Dear listeners and readers of Soundville,
Today I would like to tell you about the band Bad Self Portraits from Omaha, Nebraska, and their debut album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’. Bad Self Portraits is made up of Ingrid Howell (vocals, bass), Cole Kempcke (guitar), Connor Paintin (guitar, keys), and Jesse White (drums, vocals), high school and college friends who came together in 2017 and since then have been giving their listeners wonderful indie rock music. But there are a few things that make the band stand out on the rock scene, and I think these are very important features that can resonate with many listeners. Bad Self Portraits make a very personal rock sound. At the foundation of their music are themes such as self-acceptance and the search for one’s own path within family rules. For example, vocalist Ingrid Howell was raised in a very religious family with strict rules, and also faced undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder, and this experience, without a doubt, brought many difficulties.
The anxiety of growing up, communicating with other people with different experiences, the constant search for harmony with the world, and overcoming fear, all of this became the base of ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’. And this is what makes the album, on the one hand, a chance for Bad Self Portraits to free themselves from a traumatic past, and on the other hand, to give listeners a space where each of the musicians is honest, speaks directly, puts all of themselves into the sound, and leaves an obvious sign that any difficulties can be overcome. And even with a dark backstory, the present and the future can be filled with light, love, and hope.
On the other hand, what absolutely impressed me was Bad Self Portraits’ decision to release their music on physical formats like vinyl. For example, their very first record never came out due to production reasons, but their debut album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ was already available on vinyl this August, so listeners could buy it as part of the program where the album was released ahead of streaming. And only on September 19 did it become available on digital platforms.
I like the band’s philosophy of bringing back the importance of physical releases. Because, you know, I remember the time when I was buying music on cassettes and CDs, and if something great played on the radio, I would tape it onto cassettes with an old radio recorder so I could come back to my favorite songs. That was a whole experience, a whole life in itself. And now music disappears so quickly, the first track, the second, the third, and it’s hard to even recall what was played first, and even harder to return to it in this endless flow of listening. That’s why the band’s decision to bring back the value of physical copies definitely deserves special attention and recognition. That is why the debut album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ is something everyone can buy and experience through the aesthetics of listening to vinyl. Or you can enjoy the album on streaming platforms. And I suggest that right now you put everything aside and listen to the strongest tracks on ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’, which make Bad Self Portraits one of the most promising bands on the indie rock scene.
And, of course, the first track ‘Table Tennis Champion’, with its wild guitars, overloaded rock sound, and stylish keys, just fills every moment, creating a very dense sound. The drums add a pulsing rhythm to the track, and I like how the vocals sound, here very soft, like a warm breeze, adding lightness to the sound. Because of this, you can simply enjoy this track and receive incredible inspiration and a feeling of care that passes between the parts.
Then sounds the track ‘Pensive’, the main single from the album, where the vocals gain a fuller sound, filled with echo and merging in energy with the arrangement, which sounds smooth and steady, and the shimmering guitars add a slight anxiety. I like how Bad Self Portraits work with atmosphere, creating a cinematic sound. This track reflects the feeling Howell experienced during her relationship with a partner who had a completely different upbringing, a different story. And this search for compromise, and the desire to hold on to the relationship with the anxiety of losing it, intertwine into a vivid incident, filling the track with a deep story. You know, it’s quite curious because the whole album is built around the consequences of living in rather hard conditions, and this single brings you very close to the reality where the consequences of the past are visible. And this creates a very introspective view of the album, where it seems like several dimensions exist, and each dimension affects the others. Quite interesting feelings, this is quite rare among musical albums. It’s more of an artistic, cinematic effect.
It’s quite interesting that after such an intense track, filled with lived-through moments, the next track ‘Windowsill’ begins. It lowers the intensity, the vocals even out and take on a misty sound, the guitars play smoothly and brightly in the best indie rock tradition, and the drums keep a soft rhythm. I have to admit this is one of my favorite tracks on the album because of its tenderness and softness, which create a very cozy atmosphere within the indie rock sound. Returning to the album’s central theme, the track ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ conveys the fears that gripped Howell throughout her upbringing. Bad Self Portraits worked interestingly on this track, a very heavy kick drum, tension-building percussion that leaves no room for a smooth, light sound. The guitar hits hard, low, roaring, filling the entire low-end space, while the vocals sound light, fully wrapped in hope. But because of the dense sound, they cannot break free, it’s like a little bird trapped in a cage, and you can feel this when listening to the track. Incredible!
An interesting twist happens in the track ‘To Love & Get Lost’, so I want to highlight it. There is something electronic here, a completely experimental sound for the album. This adds an otherworldly quality, changing the atmosphere and energy, and I recommend listening to ‘To Love & Get Lost’ several times because each time this track opens up in new ways. The slightly distorted arrangement creates for me a feeling of flowing water as a metaphor for the infinity of time and possibility. Howell’s vocals here take on more of a pop atmosphere with soft, airy notes and a very close sound that unfolds into mystical alt rock in the spirit of Twin Peaks, especially in the guitars.
The final track ‘Casio’ is my favorite song. It has everything to stay in the listener’s memory for a long time, with an intriguing beginning of light harmonies that spread out like a gentle ambient sound. The vocals merge in a completely weightless way with the arrangement, then everything levels out and builds up to explode like a supernova at the track’s end, fading into near silence and creating an atmosphere that defies explanation. It must be felt and absorbed. I like that ‘Casio’ starts quite unpredictably. It can catch the interest of even those who have never listened to rock music before. And closer to the end, the melody reveals how stunning, emotional, and wild rock can be, and how it can transform. This is the power of the band’s sound and the album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’. Undoubtedly, the band are masters of this sound, which I think is their calling card. Be sure to add your favorite tracks from the album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ to your playlist and follow Bad Self Portraits so you don’t miss even more great music that could become your new favorite. This was amazing!
Hey, Bad Self Portraits! Thank you for releasing such wonderful, cozy music. I feel a lot of energy, strength, love for sound, and a desire to tell stories to the world and open up to listeners in the album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’. And this makes your sound so personal, intimate, and filled with a warm tone that immediately resonates with the soul. It’s quite an interesting experience, and I had it while listening to your album. The final track simply amazed me, I got goosebumps at the end and almost cried. It felt like a release from past pain and fears, and that is just incredible. I will definitely share the album ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’ with everyone so they too can listen to such amazing rock music. I love it and I want to be your fan!
With much love,
Soundville
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