Bandcamp link: HERE

Music has and always will be political. From the musicians you choose to support to the platform you use for listening, these are all actions and choices we make that may or may not perpetuate normalized political apathy. I understand the “accessibility” of Spotify; however, how are we supporting the arts when we use platforms that poorly pay musicians? This is not just a Spotify issue, but major streaming platforms use their engagement to fund discriminatory and violent institutions, like ICE. We want our money to go to deserving artists, not AI warfare. With that being said, I have distanced myself from major streaming platforms, and you may wonder, “How do you find new music?” (as if Spotify and Apple Music have “great” algorithms to find new artists…) Well, shoutout Bandcamp. I want to acknowledge that this app has its flaws, but it's also become my way to be more intentional and intimate with the musicians I listen to. While scrolling through recent releases, I came across Melt ICE, a collaborative album released on February 13th, 2026. This project was formed by Anna Devine, Ryan Kemp, and Jonny Fuller, who built “Minnesota Artists United Against ICE,” in which over 100 local Minnesotan artists (hence the majority white musicians on this project) came together and created a collection of new music. This album not only spans genres but also features 110 unreleased songs that can only be accessed via a minimum donation of $10 on Bandcamp. So yeah, I am here not just to review the album but to urge everyone to reconnect with music, because to love music is to love people, and you can’t love people if you are funding institutions against them.

I wish I could review each of these songs, especially because there are so many amazing and rising talents featured on this project, but again, there are 110 songs… So I am going to dive into some of my favorites! For starters, the first track on this album, “Promise Me” by 12th House Sun, hooked me onto this album so quickly. This band blends shoegaze with screamo and rock, and essentially creates one of the most emo songs I’ve heard recently. This song begins slowly and is reminiscent of any American shoegaze band, but the lyrics are audible (lol) and gut-wrenching. The lead singer has the voice of an emo post hardcore singer, and accompanying them singing the chorus, you have a background vocalist fry screaming, and it’s just absolute cinema. Now jumping to track 33, “Come Forward” by flaco. This track blends synths with classical and ballad melodies to create a reflective piece. Although it is slow, I found the sporadic rewinds interesting as they dislodged me, the listener, from what I expected to come out of any other slow, poetic song.

In addition to the 100+ artists on this project, the co-organizers also participated. Anna Devine was the third feature on this album, and her style could not be more different from 12th House Sun. Her melancholic harmonies, paired with the haunting acoustics, create a sound that reminds me of being an 18-year-old girl and wanting the world. Her voice and artistic expression feel like she should be signed to Last Recordings on Earth, if that helps shape how I see her vibe. Then there’s Ryan Kemp, also known by his artist name of Chutes, who is featured on track 19 with his demo “Star.” Chutes is an experimental electronic artist, and this track was fun and upbeat, but it also felt like an assemblage of electronic music with indie rock. There’s a recurring short little riff in this song that sounds exactly like this emo rock song, but I can’t remember, rip… reach out if you know, though. Finally, of the three organizers, Jonny Fuller, aka Jonny Darko, contributed his song “DEMIURGE,” which, upon listening to the beginning of the song, felt like walking into a cathedral. As for the actual songs and lyrics, I am not the biggest fan of this genre, as it reminded me of Sleep Token, which, again, not a fan of. However, I really appreciate the sonic elements of this track, and the chorus felt much more compatible between melody and singer.

Coming upon this project, I was fully expecting not to know any of these artists, which is a GREAT thing, but another great thing was the fact that I did know some of these artists. Track 44 features a demo titled “Falling Through Your Hands” from Hey ILY, a band I have been following for a while. This song begins like an average indie bedroom pop song with hints of hyperpop, very similar to Peach Pit (specifically Alrighty Aphrodite). But the latter half of the song transforms into a total rock blowout, incorporating sounds from screamo, ska, and, in the best way possible, noise pollution. Then we have the love of my life, Mother Soki, whom I did not expect, but seeing her name with her track “Crush” was a pleasant surprise. Of course, reading “Crush,” I thought of Ethel Cain… and listening to it…it was Ethel Cain. Mother Soki covered Mother Cain. Hearing her rendition of “Crush” with her distorted, hazy voice, overlaid with synthy Mk.geeked guitars, I ascended and had to text everyone and their mothers. Moving on, track 78 “Fleeced” by pity party reaffirmed how much I love punks. Pity party in general knows how to break down their music, and this song is no exception. I do wish there was more noise, but que sera sera. Finally, they got runo plum on track 87, which was so crazy. I used to listen to runo plum on repeat in high school, so it definitely felt like a full circle moment hearing her again. This track is atmospheric and melds indie-folk into a ballad filled with yearning lyrics.

There are definitely tracks on this project that shine bright and some that had a weaker hook on me, but this is entirely personal to my preferences. With that being said, this project has a song for everyone: metalheads, indie lovers, midwest emo losers (me), therefore, getting all this for $10? So worth it. The organizers have informed that “The project has been uploaded to Bandcamp in order to maximize profits, which will be donated to MNTogether, an initiative that supports Minnesotans impacted by Operation Metro Surge,” so you know where your money is going. Once again, music unites and connects, and as witnesses to the brutalities of the current administration, this is when it is most important to exercise our autonomy. Yeah, we don’t have a billion dollars, but if you are currently paying for any streaming platform subscription, I know you have $10. To those who can not afford this album, actively choosing not to participate in major corporations and being selective with your consumerism is a powerful move in itself. And with that final note, be educated, be loud, and be active. The link to the Bandcamp is listed at the top, and happy listening!