Empty Houses

Detroit, Michigan gave rise to Empty Houses, an indie pop band whose sound channels the classic Motown aesthetic alongside the production hallmarks of Phil Spector. Multi-instrumentalists Dave Mackinder and Adam Mercer, both formerly of the pop-punk band Fireworks, formed the group alongside vocalist Ali Shea. Turning away from punk to center Ali Shea’s timeless vocal approach, the trio issued a favorably received self-titled EP in early 2015. They then brought in Grammy-winning producer and engineer Graham Marsh, whose credits include Cee Lo Green and Ludacris, to helm their debut full-length. Sargent House released that album, Daydream, in June 2016; the record overflows with summery nostalgia. Later the same year the band followed with the digital EP Holiday, comprising five Christmas covers.