual identity, vulnerability, and nostalgia in unexpected (and welcome) ways for music with an unapologetically pop sound, including a reference to the Underworld trilogy in their song “Ferris Wheel.” But at the end of the day, if you just want to get lost in the music and dance, do it.
Angie Swan
We’ve talked about Angie Swan before, but this won’t be the last time we share the love for the endlessly talented multi-instrumentalist and producer. You can see her rocking the guitar in David Bryne’s incredible Grammy nominated show American Utopia, now available on HBO Max if you weren’t lucky enough to see it on Broadway. She has also worked with artists like Adam Lambert, Cee Lo Green, and Will.i.am. so don’t be surprised when you see Angie Swan shredding next to more superstars soon.
You May Also Like:
