High-Speed Chase

Welcome back to Finetuned, lovelies! We have a group this week who makes music that hits in such an endearing and real way. With that said, Finetuned this week is all about Chase Petra! Let’s cry and sing and dance, all in the same.

Who Are Chase Petra?

Chase Petra is a band that formed back in 2017 that feels like it was created out of utter necessity and like it was a requirement. As First Avenue states, “Chase Petra is a band that exists out of necessity. In other words, within this project, making music is not so much a choice as it is an inherent and inextricable feature of life.” Hunter Allen (guitar and vox) started the band in 2017. Evan Schaid joined shortly thereafter as the drummer and Brooke Dickson jumped in on the bass and vox.

I think one of the most beautiful parts of their music is the complete air of authenticity that is felt. Not an ounce of me feels like the lyrics and composition are fake. Hunter has an unbelievably recognizable voice that rings true so well, its like it has a grip around your eardrums, utterly captivating. They are on the rise, keeping true to who they are telling stories of life, as it happens and how its felt.

What To Expect Sonically

Expect to hear lots of groove and extremely emotive vocals! Hunter has this sort of voice that screams a bit of Hayley Williams, hits in the ways you’d expect from emo bands to hit, but with a very alt-rock (borderline folk) approach arrangement-wise. The touch of piano in this record in addition to the very intentional harmonies layered super low in the mix make the sonic landscape feel so all-encompassing. It goes without saying, but this is a newsletter so I’m going to say it (lol); the lyrics on this release are unreal. Let’s break that down a bit more clearly.

Lyrical Themes and Modalities

This LP is a deeply introspective album that truly explores themes of self-doubt, growth, disillusionment, and emotional resilience (lack thereof, or the requiring of). It opens with a reflection on envy and insecurity, transforming internal criticism into empowered expression. There's a persistent reckoning with childhood expectations—how ambitions shift over time and how success becomes a moving target.

Moving forward, the album navigates the tenderness and excitement of long-distance love, as well as a pointed critique of organized religion’s manipulative dynamics. This particular dichotomy is one that I’ve reconciled with and fought through so many times over the last few years. Understanding the theme and very core of love, having the juxtaposition of long-distance love and religion is such a raw, arguably unbridled take.

Throughout the record, the tension between societal distractions and the fading spark of youthful dreams is palpable, it really feels like you can touch it. An interlude that feels minimalist offers a raw moment of vulnerability, symbolizing the risk of personal leaps. After this there is also a clever breakup anthem, filled with jazzy brass and biting humor, highlighting the satisfaction of self-sufficiency. The ordinary rhythms of life are dissected with both frustration and acceptance, while dissociation and the long road to self-recognition emerge as recurring motifs. Later tracks reflect a reawakened desire to embrace life fully, even amid lingering pain. The complexity of choosing between forgiveness and vengeance is explored with visceral imagery, and desire is laid bare with bold candor and pulsing instrumentation. Ultimately, the album closes on a contemplative note, valuing the quiet, transitional moments in life over any grand, dramatic resolutions.

Lullabies For Us All

I think that this specific rec would be remiss if I did not also call out songs like Pacific, Monet Issues, and Nature vs. Nurture. None of these are on the album rec, but please listen to those too! I digress… Lullabies for Dogs is a very real record with lyrics that ring very true for a lot of the emotions I’ve felt in the last few years. Can ya dig it?

Thanks for reading here, Finetuners! I do hope you all have enjoyed this week’s Finetuned. I’d appreciate any insights, admiration, or otherwise. You can reply to the newsletter directly or DM me on Twitter. (or email me here: [email protected])

Please do share Finetuned with your friends & fam & whoever else! I believe great music should be shared, cherished, and understood from all sorts of perspectives.

See you all in the next one! 🙌