Press Kit

About Fascinator

Fascinator erupts with moments of explosive power and passages of airy space powered by an honest voice that grapples with personal politics and loss in a divided universe.

The Chicago band is influenced by the exposed power of various indie Midwest guitar bands and the thick cloaks of noise found billowing through classic shoegaze songs. 

Fascinator was formed in 2022 by friends and neighbors Jarrett Dapier and Erik Uppenberg. The two shared a bond over favorite music – a bond that grew as they began writing music together. Adding Ed Jaffe on bass in 2023 brought a heft and cohering force to the band that led quickly to writing their first 4 songs. 

After hearing early demos, drummer and composer Matt Walker (The Smashing Pumpkins, Filter, Cupcakes, Morrissey, Garbage) signed on to produce and mix the band’s first EP. In November 2023, Fascinator recorded what would become the Trust Falls EP with Matt and engineer Scott Tallarida at Trigger Chicago in a single, brutal afternoon. 

In early 2024, Fascinator released the product of that session: Trust Falls EP. On it, the band explores the contrast between bursts of distortion and thoughtful personal investigations in four songs that use vast sonic range, and truthful storytelling.