“Chime hard.” Almost There But Not Really brings Chicago roots, community pride, and plenty of humor to this Riot Fest 2026 interview with Music Coast.
The band reflects on playing a major festival in its hometown, growing up around Pilsen and Little Village, and representing Chicago’s South Side and Latino indie scene.
We explore the longing for growth and happiness behind singmetosleep, the many versions that shaped “So Slow,” and how they build chiming guitar sounds without losing the heart of a song.
Almost There But Not Really also discusses the challenges of getting heard as an independent band, why its name still captures the drive to keep improving, and the importance of lifting up fellow Chicago artists.
To close, the band talks about heading back into the studio and “The Runaway,” a song performed during its Riot Fest set that was unreleased at the time of this interview.
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Filmed at Riot Fest 2026 • Chicago, Illinois
Almost There But Not Really music: https://atbnr.bandcamp.com
Music Coast: https://musiccoast.com
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