Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl & Macie Stewart Release ‘BODY SOUND’ Today and Share New Single

Why It Matters

The project pushes avant‑garde folk boundaries, highlighting analog experimentation in contemporary indie music, and signals International Anthem’s commitment to innovative cross‑genre collaborations.

Key Takeaways

• Debut trio album BODY SOUND released April 8.
• New single burning | counting (sleeping) leads promotion.
• Recorded in Chicago, Knoxville; analog tape loops central.
• Track titles reference Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit scores.
• Tour spans US East Coast, Europe, UK in 2026.

Pulse Analysis

The emergence of BODY SOUND marks a notable convergence of experimental folk and avant‑garde production. Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart each bring a history of boundary‑pushing collaborations, from Stewart’s solo work on International Anthem to Johnson’s improvisational string work. By releasing the album on multiple physical formats alongside digital streams, the trio taps into a growing collector market while ensuring accessibility for streaming audiences, reinforcing International Anthem’s reputation for curating forward‑thinking releases.

Production on BODY SOUND leans heavily on analog tape techniques, a rarity in today’s digital‑first landscape. Engineer Dave Vettraino’s hand‑crafted loops and tape‑based editing create a tactile soundscape where timbre and rhythm flirt with fragmentation. The decision to name tracks after Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit scores adds a conceptual layer, aligning the music with historic text‑score practices and signaling a dialogue between 1960s experimental art and modern improvisation. This analog‑centric approach not only differentiates the album sonically but also appeals to listeners seeking a more organic, immersive experience.

From a business perspective, the album’s rollout—paired with a virtual Bandcamp listening party and a cross‑continental tour—demonstrates a hybrid promotional model that blends online engagement with traditional live circuits. The tour’s itinerary, spanning key cultural venues from Chicago to Berlin and London, positions the trio within influential indie and experimental circuits, potentially expanding their fanbase and driving streaming numbers. For the broader market, BODY SOUND underscores a resurgence of interest in genre‑defying projects that marry high‑concept artistry with accessible release strategies, a trend that could shape future label investments in experimental music.