Chastity Belt

Chastity Belt sounds like the specific kind of clarity that comes from being slightly bored and deeply observant. Their music is built on a foundation of interlocking, chorus-heavy guitar lines that shimmer and snake around one another, creating a melodic web that feels both sturdy and ethereal. It is Pacific Northwest indie rock at its most introspective, trading aggressive hooks for a patient, atmospheric sprawl.

What truly sets them apart is the tension between their sonic beauty and their lyrical bite. Julia Shapiro’s vocals are famously deadpan, delivering lines that range from devastatingly vulnerable self-reflections to sharp, satirical takedowns of gender norms and social expectations. The rhythm section provides a tight, post-punk influenced backbone that keeps the songs from drifting too far into the clouds, grounding the dreamier elements in a relatable, basement-show reality.

Start with the album 'I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone' to hear them at their most atmospheric and cohesive. It captures a mood of productive loneliness and late-twenties drift that is perfectly suited for headphones on a gray day. If you prefer their more humorous, punk-leaning roots, their debut 'No Regerts' offers a rawer look at their early Walla Walla days.