We’ve got a sound you don’t hear anywhere else.
We Back Artists Who Amplify Chicago Sounds
Hardstop Records exists to back the artists who carry Chicago’s sound forward. If you’re a venue, a record store, or someone who books shows, you want artists with a point of view and a unique identity. We’re adding to the Chicago music story one band at a time.
MEET
THE
ARTISTS
These are the musicians shaping the next wave of Chicago’s indie scene.
For fans of: indie rock, tight vocal stacks, cosmic pop energy
The Transference is what happens when indie rock grows teeth. Fronted by Laura Hollingsworth, the group pulls you in with songwriting that hits emotionally without losing edge. Think big hooks, haunting harmonies, and evocative lyricism.
Their single Aliens turned heads fast, and their debut LP, 100 Mirrors, put them on the radar of anyone paying attention to Chicago music right now. If you want a band that fills a room with presence, The Transference should be your first call.
Spotify | AppleMusic | YouTube
For fans of: 90s alt rock, dream pop grit, punchy hooks with teeth
6kitty hits fast and doesn’t let up. This Chicago-based, female-fronted indie rock trio blends the bite of 90s alt rock with a hazy dream pop edge, landing somewhere between raw basement energy and sharp songwriting. Think snarling bass lines, relentless drums, and guitar riffs that feel wired straight into the room.
Formed in 2018, 6kitty built their sound the hard way: loud shows, tight chemistry, and songs that stick. Their debut album Tux turned heads with its rebellious spirit and hook-heavy tracks like “My World” and “Taxi.” If you’re looking for a band that brings grit, volume, and real presence, 6kitty delivers every time.
Spotify | AppleMusic | YouTube
For fans of: 90s college rock, power-pop hooks, windows-down nostalgia
The Second Summer captures that fleeting, golden feeling of getting another shot at something meaningful. Rooted in Chicago’s alternative scene, the band blends 90s college rock grit with radio-ready power-pop melodies that land fast and stick hard. Expect jangling guitars, driving rhythm sections, and lyrics that feel like motion, like you’re heading somewhere new with the past still humming in the background.
Since debuting with their album undertow, they’ve built momentum through standout performances, big melodic hooks, and storytelling that taps straight into themes of change, resilience, and second chances. Now signed to Hardstop Records and gearing up for new releases, The Second Summer is a band built for long drives, loud sing-alongs, and the kind of moments you wish you could rewind just to feel them again.
Aliens – The Transference
Ramone Says I'm the Devil – The Transference
Featured Songs
Press and Events
VENUES
PLAYED
Schubas
Epiphany Center for the Arts
WGN
Burlington Bar
IPO Fest
Ready for a Chicago Music Revolution? Let’s Get to Work
Hardstop is rooted in this city. Every artist we sign lives here, records here, and plays the rooms that make Chicago’s scene what it is.