- This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 1 week ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Hey fellow music lovers!
If you’re into fresh indie sounds that mix alt-rock with pops of pop, blues, and electronic vibes, you need to discover Broken Robots. This Chicago-based band started as a studio project in 2017 when founders Kat and Tony Baker met by chance on the side of the road and hit it off creatively.
They evolved into a live act, adding percussionist Anthony in 2021, and their music is all about raw emotion, catchy hooks, and that great American struggle vibe – literally, as seen in their latest album The Great American Struggle.
Their tracks are super listenable and available on major streaming platforms.
Some standouts include:
“Again and Again”
– A moody, repeating groove that’ll stick in your head.“Circles”
– Upbeat with introspective lyrics.“What You Wanted”
– Short, punchy, and full of energy.“Sweet Escape”
– Perfect for those chill vibes.Head to their official site for full streams and more:
https://www.brokenrobotsmusic.com/But the real fun is in their videos
– they’ve got a mix of official releases, live performances, and animated stuff that’s visually captivating.
What do you think of their sound?
Have you caught them live or streamed their album?
Drop your thoughts below – let’s support indie artists like this!
-
Hey everyone
(and thanks for the views and replies so far – means a lot!),
Just circling back (pun intended ) to highlight “Circles” because it’s such a standout on The Great American Struggle.
“Running in circles again / I’m feeling dizzy when we’re playing pretend / Again and again / I got a lot on my mind and I’m busy all the time / But I know, so is everybody else…”
Kat Baker opened up in a Grateful Web interview about how tough it was to write
– it’s deeply personal, about confronting generational trauma and breaking those endless cycles. She said she had to “step out of myself” to admit her own patterns and say, “I am problematic in this way and I need to break the cycle.”
That’s raw vulnerability right there, wrapped in this smoky, jazzy groove that starts sultry and builds with Richie Davis’s killer guest guitar adding that extra texture.
(First big feature they’ve done on a track – cool collab!)
The production feels mature too
– Tony Baker handled recording/mixing, mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman, and the video (shot/edited by Douglas Nilles, co-edited by Kat) keeps it simple yet moody, letting the emotion shine through without distractions.
It’s the perfect opener for the album, setting that introspective tone about the “Great American Struggle” we all feel
– busyness as avoidance, pretending everything’s fine, but knowing deep down we need to look at ourselves.
If you haven’t streamed it yet, give it a spin
– it’s only been out since May 2025 and already building some solid buzz (views climbing, fans calling it a hit in the comments).
Anyone else relating hard to those lines about easier to “look for something else / Than looking at yourself”?
Or what’s your take on how the jazzy riff contrasts with the heavy themes?
Let’s keep the convo going
– share if you’ve added it to your playlists, or if you’re planning to catch them live next time they’re playing in or around Chicago!
-
The music video for “Sweet Escape” by Broken Robots
titled as A Short Film By Joey Baker, is a captivating visual companion to one of the standout tracks from their 2025 album The Great American Struggle.
Clocking in at around 3:29 (matching the song’s length), the video blends introspective storytelling with the band’s signature alt-rock energy, creating a moody, cinematic escape that mirrors the song’s cryptic themes of fading away, sacrifice, and finding solace amid chaos.
Directed by Joey Baker
the video leans into a dreamlike, almost surreal aesthetic. It features shadowy, atmospheric shots that evoke a sense of disorientation
—think dim lighting, close-ups on faces etched with quiet intensity, and abstract transitions that feel like drifting between nightmares and dreams.
The lyrics “Are these nightmares, are these dreams? Why is nothing as it seems?”
come alive visually through flickering imagery and ethereal overlays, suggesting uncertainty and internal conflict.
Key motifs include fading figures, symbolic sacrifices (perhaps represented through isolated, martyr-like poses), and moments of release, syncing perfectly with the chorus:
“We’re gonna be okay because we’re making a sweet escape
We’re gonna fade away like yesterday.
“Band members Kat Baker (vocals) and Tony Baker (guitar/production mastermind) take center stage, with Tony’s vision driving the concept
—he described it in interviews as reflecting his own life at the time, a personal interpretation that diverged from Kat’s original lyrical intent.
Kat’s powerful, emotive delivery contrasts with Tony’s layered guitar work (including that dotted eighth-note delay and subtle EDM flair he accidentally discovered), while the rest of the lineup (Elix Smith, Ari Augustaitis, Anthony Friedli) adds rhythmic depth.
The video avoids over-the-top effects, opting for raw, intimate performances interspersed with abstract sequences that heighten the song’s funky yet cryptic vibe
—Tony called it his “wheelhouse” track, and the visuals amplify that ownership.
Overall, the mood is uplifting yet haunting:
an invitation to escape modern struggles through music and connection.
It’s not flashy like big-budget clips but deeply personal, aligning with Broken Robots’ indie ethos. Fans in comments praise its emotional resonance, and it’s a must-watch for anyone drawn to thoughtful alt-rock with heart.
Check it out here:
it’s the perfect visual “sweet escape” that leaves you feeling seen and a little less alone.
-
“Runaway” by Broken Robots is a compelling alt-rock track
from their earlier catalog (released around 2021), blending introspective lyrics with driving rhythms and electronic-tinged production that showcases the band’s Chicago indie roots.
Clocking in at about 4:14, the song pulses with a sense of urgency and reflection, capturing the push-pull of restlessness and self-awareness.
The lyrics open with a direct, almost accusatory question:
“Why are you always going places no one ever wants to go? / Runaway.”
They paint a portrait of someone perpetually fleeing
—physically or emotionally
—into uncharted, uncomfortable territory.
The refrain repeats “Runaway” like a mantra, emphasizing isolation:
“They say you know so much about the things that no one ever wants to know.”
There’s a tension between forward momentum (“always moving forward”) and paranoia (“looking over your shoulder for something you’d never notice anyway”).
Later lines explore fractured relationships
—”friends turn to enemies” and the struggle to stay grounded
—hinting at themes of alienation, personal demons, and the fear of stagnation.It’s a song about running from problems that inevitably follow, yet finding a strange freedom in the chase.
Musically, Tony Baker’s production shines:
layered guitars build tension, subtle electronic elements add a modern edge, and Kat Baker’s vocals deliver raw emotion
—vulnerable yet defiant.
The track was co-written and produced by Tony Baker, Kat Baker, and Lonnie Phillips, recorded/engineered/mixed by Tony, and mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman, giving it a polished but gritty indie feel.
The animated music video elevates the song into a bizarre, surreal universe. Created with green screen footage by Trey Miles and Matthew Rao, animation by Chance Duffy (modeling, rigging, color, editing), and robot textures/2D illustrations by Taylor Wilkes, it features wild visuals:
Tony as a Godzilla-like figure, gravity-defying wasabi peas, pawn shops selling hopes and dreams, and dreamlike chaos that mirrors the lyrics’ disorientation.
The animation style is creative and trippy, blending humor with unease to visualize the “runaway” mindset
—escaping into absurdity amid inner turmoil.
Overall, “Runaway” stands out in Broken Robots’ discography for its relatable exploration of evasion and growth, wrapped in catchy hooks and inventive visuals.
It’s a track that lingers, urging listeners to confront what they’re running from
—or embrace the run itself.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.