Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Some Kind of Animal began as a side-project between close friends and longtime collaborators Anthony Jardine (vocals, guitar, keys) and Tim Mulhern (vocals, guitar). When it came time to record, Jardine and Mulhern turned to Tyler Watkins, bassist for seminal Indianapolis indie rock outfit Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s. Having produced several of Margot’s albums, Watkins, with his masterful Chamber pop sensibilities, seemed like an obvious choice to help bring SKOA’s psych-folk-tinged demos to life.

Joined by drummer David Rocco, Some Kind of Animal settled into a weeklong sojourn at Postal Recordings, a decommissioned post-office-turned-analog-studio near downtown Indianapolis. The culmination of SKOA’s ardent craftsmanship is a sweeping self-titled debut laced with lyrical imagery and melodic harmonies. The 11 track album features a vibe best described as “soulful indie folk rock.” This record is a testament to Some Kind of Animal’s journey as writers and musicians; a feeling that the band, lately joined by bassist Tony Tortella, hopes its listeners can perceive as well.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]