NPR

Of Houseflies And Drunk Dads: Ohmme Tells The Stories Behind 'Parts,' Track By Track

Two classically trained pianists pick up electric guitars and dive into uncharted musical waters. Here, Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart explain their first album as Ohmme.
Source: Maren Celest

I love everything about Ohmme's debut album, Parts. Here we have two classically trained pianists, picking up electric guitars and diving into uncharted musical waters.

Ohmme's Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart take a joyous auditory romp on Parts, with unison voices at the album's heart and quirkiness at its core. The Chicago duo's desire to experiment and reach beyond their comfort zone explains why their list of collaborators includes fellow Chicagoans Jeff Tweedy (with his project Tweedy), Chance the Rapper (with his album Coloring Book) and Doug McCombs of Tortoise, one of the best known experimental bands of the past 20 years.

Here, Ohmme walks us through the ways houseflies, a selfish alcoholic, Arto Lindsay and a caring grandmother all wound up transformed into song.

1. Icon

The song is meant to be an antidote to the wretched times we live in; it feels uncomfortably happy, seesawing in a strange groove and never

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min readCrime & Violence
Guatemalan AG Raids Save The Children Office Over A Migrant Children Rights Complaint
Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche said that the complaint filed by an unidentified foreigner had raised serious concerns because it involved allegations of abuse of children.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
Trump's Immunity Arguments And The Experiences Of The Justices Who Might Support It
Five of the six conservatives spent much of their lives in the Beltway, working in the White House and Justice Department, seeing their administrations as targets of unfair harassment by Democrats.
NPR2 min readCrime & Violence
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 Sex Crimes Conviction In New York Overturned
The New York State Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the former movie mogul had not received a fair trial in 2020 that led to a 23-year sentence, and ordered a new trial.

Related Books & Audiobooks