Ratboys and Shallowater

Based in Chicago, the four-piece band Ratboys blends bubbly power-pop and post-country. Known for their sixth studio album, Singin to an Empty Chair, and the acclaimed 2023 release The Window, the group worked with co-producer Chris Walla.

Shallowater is a Texas slowcore band, formed in Lubbock in 2021, now based in Houston. They craft "West Texas dirtgaze," a blend of slowcore, alt-country, and post-rock. Notable albums include "There Is a Well" (2023) and the Stereogum "Album of the Week" "God's Gonna Give You a Million Dollars" (2025), featuring tracks like "Highway" and "Sadie." They collaborated with Hayden Pedigo and received an endorsement from Ethel Cain, known for their expansive sound.