by isabel dowell
With glowing praise from some of Chicago’s highest news outlets, Neptune’s Core is taking over the Chicago music scene one track at a time. These two sets of sisters — Sofie Richter (vocals/guitar), Hannah Richter (bass), Jackie Cywinski (guitar/vocals), Kaitlin Cywinski (drums) — have just released their forthcoming EP, Called Upon. As Jackie Cynwinski puts it, “Called Upon is a beautifully diverse EP that truly shows how we work together in order to make music that is alive. The parts all four of us play separately naturally intertwine into unique, dynamic songs that we are extremely proud of.”
Being noted as a powerful representation of who the band is today, both as people and as musicians, Called Upon will be their first release in almost two years. A collection for growth, pain, joy, and everything in between, Neptune’s Core is ready to show the world what they are made of.
“Inside” and “Unloved” gave listeners a first look into the new era for Neptune’s Core and are praised for their booming basslines and shimmery guitar riffs, as well as soaring vocals and crashing drums. Their experimentation has turned the heads of music lovers everywhere, proving that Neptune’s Core is not afraid of challenging the norm of what girls in music can do.
The remaining four tracks, “Mermaid Song,” “A Widow’s Tune,” “Bunga,” and “Why?,” are all unique in their own ways. “Mermaid Song” is a slow and eerie, yet beautiful melody. With no vocals, this instrumental grasps your heart and ignites your brain into listening further. “A Widow’s Tune” starts immediately with delicate lyrics and provides sharp imagery that reads like poetry. “Bunga” is one I was most excited to hear for the first time, curious about the track by its name alone. It’s one of the more explosive tracks on Called Upon and definitely marked itself as my favorite song from Neptune’s Core. The words are devastating, but in the most truthful and honest of ways. “Why?” brings the EP to a perfect conclusion. Its echoing and repetitive nature will bring shivers down your spine. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Neptune’s Core or this EP is your first look into your music, we can both agree that this band is exactly what the rock music scene needs more of.
Called Upon (EP) Tracklisting:
01. Inside
02. Mermaid Song
03. A Widow’s Tune
04. Unloved
05. Bunga
06. Why?
Called Upon adds a new era of sound to Neptune’s Core’s already impressive list of previous releases. They’ve shared stages with Chicago favorites such as Dehd, Bunny, and Friko, and are destined to make themselves known on even larger star-studded bills with this latest release. The confidence and emotion of these sisters radiates from these six tracks, leaving you hungry for more. While these women have become a fixture in Chicago’s rock landscape, I guarantee they will be taking over the rock scene very soon.
Called Upon is out now and available on all streaming platforms! Neptune’s Core is ready for you to hear what they’ve been working on for the past two years and to show you exactly where their talents lie.