Chicago-based experimental pop duo Immaterialize—comprised of Alana Schachtel (known as Lipsticism) and Erik Fure (aka DJ Immaterial)—continue to carve a singular path through the contemporary indie landscape. Earlier this year, the pair announced their signing to Fire Talk Records’ emerging artists imprint, Angel Tapes, setting in motion a series of singles that culminated in the announcement of their highly anticipated debut album, Perfect, scheduled for release on 23 January. Today, they offer their final single of 2025: the introspective and hauntingly beautiful “Evolution.”
A slow-burning, contemplative piece, “Evolution” delves into personal insecurities and the tensions between self-perception and desire. Opening with the stark confession, “I’m ugly inside,” Schachtel later admits, “I don’t want to have fantasies of yearning.” The track’s ethereal guitar-pop textures, interwoven with Fure’s nuanced production, form a dreamlike tapestry of love, loss, and longing—an aural meditation on the complexities of human emotion.
Of the single, the duo explain: “‘Evolution’ is inspired by confronting the parts of oneself that are unkind or flawed, yet recognising that these are only facets of a broader emotional spectrum. There is also capacity for altruism, but equally tendencies toward greed. It’s about accepting oneself wholly, without longing to become an entirely different person.”
Perfect, the debut album from Immaterialize, represents over a decade of intermittent collaboration. Schachtel and Fure’s sporadic creative sessions eventually solidified in 2024 with the release of two standout tracks, paving the way for a full-length album that defies convention. Rooted in Chicago—long regarded as a hub for indie and experimental rock—the album nevertheless charts entirely original territory, reflecting the duo’s unique artistic vision.
Rejecting traditional band structures, Immaterialize relied on their own synergy, alongside key collaborators such as studio veteran Michael Mac, who provided additional vocal processing, and Angel Marcloid (aka Fire-Toolz), who mastered the album at Angel Hair Audio while contributing bass and songwriting to the opener, “Everything But Myself.” Recorded entirely at home, the album thrives on a sense of intimacy and authenticity, blending ethereal production with explorations of behavioural patterns, emotional resistance, and the raw truths of life.
While both artists remain prolific in their solo careers—Lipsticism’s Wanted To Show You released via Phantom Limb this summer, and DJ Immateriali’s Post-Op LP in October—Perfect represents a rare, focused collaboration. To mark its release, Immaterialize will return to the stage at Schubas on 30 January for an Angel Tapes showcase alongside labelmates Jawdropped, Retail Drugs, Starcharm, and ira glass, promising a live experience as atmospheric and emotive as the record itself.