Brent Penny gives reflection w/ release “Need”

Brent Penny has been putting in work within Chicago’s pop scene for quite some time, and their new record, “Need,” is another example of just how much range exists within the city’s larger music ecosystem. On the surface, “Need” is simple. It’s laid back, warm, and somehow empty enough to carry the sonics that it does and carries the kind of atmosphere that could easily live somewhere between a quiet coffee shop and a late afternoon where absolutely nothing needs to move too fast. But underneath that calmness is where the record becomes much more interesting. The music relaxes you. The lyrics demand that you listen..

There’s a weight to the writing that contrasts with how effortlessly the production moves. Nothing feels like it’s fighting for your attention, yet the words still require it. That balance gives “Need” a strong replay value because depending on how you approach the record, you can either let it exist in the background or sit directly with what Brent Penny is actually saying. And we’re definitely here for that. We’ve also heard that Brent may have a larger project coming soon, and if that’s the case, we’re interested in seeing where this sound goes when given more room to develop. But alongside the music, we want the documentation..

We say this often because Chicago’s musical identity is still frequently reduced to only a handful of sounds when the actual ecosystem is considerably more expansive. Records like “Need” are part of that story. There are artists throughout this city creating pop, alternative music, jazz, electronic music, experimental work, and sounds that don’t necessarily fit comfortably underneath any one genre. That deserves to be documented too. With Brent Penny, we’d love to see more of the creative process behind records like this. What does the writing process look like? What conversations created these lyrics? How does something this calm end up carrying words with this much weight? And if an EP is actually on the way, what larger story are these records beginning to tell? Because documenting that process does more than introduce us to Brent Penny. It adds another piece to the evidence of what Chicago actually sounds like. And the more those stories are preserved, the harder it becomes to reduce this city to one sound..

Until then, take a listen to “Need” and let us know what you think..