Fifteen Minutes of Fame Music Entertainment

Originally Published on March 4th, 2026

~ About the Artist ~

Suffice it to say, being an alt/indie artist can have a few different looks and a few different sounds. It’s 2026. Musicians are more innovative and have more resources on hand than ever before in history. Still. There are some pretty typical pieces that bands are built around. Guitars, keyboards and pianos, and of course bass and drums/percussion.

When I listened to the debut EP of Chicago-based giverupper, I was intrigued to hear a project that centered around the saxophone. Yes, the music features guitars, percussion, vocals, a more, but giverupper’s creator and sole member, J.T. Teichert, is formally trained on the sax and wanted to feature this instrument when isn’t seen or heard every day in popular music.

~ About the EP ~

Shorty is a 4 – song EP that released on December 20th, 2025. It features vocal and instrumental performances by indie artist giverupper. Named for its runtime (11 minutes) and the height of Teichert who measures in at 5’3, Shorty is upbeat, minimalist, and catchy. It blends the vibes of indie rock of the late 2000’s and early 2010’s with alt pop sounds of today.

“(Shorty) centers on letting go of every day masks and lifting listeners up with honest, melodic songs.” ~ Teichert

Shorty is a quick and pleasant listen. It starts with a lot of energy, i like you. This upbeat, alt pop tune features crunchy guitars with a bass that layers over the progression and simple percussion. Teichert’s vocals are at a baritone range and delivered in a gentle tone. It closes with a very rad saxophone solo that brightens the entire record.

The second song, iphone girl, brings the tempo down and centers more on the vocal performance. I love the minimalist approach. There isn’t a need to overcomplicate the percussion or oversaturate the record with too many instruments. Teichert’s writing and vocal performance is impressive and really carries in the given sound space.

The third song, soon, is the most organic of the 4 songs. It also features the most saxophone, as it is layered behind most of the record. Because of its stripped down approach, and the experimental incorporation of the saxophone and the production choices make this the most diverse song on the EP. I love how it has a folky sound with the cleaner guitar, the filtered sound effect on parts of the saxophone, and the cello playing staccato, layering the progression. This is also the best showcase of Teichert’s vocal capabilities. I think soon is the beat song on the EP.

Shorty closes with its title track, shorty, a 90- second instrumental that features a rhodes keyboard, ambient background samples, and bass. It is the only song on the record not to feature the saxophone.

~ Final Thoughts ~

The debut of alt/indie newcomer, giverupper impresses. J.T. Teichert has exhibited a talent for songwriting and composition. The appeal is catchy melodies, simple yet vibrant progressions, and a knack for being able to produce music with familiarity to what is currently relevant while introducing a unique element.

I think giverupper has given their audience a promising debut. I look forward to hearing more from them. This is the type of music I would love to see in a live setting. Sadly, I am late to reviewing them as they performed a few shows in February. However, if they schedule any more shows, they can be found at their website, along with links to their socials, a bio, and their Bandcamp profile where shorty is available for purchase. This band has all the potential and could very easily find an audience who is hungry for a standout alt pop act.

Giverupper is an artist to definitely add to the playlist. Check them out wherever you stream music. go press play!