Sophie's Floorboard: Sincere Engineer

Sincere Engineer are a four-piece pop punk/emo band from Chicago, Illinois that began around 2013. Originally conceived as the solo acoustic project of vocalist/guitarist Deanna Belos, they expanded to a full-band line-up. Their debut album Rhombithian, was put out in 2017 by Red Scare, while their sophomore release Bless My Psyche came out last year on Hopeless Records. This is a name I've seen requested for years, but only recently took the time to realize what I'd been missing. This band is absolutely fantastic. Sonically, bright, melodic chords washing over an energetic rhythm section, serving as the backdrop to some devastingly introspective lyricism. They echo bands like The Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, and The Menzingers, all the while maintaining a distinct sound thanks to the incredible songwriting they've got going. They also don't shy away from the poppier elements of their sound, with their sophomore release and especially their most recent singles leaning heavily into some shimmering production and catchy hooks. Being nervous has never sounded this fun, if that makes any sense. As always, this is highly recommended stuff, enjoy.