‘Here You Are!’ The Roof Dogs Premiere Their Single/Video “Nihilist Chant”

Indie rock takes on so many forms and tones nowadays that it’s hard to know what ‘indie’ is exactly. And while it doesn’t come along much anymore, there is a classic type of indie that you just know when you hear it, a la R.E.M. from the 1980s.

The Roof Dogs may remind you of a purer, more authentic time in indie rock with their lighthearted, vintage sound that harkens back to those classic college rock days. They are following up their recently released single “Weather” with “Nihilist Chant,” another sample of what’s to come on the band’s debut album, Here You Are, due out on June 23rd via Earth Libraries. It’s everything an indie rock track should be; mid-tempo, groovy, laid-back, jovial, and playful. And let’s not forget some wry, witty lyrics…

Commenting on “Nihilist Chant,” the band collectively states:

“‘Nihilist Chant’ showcases the range of genres that appear throughout the forthcoming album – pop, classic indie rock, psychedelic, funk and more. Inspired by the concept of freewill, this lighthearted, yet slightly sinister track is a stream of consciousness that slowly descends into controlled chaos.”

Strong, well-composed, and disciplined songwriting are the cornerstones of what makes The Roof Dogs an act worth your time and attention. They take lyric writing and melodies very seriously within their songwriting, and they try to change up their formula from album to album. Expect Here You Are to be a change from The Roof Dogs’ previous output, with longer, more elaborate songs that are arranged around more extended instrumental portions. Unlike previous releases, the lyrics are not always treated more importantly than the band’s actual playing, which has helped the band diversify their sound.

Recorded over the course of 2021 in the quartet’s native city of Chicago, the songwriting formula differs in important ways. For instance, there is greater use of keyboards, with nearly every song featuring a good deal of synthesizer, organ, or piano. But this isn’t all to suggest that The Roof Dogs have stopped being The Roof Dogs. There are still huge chunks of that vintage indie spirit for you to consume, and even with some stylistic changes, you’ll come away from this new single and forthcoming album still confident that The Roof Dogs are the ultimate indie-rockers.

Artwork for the single “Nihilist Chant” by The Roof Dogs