This digital zine marks both a first and a finale for us. For ten years, These Days has documented the heart of Chicago’s music and art scenes, championing the voices shaping the city’s creative identity. With this final edition of our Chicago Artists to Watch series, we close that chapter by turning the spotlight on eight artists who remind us why we fell in love with doing this in the first place.

This year’s class includes m.e.h., Menace4hire, Mike DFG, Mvte, Sparklmami, Teala Vera, The Era and Woes, representing a cross-section of Chicago’s sonic landscape. From experimental to footwork, each artist carries the city in their sound. Some you may have heard already and others, you’ll want to. Together, they paint a picture of what Chicago music is right now and where it’s headed next.

This zine features interviews, original photography, and reflections from the These Days editorial team. More than a list, it’s a love letter to Chicago & its artists. To the scenes and seasons that have made this city such an important place for artistry. It’s a reminder that music here isn’t built on buzz, it’s built on community, self-expression, and the kind of relentless drive that keeps pushing things forward.

Whether you’ve followed These Days from the beginning or are just discovering us now, we invite you to spend time with these stories, dig into the music, and feel the city through these artists' eyes. This is our final Artists to Watch feature, but there’s still a lot left to share!

CREDITS Interviews by: Eric Montanez, Pedro Gonzalez, Iman Music, Ellie Naughton, Henry Netherland, Layla Brown-Clark & Annaliese Baker

Produced by: Eric Montanez, Carlos Castillo, Pedro Gonzalez & Iman Music

Feature Photography: Kayla “Swiper” Delson, Alex Jibaja & Julien Carr

Zine BTS Photography: Iman Music & Eric Montanez

Video Shot & Edited by: Myles Wright on behalf of @abgallery.7023

Set Design & Production: Iman Music

Design Direction: Eric Montanez

Graphic Design: Jada Milazzo

Presented in partnership with South Facing Windows