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Bay Area artists ASTU and Cindy to perform at Chat Room: Music

4:09 PM PST on February 18, 2025

We’re cooking up a great lineup of conversation and music for our Chat Room next Thursday. 

Oakland’s own ASTU will perform her combination of retro soul, ‘90s R&B, and new wave-inspired synth pop in a stripped-down set with a guitar performance by Noah and The Arkiteks. Variance Magazine describes the Eritrean-American singer-songwriters sound as "...kin to some of Solange’s recent material with the whispering confidence of Kelela.”

We’ll also hear from up-and-coming San Francisco dream poppers Cindy. With Karina Gill on lead vocals and songwriting duties, the bandmembers are a who’s who of cult-favorite Bay Area bands, including Will Smith of Now, Staizsh Rodrigues of Children Maybe Later, and Oli Lipton of Now and Violent Change. Cindy’s songs combine nostalgic popcraft with a hazy, spectral lyrical backbone.

Both artists will perform one or two songs in between the chats. 

Chat Room: Music is happening Feb. 26 at Swedish American Hall in the Castro, and will also include panels “In Defense of Our Nightlife” and “The Evolution of Music and Technology in the Bay.” The full program is here. 

We’re putting on Chat Room: Music as part of SF Music Week, in partnership with Noise Pop, SF Live, the San Francisco Office of Economic Development, and KEXP.

All Chat Room events are free for Gazetteer SF paid subscribers but space is limited. Subscribers may write to lc@gazetteer.co to receive your free ticket code. Non-subscribers may purchase tickets here for $20 + fees.

Tickets include free-flow beer and wine from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This event is 21+.

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