Biography
Horsegirl are a trio from Chicago, formed in 2019 by Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein and Gigi Reece.[2] Cheng and Lowenstein share guitar and vocals, and Reece plays drums.[1]
The members met around the ages of 15 and 16 through Chicago's youth-run arts scene, where nearly everyone played in bands or made zines.[3] Their first self-released song, Forecast, appeared in 2019, and the EP Ballroom Dance Scene followed in 2020.[2] After a bidding war they signed to Matador in 2021.[3]
Much of their early material took shape through near-daily writing and recording sessions in Lowenstein's basement, where the trio improvised arrangements together.[4] They have cited the 1980s and 1990s New Zealand underground scene, including the Flying Nun label, among their influences.[4]
Their debut album, Versions of Modern Performance, was written while they were still in high school and recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago with producer John Agnello.[1] A second album, Phonetics On and On, produced by Cate Le Bon, followed in February 2025.[2]
References
- Horsegirl (Wikipedia) — Band formation in Chicago in 2019, members, early releases, Matador signing, genres and later album.
- Collective Ambition: Horsegirl Interviewed (Clash) — How the members met, Chicago youth arts scene, Matador, recording with Agnello, songwriting process and approach to imagery.
- Versions of Modern Performance (Wikipedia) — Release date, recording at Electrical Audio with John Agnello, singles timeline, credits, influences and critical scores.
- Horsegirl: Billy + March 2022 Tour Dates (Matador) — Band statement on the writing of Billy in a basement over a year, influences from New Zealand underground bands.