motel void

The Kantors, comprised of founding members Kristin (lead vocals) and Dan Kantor (percussion, guitar) are an indie folk-rock group based in Chicago. They are often joined by friends and band members Jamie Redwood (keys, vocals, bass), and Evan Watkins (guitar).

MOTEL VOID: Your debut EP, Our Hearts Revealed, was released in October 2023. How did the themes and experiences in your lives at the time influence the writing and recording of this record?

THE KANTORS: We had just gotten married, so I think there is a little bit of that dreamy summer romance vibe in some of the songs. Outside of that I had been working at a really toxic job in tech, and had become really disillusioned with living in a city and society in general. So I think you can very easily tell I was looking for a way to be able to grieve the time that was wasted in that job.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single Wild Onions. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this song?

THE KANTORS: We usually gravitate towards writing slower songs so when we set out to write Wild Onions, we wanted to strive for something a little bit more upbeat. We had also just gotten back from a cross country road trip and brought that energy into the song. We wanted it to feel like a song you could drive to with the windows down, during a sunset, while reflecting on your life.

MOTEL VOID: As an indie folk-rock group based in Chicago, how has the city’s music scene shaped your sound or provided opportunities for growth? Any favorite local venues or collaborators?

THE KANTORS: I think the city’s music scene has helped us understand what we want to sound like better. There’s so many bands in Chicago that it can sometimes feel overwhelming and oversaturated but something we’ve noticed is that we don’t really sound like anyone else here and that’s been reaffirming to us that we have something special. Our favorite venue in the city is definitely Sleeping Village, they provide a lot of opportunities for artists, the sound is always great, and the folks who work there are always very friendly.

MOTEL VOID: Who are your biggest music inspirations right now?

THE KANTORS: Elliot Smith and Adrienne Lenker have both been heavily on repeat this year.

MOTEL VOID: Do you have plans for a tour in the near future?

THE KANTORS: Yes! We’re planning on doing a mini East coast run later in the Fall and we have some plans in the works for the spring.