Chris Staples

Also known for his work in the bands Twothirtyeight, Discover America, and Telekinesis, Chris Staples' solo material has traversed gritty indie rock, upbeat singer/songwriter pop, and warm, reflective folk-rock. The singer/songwriter/guitarist married introspective lyrics and moody melodies with a scrappy attack informed by punk and garage rock on his solo debut, 2004's Blackest Hair, Bluest Eyes, but ten years later, American Soft was a more subtle and carefully crafted exercise in indie folk. 2016's Golden Age took the more modest feel of American Soft and added a bit more polish and some pop inflections in the songwriting and production, an approach continued on such thoughtful, intimate albums as 2019's Holy Moly and 2023's Cloud Souvenirs.