UNIFLORA : A BUDDING BAND
Words by: Glitzy
Photos by: Makenzie Creden
There’s a rumbling coming from Chicago- it’s the younger scene. Uniflora is a budding band from the underground. If you don’t pay attention now, you’ll miss ‘em, because they’re going to get big fast. From The Metro on the north side to SubTerranean in Wicker Park, they’re already playing the venues bands wish to play and getting coverage from WBEZ. With contemporaries in Friko, Horsegirl, Lifeguard, and Neptunes Core already fully in bloom, playing at venues across the country, these guys are coming up fast.
The three-piece, made up of Ruby O’Brien (drums), Theo Williams (bass), and Quinn Dugan (vocals, guitar), all just 16 years old, deliver a spritely take on post-punk, taking influence from Animal Collective, Hella, Liquid Liquid, Blur, Guided by Voices, Carly Rae Jepson, and Chief Keef (of course). The result is gritty, leftfield guitar rock tracks that leave you with a sense of youthful angst.
Elementary friends Ruby and Theo reconnected in their freshman year of high school to start a band, but it all goes back to fourth grade when they first bonded over making a music blog. They brought on Quinn as a drummer. “I’m not a drummer,” he comments on that, but the trio decided to continue on as a band together.
They self-released their debut EP Plastic Sturgeon in 2023, with angst-ridden singles “Hell Girl” and “LMCB” following in 2024. Although Uniflora have already grown in size and scope within the scene, they have yet to make their true debut into the world.
“We haven't even put out a whole album yet, so that's, that's something we want to do,” says the group.
In their eyes, fully blooming looks like releasing a debut LP and honing in on their sound. Last time we spoke to them they had just bought a new synth, so they’re definitely having fun with this one. They’ll continue to climb the venue tree- maybe even go back to their elementary school to play a show. That would be a dream come true for the young group. To go back to where it all started.
What would a successful young band recommend to other bands? Finding a definitive sound, having a solid work ethic, sending more emails, making more connections- overcoming the hesitation to actually use those connections… Oh, and a good loop pedal.
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