Finom

{{short description|American rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Finom | image = | image_size = | caption = | landscape = | alias = OHMME, Homme | origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|folk|improvisation|avant garde|jazz|blues|noise|pop}} | years_active = 2014–present | label = Joyful Noise | associated_acts = Marrow, Kids These Days, Tweedy, Marker | website = {{URL|https://www.finommusic.com}} | instruments = | current_members = *Sima Cunningham *Macie Stewart }}

'''Finom''' (formerly known as '''OHMME''', and '''Homme''') is a rock band from Chicago formed by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist duo Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart in 2014.<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020>{{cite web| publisher=Joyful Noise Recordings| title=OHMME| date=2020| url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/collections/ohmme| accessdate=2020-10-20}}</ref><ref name=OHHME_Noisey>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ohmme-is-the-band-at-the-heart-of-chicagos-music-community/|title=Ohmme Is the Band at the Heart of Chicago's Music Community|date=2017-06-29|work=Noisey|access-date=2018-06-20|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-ohmme-1|title=Discovery: OHMME - Interview Magazine|date=2017-07-11|work=Interview Magazine|access-date=2018-06-20|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=OHMME_Tribune2016>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-homme-ott-0819-20160811-column.html|title=Homme the latest experiment for 2 multifaceted musicians|authorlink=Greg Kot|author=Kot, Greg|date=August 18, 2016|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2020-03-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=OHMME_Tribune2018>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ott-ohmme-interview-0810-story.html|title=Ohmme blows up boundaries|author=Kot, Greg|date=August 9, 2018|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2020-03-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.voxmagazine.com/music/experimental-duo-ohmme-returns-to-columbia/article_e4014dca-54be-11e8-a5a0-6b08c3cc3458.html|title=Experimental duo Ohmme returns to Columbia|author=Wilt, Chloe|work=Vox Magazine|access-date=2018-06-20|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.earbuddy.net/68243/ohmme-ohmme-ep.html/reviews|title=OHMME - OHMME (Fox Hall Records, 2017) {{!}} Review {{!}} Earbuddy|date=2017-06-29|work=Earbuddy|access-date=2018-06-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Background == Both Cunningham and Stewart attended Whitney Young Magnet High School on the city's near west side. While Macie Stewart was in high school, she played keyboards and sang in Kids These Days. Adding electric guitar, Stewart co-founded Marrow with Cunningham's brother, Liam Cunningham (a.k.a. Liam Kazar), in 2013 after Kids These Days disbanded.<ref name="OHHME_ChicagoReader2020-06-10"> {{cite news |publisher=Chicago Reader |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ohmme-fantasize-ghost-macie-stewart-sima-cunningham/Content?oid=80547789 |title=A room of Ohmme's own: On ''Fantasize Your Ghost'',... |author=Roti, Jessi |date=June 10, 2020 |accessdate=2020-06-19 }}</ref> As of 2020, Stewart also plays violin and keyboards, and sings, in Chicago's avant-garde jazz ("improvised music"/free improvisation) community, including as a member of Marker, led by Ken Vandermark.<ref name="Marker_FreeTimes"> {{cite news |publisher=Free Times (Columbia, South Carolina) |url=https://www.free-times.com/music/with-marker-ken-vandermark-synthesizes-sounds-to-manipulate-memory/article_03ef01ce-06d4-11e8-8af1-13669e4c32bf.html |title=With Marker, Ken Vandermark Synthesizes Sounds to Manipulate Memory |author=Wall, Patrick |date=February 1, 2018 |accessdate=2018-04-09 }}</ref><ref name="Marker_ChicagoReader">{{cite news |publisher=Chicago Reader |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/veteran-chicago-reedist-adapts-a-mentor-roll-in-his-visceral-new-chicago-quintet-marker/Content?oid=40212479 |title=Veteran Chicago reedist adapts a mentor role in his visceral new Chicago quintet Marker |author=Margasak, Peter |authorlink=Peter Margasak |date=February 1, 2018 |accessdate=2018-04-09 |archive-date=2018-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072445/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/veteran-chicago-reedist-adapts-a-mentor-roll-in-his-visceral-new-chicago-quintet-marker/Content?oid=40212479 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Marker_Elastic"> {{cite web |publisher=Downbeat Magazine |url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/macie-stewarts-equilibrium |title=Macie Stewart's Equilibrium |author=Brown, Hilary|authorlink=Hilary Brown |date=March 26, 2019 |accessdate=2020-02-24 }}</ref> Cunningham sang with the Chicago Children's Choir, and performed in the band The Audians while in high school. Since 2008, Cunningham has played and sung in bands, toured and recorded as a backup singer, worked on solo projects, and curated music festivals.<ref name=OHMME_Vice2017> {{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ohmme-is-the-band-at-the-heart-of-chicagos-music-community/ |title=Ohmme Is the Band at the Heart of Chicago's Music Community |author=Terry, Josh |date=2017-06-29 |website=Vice |language=en |access-date=2020-01-04 }}</ref><ref name=CSCunningham_TedXYerevan> {{cite web |publisher=TEDx Yerevan |date=2012 |title="Do You Speak Music?": Sima Cunningham at TEDxYerevan |url=https://www.tedxyerevan.com/en/tag/sima-cunningham/ |accessdate=2021-10-15 }}</ref><ref name=CSCunningham_Reggies> {{cite web |publisher=Reggies |date=2015 |title=Sima Cunningham |url=https://reggieslive.com/band/sima-cunningham/ |accessdate=2021-10-15 }}</ref>

Both Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart have released solo albums.<ref name=CSCunningham_Reggies/><ref name="MStewart_CTribune_2021"> {{cite web |publisher=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-macie-stewart-mouth-full-of-glass-20210827-cbuyqipz2zap7dt27wezyqrj7q-story.html |title=Ohmme's Macie Stewart steps into spotlight with spectacular solo album 'Mouth Full of Glass' |author=Julious, Britt |date=August 27, 2021 |accessdate=2021-10-15}}</ref> From 2017 through 2020, Cunningham and Stewart—often along with Ken Vandermark, {{interlanguage link|Anton Hatwich|de}}, {{interlanguage link|Isaiah Spencer|de}}, and Cunningham's brother Liam Kazar (Cunningham)—usually participated in the annual winter performances in Chicago of the Yes We Can Band led by {{interlanguage link|lt=Jeff Albert|Jeff Albert (musician)|de|Jeff Albert}} and {{interlanguage link|Steve Marquette|de}}, which covers New Orleans rhythm & blues/funk tunes, particularly those of Allen Toussaint and the Meters.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Time Out Chicago| date=20 September 2017| author=Long, Zach| title=What to see at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival| url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/music/what-to-see-at-the-hyde-park-jazz-festival| accessdate=2021-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=Hungry Brain| date=January 2020| title=Sat. February 22 2020: Yes We Can! The Songs of New Orleans| url=http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/e/yes-we-can-the-songs-of-new-orleans-91400512393/| accessdate=2020-02-24| archive-date=2020-02-25| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225022234/http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/e/yes-we-can-the-songs-of-new-orleans-91400512393/| url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2021–2022, Cunningham, her brother Liam Kazar (Cunningham), and others frequently join Andrew Sa's Cosmic Country Showcase band in Chicago and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chicago Reader| date=June 8, 2021| author1=Nelson, J.R.|author2=Galil, Leor|authorlink2=Leor Galil| title=Cosmic Country star Andrew Sa drops a high lonesome covers collection| url=https://chicagoreader.com/music/cosmic-country-star-andrew-sa-drops-a-high-lonesome-covers-collection/| accessdate=2022-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=Cactus Club Milwaukee| date=2021| title=Cosmic Country Showcase – Hosted By Andrew Sa feat. Sabine McCalla • Elizabeth Moen • Wyatt Waddell • Dylan Bragassa • Skyler Higgley| url=https://www.cactusclubmilwaukee.com/events/cosmic-country-showcase/| accessdate=2022-01-18}}</ref>

== History == According to Cunningham, OHMME/Finom started because "we knew we could sing well together, and we wanted to make some noise with the guitar."<ref name=OHHME_Noisey /> Both artists are trained as classical pianists and were familiar with the scope of sonic spaces keyboards had to offer but, according to Stewart, "since we were interested in experimenting and creating something different from what we had both done in the past, we chose guitar as our outlet for this band. We wanted to create parameters for ourselves that were both new and uncomfortable to force ourselves into a different creative space”.<ref name=OHHME_Noisey />

OHMME/Finom have been touring both nationally and internationally since January 2016, including playing Pitchfork Music Festival in 2016.<ref name=OHMME_Tribune2016/><ref name=OHMME_Tribune2020/> They have toured with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Iron & Wine, The Joy Formidable, Tortoise, and The Ophelias.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} In 2016, OHMME added, for live performances, drummer Matt Carroll, who had also worked with Cunningham and Stewart in the band Marrow.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.estheticlens.com/2019/05/20/5-questions-musician-matt-carroll/|title=5 Questions: Musician Matt Carroll|date=2019-05-20|website=Esthetic Lens|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04}}</ref><ref name=OHHME_Noisey/><ref name=OHMME_Tribune2016/><ref name="OHHME_ChicagoReader2020-06-10"/>

OHMME released their first single on November 13, 2015, a self-titled EP in 2017, and two full-length albums: ''Parts'' in 2018 and ''Fantasize Your Ghost'' in 2020. OHMME have vocal and instrumental credits on projects of other musicians, including Chance the Rapper,<ref name=OHMME_Tribune2016/> Thor Harris,<ref name=ThorHarris_WoodenBoxSetOf6>{{cite web |publisher=Joyful Noise Recordings |title=Thor Harris: 2019 Artist in Residence |date=2019 |url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/collections/new-releases/products/2019-artist-in-residence |accessdate=2019-12-23}}</ref> Richard Thompson,<ref name=OHMME_Tribune2016/> Twin Peaks, Ken Vandermark,<ref name="Marker_Elastic"/> V.V. Lightbody (Vivian McConnell),<ref name="OHHME_ChicagoReader2020-06-10"/> and Whitney.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Noisey dubbed OHMME "the band at the heart of Chicago's music community."<ref name=OHHME_Noisey/><ref name="OHHME_ChicagoReader2020-06-10"/> After OHMME played a Tiny Desk Concert spot for NPR, Bob Boilen (TDC curator and producer of All Songs Considered) remarked that it was among the best performances of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Melissa|date=2021-11-08|title=Experimental Rock Duo, OHMME Play WFYI's Small Studio|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/experimental-rock-duo-ohmme-play-wfyis-small-studio|access-date=2021-11-11|website=WFYI Public Media|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Ohmme: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB96pjoQrtM|language=en|access-date=2021-11-11}}</ref>

''Fantasize Your Ghost'', OHMME's second full-length album, was released on June 5, 2020 by Joyful Noise Recordings.<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ohmme - "3 2 4 3"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2075602/ohmme-3-2-4-3/video/|date=2020-03-04|website=Stereogum|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref><ref name=OHMME_Tribune2020>{{Cite web| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ott-ohmme-hideout-chicago-0313-20200312-xgjv7gzjlfenrkizxmba7gtp5u-story.html| title=You might think OHMME is a mantra, but it's in fact the place to be to hear remarkable music from a Chicago band in rare form|author=Knopper, Steve| date=March 12, 2020|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2020-03-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="OHHME_ChicagoReader2020-06-10"/> In October 2020, OHMME released a concert film of the ''Fantasize Your Ghost'' material, plus two songs from a new single, with additional musicians {{interlanguage link|Nnamdï Ogbonnaya|de}} (drums), Ruby Parker and Quinn Tsan (backing vocals), and V.V. Lightbody (backing vocals and flute), but without Matt Carroll; the film was recorded at and subsequently livestreamed (via YouTube) from Constellation in Chicago.<ref name=Constellation2020Calendar_OHMMEfilm>{{cite web| publisher=Constellation Chicago| title=OHMME Presents: Fantasize Your Ghost| date=October 2020| url=https://www.constellation-chicago.com/calendar/ohmme-presents-fantasize-your-ghost| accessdate=2020-10-22}}</ref><ref name=Constellation2020YouTube_OHMMEfilm>{{cite web| publisher=Constellation Chicago, YouTube| title=OHMME Presents: Fantasize Your Ghost| date=October 29, 2020| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QYwYTjjwiU| accessdate=2021-12-10}}</ref>

In December 2021 in Chicago, Cunningham, Stewart, and Alex Grelle inaugurated "Full Bush", a theatrical tribute to Kate Bush, written by Grelle and Jesse Morgan Young.<ref>{{cite news| publisher=Chicago Tribune| title=Music of Kate Bush becomes theater with Ohmme at Constellation this weekend| author=Julious, Britt|authorlink=Britt Julious| date=December 2, 2021| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-kate-bush-musical-constellation-chicago-20211202-lkqdxumyindbteauscsvalsfru-story.html| accessdate=2021-12-10}}</ref>

By late 2021, OHMME had expanded its touring band. In 2021, 2023, and 2024 performances, the duo were accompanied by Spencer Tweedy on drums and V. V. Lightbody on guitar, flute, and bass, but without Matt Carroll.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Kirby, Daniel| title=Ohmme - Live at Double Wide Bar, Deep Ellum, Dallas TX 10/2/2021| date=October 14, 2021| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7sKKCW18hI| accessdate=2024-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=setlist.fm| title=JUL 24 2023: Finom Setlist| date=July 2023| url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/finom/2023/jay-pritzker-pavilion-chicago-il-23a48097.html| accessdate=2024-05-04}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2023}}

The duo announced in August 2022 that they had changed their name from OHMME to Finom, for legal reasons,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Marie |last2=Schwabe |first2=Ethan |title=Introducing 'FINOM' |work=WBEZ |date=September 6, 2022 |url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/introducing-finom/ce258378-1da0-457f-aedd-4d916432b647 |accessdate=September 14, 2022}}</ref> and that they would embark on a nine-date tour of the eastern United States the following month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/tour-news-coldplay-david-cross-alex-g-todd-barry-bewitcher-wormwitch-more/|title=Tour news: Coldplay, David Cross, Alex G, Todd Barry, Bewitcher / Wormwitch, more|last=Pearis|first=Bill|authorlink=Bill Pearis| publisher=Brooklyn Vegan|date=22 August 2022|accessdate=24 August 2022}}</ref> On October 16, 2023, Finom re-released their debut album, titled OHMME. As of 2024 and 2025, Finom continue to tour and to perform locally in the Chicago area, sometimes with a full band and sometimes as a duo.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Brooklyn Vegan| title=Finom (fka OHMME) announce Jeff Tweedy-produced album & tour, share "Haircut"| author=Pearis, Bill| date=March 6, 2024| url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/finom-fka-ohmme-announce-jeff-tweedy-produced-album-tour-share-haircut/| accessdate=2024-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=Finom| title=Finom Shows| year=2025| url=https://www.finommusic.com/tour| accessdate=2025-04-15| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250415000534/https://www.finommusic.com/tour| archive-date=2025-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Super bloom| publisher=Chicago Botanic Garden| date=2025| url=https://www.chicagobotanic.org/superbloom| accessdate=2025-07-24| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250625151545/https://www.chicagobotanic.org/superbloom| archive-date=2025-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=Evanston, Illinois| title=Starlight Concert & Movie Series|date=2025| url=https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/concerts| accessdate=2025-07-24| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615130027/https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/concerts| archive-date=2025-06-15}}</ref>

==Equipment== In interviews, Cunningham and Stewart have described some of the musical equipment that they use, especially Stratocaster guitars and various pedals. As of 2019, Stewart often uses an Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer pedal to substitute for a bass guitar.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Chicago Music Exchange| date=2019| title=Labor of Love: OHMME| url=https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/blogs/news/labor-of-love-ohmme| accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| publisher=Guitar.com| title=How Chicago duo OHMME harness their classical training for textural experimentation| last1=Maine| first1=Sammy| date=November 11, 2019| url=https://guitar.com/features/interviews/ohmme-parts/| accessdate=2020-12-02}}</ref>

==Band members== *Sima Cunningham – vocals, guitar *Macie Stewart – vocals, guitar, violin, bass '''Live-performance musicians''' *Matt Carroll – drums (2016–2020) *Spencer Tweedy – drums (2021–present) *V.V. Lightbody (Vivian McConnell) - bass, guitar, vocals (2020–present)

== Discography ==

=== Albums === * ''Parts'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2018)<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020/> * ''Fantasize Your Ghost'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2020)<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020/> *''OHMME'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2023) *''Not God'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/finom-fka-ohmme-announce-new-album-not-god-share-video-for-new-song-haircut-watch/|title=Finom (fka Ohmme) Announce New Album Not God, Share Video for New Song "Haircut": Watch|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|website=Pitchfork|date=March 7, 2024|access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>

=== EPs === * ''S/T'', a.k.a. ''OHMME'' (Fox Hall Records/Overcoat Recordings, 2017) * ''OHMME + The Aubreys'' ("split": 2 songs each by the 2 bands, self-released, 2020)

=== Singles === * "Furniture" (2015) * "Wheel" (Overcoat Recordings, 2017); also self-released on split single with Poliça: ''Crate Diggers in Chicago'' (2017) * "Fingerprints" (2017) * "Woman" (2017) * "Icon" (2018) * "At Night" b/w "Gimme Back My Man" (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2019)<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020/> * "Mine" b/w "Miasma" (Sub Pop, 2020)<ref name=OHMME_SubPop>{{cite web| title=OHMME| date=October 12, 2020| publisher=Sub Pop| url=https://www.subpop.com/artists/ohmme| accessdate=2020-10-20}}</ref> * "Girl Loves Me" (written by David Bowie) b/w "Some Kind of Calm" (Kahiem Rivera remix) (Joyful Noise Recordings via bandcamp, digital only, 2021)

=== Multiple-artist compilations === * "Homicidal Hamsters" on ''Safe In Sound (Home Recordings From Quarantine)'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2020)<ref name=OHMME_JoyfulNoise2020/>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://finommusic.com/ Finom's website] * [https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/collections/finom Finom's label's website] * [https://www.maciestewart.com Macie Stewart's website]

Category:American rock guitarists Category:American women guitarists Category:Musicians from Chicago Category:Joyful Noise Recordings artists Category:American all-female bands Category:Musical groups established in 2014 Category:2014 establishments in Illinois