SINCERE ENGINEER

The nom de plume of punky Chicago-based singer/songwriter Deanna Belos, Sincere Engineer's spirited blend of fiery punk-pop, emo, and folk evokes names like Lawrence Arms, Direct Hit!, Real Friends, Hop Along, and Waxahatchee. Debuting in 2017 with Rhombithian, the band maintained their blue-collar, D.I.Y. aesthetic while adopting a sleeker sound on subsequent efforts Bless My Psyche (2021) and Cheap Grills (2023).

Belos cut her teeth in the Windy City's D.I.Y. folk-punk scene, playing mostly acoustic. In 2016 she was picked up by influential Chicago punk label Red Scare Industries, and she headed into the studio with producer Matt Jordan (You Blew It!, Signals Midwest) and a full band. The resulting Rhombithian, a blast of nervy yet amiable punk confections, arrived in October 2017. The group inked a deal with Hopeless Records ahead of the release of 2021's Bless My Psyche, a hook-filled, relatable set of songs that paired the emotional grit of its predecessor with a more expansive production style. Belos and company continued to refine their nostalgic pop-punk sound on their third full-length effort, 2023's Cheap Grills. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi