Options The Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 06:44:00 +0000

I've moved my Newsletter to an email-only format

You can sign up here at my "contact" page. It's much simpler and more direct than Substack, and I'll be sending out another newsletter soon. As of now, there is no way to read letters of the past, no digital archive beyond your inbox.

I have also removed all Options music I have control over, from Spotify, because I have substantial issues with their operating practices. I stand in solidarity with many of my fellow Chicagoans who are also boycotting Spotify

You can still find my music on any other streaming service, Bandcamp, and my Merch Store.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:14:00 +0000

Options and Soft Surface (Cameron Wisch from Cende, Dust Star, Frankie Cosmos, Porches, etc) are about to embark on a short tour out East. I made a handy webpage where you can see all of the tour date & ticket links

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:02:00 +0000

Playing with Options 6pc band tonight at Schubas. it will be the band's first show in a year and a half, debuting almost entirely new material. We're opening for This Is Lorelei and Youbet, and the show is sold out.

Monday, I'm playing drums with Soft Surface (new band from Cameron Wisch of Cende/Dust Star) at the Empty Bottle. The show is free!

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:29:00 +0000

new Options song Had My Share is out today on Bandcamp, and on streaming services very soon as well.

Had My Share by Options

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:06:00 +0000

Going on my first Options (Computer Music) tour starting this Saturday!!

Info can be found here

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:12:00 +0000

Got a new Newsletter up and running! Already sent out my first note, and #2 drops March 1st - subscription is free (no paid tier is available as of now) and you can join up via the handy button below.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:06:00 +0000

Finally got around to updating my Live Audio page, which includes a live session on NPR/WXPN with Squirrel Flower, and live video sessions via the Puddle Splashers youtube channel, including videos from Sun Organ, Thick Paint, Stress Positions, theadoore, and others.

It's taken a long time to work through mixing and mastering the backlog of Puddle Splashers video sessions, but we've got more coming up.

I was also asked to be a part of Ben Arguelles' (of DZ Records) podcast Bending Brains - this was my first time discussing my audio practice at-length, and I had a great time talking and hanging out... two and a half hours passed very quickly for me. You can listen to the episode anywhere Podcasts are found, or watch it on YouTube.

As I was cleaning up my practice space this week, I was surprised to find a box full of Options merch including Swimming Feeling t-shirts, Wind's Gonna Blow crewnecks, and a couple other things. You can purchase what's left on Bandcamp.

On the Unfortunate News front - it looks like the email newsletter service (TinyLetter) that I've been using for a while, is shutting down. Not sure what the future will hold for my very-intermittent newsletter, but hoping to find a replacement service.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:44:00 +0000

the new Joey Nebulous record is out! I played drums on a couple of tracks, as well as recorded most of it. Hope you'll dig in - I think these songs rule and I'm grateful to have been a part of bringing this to life.

Joey Spumoni Creamy Dreamy Party All The Time by Joey Nebulous

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:48:00 +0000

Patter (who I play drums with) is going on our first tour! I built a nice little webpage with links to all venues, purchasing tickets, etc.

We're also releasing a second EP this year, called Patter Theme 2 - the release show will also have Floatie and Moontype on the bill, and you can pre-order the tape here (along with two advance singles) and get tickets here. We'll be selling the tape early on this tour as well.

Tour poster by Ann Escamilla

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 05 May 2023 16:36:00 +0000

pleased to announce the first Options tour in 5 years as well as Swimming Feeling vinyl! dates here records here

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:56:00 +0000

Hello hello, have been so busy I forgot to update all the gigs on my 'live' music page... been playing a lot of shows! Plus, spending tons of time in the studio.

The beginning of April will see releases from some projects I'm super stoked on, including Proun's first EP which I produced/played drums on, a new Harvey Waters EP which I mixed and partially tracked, new Joey Nebulous tunes I partially recorded, and definitely more that I can't remember at the moment. I think I've learned close to 30 songs in the last couple weeks, and as you can imagine, my brain feels like a bowl of soup. But like... the tastiest & most comforting bowl of soup around.

This weekend I'll be in Toronto ON playing bass with my buds Pet Fox, which I'm really looking forward to!

Next after that, I'll be drumming with Joey Nebulous for their EP release show on April 11th.

Ok gonna go climb some rocks, till next time !

- Seth

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:34:00 +0000

Hello! It's 2023... bananas. I've been up to a ton so far, including Patter's first release, recording new tunes with Mister Goblin, a short tour in California with Dust Star, and plenty else.

I'm playing an Options solo set on Sunday at my friend's house (dubbed Sappho's Roadhouse) in Chicago - shoot me an email if you want the address!

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 19:09:00 +0000

Greetings!

I've been playing drums in a new band called Patter with my buds Wilson Brehmer (the Knees, Jodi) and Joe Suihkonen (The Deals, Gentle Heat), and today we're releasing some music in form of a video session with Puddle Splashers, recorded at Ohmstead! Glad to finally be sharing some of this music w y’all, more to come. You can follow us on instagram if that's your thing, at @patterband

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 13:52:00 +0000

Glad to share that I have a new album coming out on 7/1 - it’s called Swimming Feeling, and it’ll be available digitally everywhere & on Cassette via Landland Colportage!

I’ll be celebrating with a “release show” on 7/2 with Floatie and Spirits Having Fun :) tix @ bio-link, get em while u can !

A new tune called Toast is premiering over at The Alternative, and will be available to stream everywhere you listen to music, starting tomorrow.

album art by the legend James Lee Chiahan, thank you to Alayne May for the single art

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:33:00 +0000

I’m releasing a new Options tune this Friday 3/4, it’s called Don’t I and it features my bud Sean Hallock on the drums

Don't I by Options

I'm also trying out an Ampled page, which is sort of like patreon but music-centric - Don’t I is streaming early on there, as well as another unreleased tune from the archives.

I plan on using the page to share unreleased music, insight into my process, and more.

Alright, thanks for listening & more before too long...

- Seth

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 22:03:00 +0000

PRE-ORDER:

USA/CANADA

UK/INT'L

Thrilled to finally announce that pre-orders for the WIND’S GONNA BLOW vinyl are live! You can order one at the links posted above.

If you order today, all $ goes to me, as it’s Bandcamp Friday.

Immense & endless thanks to Mikee at Boslevan/Vino Sangre for his kindness, care, and attention to detail in bringing my ideal-physical-version of this album to life!

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:49:00 +0000

On the Draw by Options is out today! I made it in my room in one week in early May, and this release features contributions from friends and roommates. Listen on Bandcamp, or wherever else you can stream/purchase music digitally.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Tue, 04 May 2021 17:31:00 +0000

Great Deceivers' final LP was released on 4/30 via LandLand Colportage. buy a tape here and listen everywhere you can find music. I played drums in this band since 2016, and also contributed harmonies and other knicknacks to this record. It was recorded, mixed, and mastered by me and Russell Harrison. Much love and thank you for listening- I'm glad I got to be a part of this band.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 15:09:00 +0000

Today *only* for Bandcamp Day, I'm releasing a remastered version of 6 songs from my final pre-pandemic show, where I was accompanied by Joe Suihkonen (The Deals) on guitar & singing.

Originally released on the Puddle Splashers youtube channel. You can watch the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TzBpk5AJBRhZs5h5_hthP1SX_MnaBKj

These recordings will be taken down after today, but the youtube videos will remain on the channel. Hope you enjoy!
- Seth

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

a new Options song called Lure is out today (2/5) !

listen on Bandcamp, also available on all streaming services

I recorded it last month at Ohmstead with Adrian Kobziar
mixed and mastered by me
art by Morgan Paije

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 20:25:00 +0000

Hello, it’s the last Bandcamp Day of the year. and it’s a loaded one! I released two new tunes called Room & Taste (album art by my friend and roommate Griffin Trapp)

My new band Patter (with Wilson and Joe) has our first song out in the world, on a comp called Warm Violet that is benefitting Chicago Community Jail Support.

Also on the comp is a brand new Options demo from an album I’m recording now, plus music from Floatie (which I recorded/mixed), Jeraf (which I recorded), and 40-something others!!

The Deals (Joe’s band, who also plays in Patter and Options Band) have dropped a single and pre-order for their absolutely 10/10 album coming out 1/5. I tracked this album with them, and it was one of my all-time favorite recording sessions!

Griffin released a new EP that I mastered… it’s awesome, really fun adventurous stuff.

Cee Dertz (Options alumni from the 2019 Q4 band, and RHCP Enthusiast) dropped his new LP which we recorded in 2019!!! It’s dope, his arrangements are bananas, and yes there are bongos!

There’s so much great music to buy today, hop to it.

Peace,
Seth

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:41:00 +0000

A new song called Bound (To) is premiering over at Flood Magazine today. Have a listen right here: https://floodmagazine.com/81946/options-bound-to-premiere/

My new full-length album, Window's Open, will be out this Friday 10/23

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 15:24:00 +0000

Hello, I'm releasing a new full-length album called “Window's Open”

I recorded it from 2018-2020, tracking sporadically at several locations. The album is mostly centered around ambient guitar loops, and uses digital recording technology to imagine a more freeform way of making songs.

art by Morgan Paije (http://www.morganpaije.com)

You can hear the first track "Warm,” which is premiering on Post-Trash today:
http://post-trash.com/news/2020/10/9/options-warm-post-trash-premiere

The album will be out 10/23 digitally on Bandcamp, and on all major streaming services as well. You can pre-order it on my Bandcamp page, if that's your thing: https://optionsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/windows-open

Peace
- Seth

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 15:49:00 +0000

Hello hello - I'm going to be playing some music on the internet tonight (8/13), over at @indiebasketball Instagram channel. My set will start at 8:30pm CST/9:30pm EST.

noreply@blogger.com (Seth) — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:57:00 +0000

Today I released my new album, Wind's Gonna Blow! These songs were realized during a period of significant personal growth. I had more fun recording this than anything I've done before, and I was able to learn a lot from this particular journey as well. I feel both relief and gratitude to be able to finally share this album. I hope it finds a way to resonate with you.

Love,
Seth