Sick Day's 'Overexposure': the sound and grit of a midwest winter
3/17/2024
Sick Day sounds like February in the American midwest — in your face with passion lurking underneath a cool, snowy surface. The Chicago-based indie rock group, led by singer/songwriter Olivia Wallace, is reminiscent of the golden age of midwest emo, but with a little more grace.
“Sleeping in the Dark” and “Deja vu” marked Sick Day’s first two EPs in 2020 and 2021. These two were followed by Love is a State of Mind in 2022. Through various band member changes, a pandemic, and Wallace’s evolving musical maturity, “Overexposure” came to be. Released on March 14, the 5-track EP weaves threads of the group’s past into their future.
Alongside Wallace, the current lineup of Sick Day includes Ryan Donlin (guitarist), Kaity Szymborski (bassist), and Chaepter (cellist), and Shravan (drums).
“These [‘Overexposure’] are the stronger full-band songs,” Wallace said. “I have ones that are “better,” but they’re better as solos. ‘Overexposure’ is an epic, big sound. ‘It Hurts to Try’ is in the middle of the EP, and that one is darker and has a different tone. There’s a mix so people’s ears aren’t super overwhelmed.”
"Overexposure" by Sick Day was released on March 14 via Substitute Scene Records.
But being overwhelmed is a pleasurable experience with Sick Day. There’s a fullness to “Overexposure,” carrying much of the same percussive weight as its grungy, melancholic sonic predecessors. Their sound has instrumental hints of artists like Joyce Manor and The Smashing Pumpkins, while carrying some vocal similarities with artists like Annie DiRusso.
“I just have a really good community of other musicians and songwriters that I’m friends with,” she said. “There are a lot of bands who I brainstorm with, talk together, or play shows with.”
“Overexposure” is Sick Day’s first release under Substitute Scene Records, a Brooklyn-based label focused on featuring female, queer, and non-binary artists. The label’s owner, Emily O’ Brien, was who Wallace connected with.
“They have a DIY ethos as well,” Wallace said. “Emily at Substitute was really excited about the EP. I wanted someone to help us with the logistics of releasing — it’s a lot of marketing effort these days.”
What’s ironic about Wallace’s discomfort with marketing Sick Day is that she pitched to Substitute Scene Records. And me.
“I only put my music out there because I put a lot of effort into it and I feel like people might like it,” Wallace said. “Ultimately, I’m pretty quiet. I don’t talk a lot in social situations. It’s only with music that I’m really putting myself out there.”
Even at live shows, Wallace describes stepping into a different state of being when performing.
“It feels like a separation from myself,” Wallace said. I go into another state of mind and zone in. It doesn’t feel vulnerable, just like I’m channeling a certain energy.”
But no part of making music is quite as isolating for Wallace as the act of songwriting.
“Songwriting for me is a really solitary process,” Wallace said. “I’ll write songs alone, but I ran this songwriting group online during the pandemic where people would bring in songs every week – typically local Chicago songwriters. It was really cool because it brought a sense of community to something that was a little bit isolated before, especially during an isolating time.”
“Overexposure” is a relatively new batch of tracks, completed in the past couple years. And with all the changes those years have presented, a constant has been this Chicago music scene.
“Chicago has a really cool DIY scene because rent is a little bit cheaper than other big cities,” she said. “It’s cheaper than places like New York and San Francisco. I think because of that people can have house shows a little more — there’s more room for people.”
Sick Day’s figurehead captures this back-and-forth dynamic with connection. Believing in one’s work and wanting to share it, while also feeling off put by “marketing it.” Enjoying being with others to create new music, but ultimately needing to be alone to work fully. Wallace embodies the heart of Sick Day, an intentional project shaped by passion, angst, and tracks that sound like they’ve got the grit to get you through a midwest winter.
Keep up with Sick Day: Instagram / Linktree
Until next time,
Rocka out