On their debut EP Auntie, Midnite Radio arrive not as newcomers testing the waters, but as seasoned musicians finally indulging a long-burning creative fire. A passion project born from hometown friendship in Lebanon, Tennessee, the band channels years of session experience into something bold, theatrical, and unapologetically expansive.
Founded by guitarist Lee Coram and drummer Beak Wing, Midnite Radio feels rooted in camaraderie. The lineup — vocalist/keyboardist Ken Christianson, bassist Miles Martin, and lead guitarist Jon Shearer — clicks with the chemistry of players who understand both restraint and release. Recorded at Nashville’s Forty One Fifteen studio, the EP captures a band leaning fully into a larger-than-life rock aesthetic without losing emotional clarity. Opening track “Reboot the Drought” sets the tone with driving guitars and a sense of urgent renewal, while “Fear No Stars” soars on anthemic vocals and cinematic lift. “Backwards” introduces a darker pulse, balancing tension with melodic sweep. The mid-section of the record — “Quench” and “Breath” — reveals the band’s dynamic control: moments of space and atmosphere give way to swelling choruses that feel built for wide stages and open skies. Closing track “Paradise” lands with a confident glow, equal parts grit and uplift.
What makes Auntie compelling is its fusion of soulful melody and theatrical ambition. There’s a deliberate sense of drama in the arrangements — layered guitars, expansive keys, rhythmic punch — yet nothing feels overindulgent. Instead, the EP plays like bucket-list music made by musicians who know exactly what they want to say. With Auntie, Midnite Radio position themselves as a vibrant new presence in modern rock: euphoric, polished, and unafraid of aiming for the rafters.
English