The Umbrellas

The Umbrellas, a jangle pop outfit from the Bay Area, draw upon the wistful reflection and sincere songwriting ethos that shaped earlier waves of twee. Their bright, hook-driven indie pop echoes key eras in the genre’s timeline, nodding to the rosters of K Records, Sarah Records, and Slumberland in the 1990s yet applying a distinct personal touch. Following an initial home-recorded EP, the group partnered with Slumberland to issue their self-titled debut LP in 2021 and the 2024 follow-up Fairweather Friend.

Formed in 2019 by Bay Area musicians Matt Ferrara, Keith Frerichs, Nick Oka, and Morgan Stanley, the quartet absorbed influence from a lineage of twee and indie pop acts as well as Paisley Underground artists, funneling those references into their earliest self-captured material. The four-song Maritime EP was laid down with a drum machine that same year; twelve months later the tracks appeared again on a limited-edition 7" that sold out rapidly. The band then joined forces with the venerable indie pop label Slumberland Records for their self-titled debut LP, revising the songs to feature live drums and richer production values before the August 2021 release. After touring behind that record, they further refined their sonic depth and studio approach on Fairweather Friend, issued in January 2024.