Southbender
SOUTHBENDER
“Book Club” is less of a debut album and more of a new chapter for the dream-pop duo now known as Southbender. Kris Neises and Andy Ingram have recorded and performed together for over a decade, releasing most of their collaborative records, including 2013’s “The Thankful Parade” and 2022’s “Tilted Summer”, under the moniker Kris N. Like on past releases, “Book Club” is packed full of the harmonies and hooks that the duo is most known for. However, this record does not sound like anything they have previously released. “Book Club” by Southbender is the perfect balance of moody and dreamy while staying catchy and organic.
The album begins with a slow acoustic guitar and the spoken line “because to me, this book club is everything.” This introduces the record’s original concept of a book club at the end of the world. However over the two years that the band had been writing and recording this album, the concept grew to explore many more themes the duo had experienced in their personal lives. These include themes of grief and lost love. On the record’s first single, “Convinced I Made You Up”, the band brings all these topics together but through a pop lens that gives the track a hopeful gaze with an infectious hook. On the title track, “Book Club”, the band leans into its dream-pop roots and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The track begins with a harmonized sing-a-long chorus, “wanna join your book club/ wanna read into everything”, that will feel familiar for fans of Kris N.’s earlier releases. In contrast, songs like “Rush Hour Rapture” and ‘We Hate It Here”, feel truly original to this project and are closer to slow-core than dream-pop.
“Book Club”, which was recorded in Ingram’s home studio, Our Arsenal, using mainly acoustic instrumentation, is eight songs and just under 25 minutes. Available on October 2, 2026 via Poptek Records, this strong debut by Southbender will no doubt be the on-repeat Fall record of 2026.
Southbender = Kris Neises- vocals, guitars. Andy Ingram- drums.
Location = Dayton, Ohio
SHOP
The dreamy, slow-core debut from Southbender, the new duo from longtime collaborators Kris N and Andy I. On 140 gram vinyl. Features the singles “Convinced I Made You Up”, “Book Club”, Rush Hour Rapture”, and “We Hate It Here”.
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