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    You are at:Home » Cusp Break Free with Soaring New Single “In A Box” — New Album What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back Out Friday
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    Cusp Break Free with Soaring New Single “In A Box” — New Album What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back Out Friday

    By Chris RyanOctober 13, 20250102 Mins Read
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    Cusp’s Jen Bender sit under stage lights, eyes open, radiating raw emotion bright light shines on them looking smugly.

    Cusp — “In A Box” / What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back

    Label: Exploding in Sound

    Release Date: October 17, 2025

    Rating: ★★★★☆ 8.6/10

    Chicago’s Cusp return with What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back, a thunderous leap forward that captures the restless tension between comfort, purpose, and artistic freedom. Led by singer/guitarist Jen Bender, the band’s new single “In A Box” distills the record’s central question: What does it mean to make meaningful art when the artist feels confined by their own creation?

    Built on wiry guitars, kinetic rhythms, and Bender’s emotive vocals, “In A Box” is both confessional and explosive. The track starts introspective—her voice flickering with uncertainty—before erupting into a soaring chorus that feels like an act of rebellion against self-imposed limits. It’s a song that aches and burns in equal measure, with a cathartic edge that recalls the best of Built to Spill or Speedy Ortiz.

    “The track is a reflection on persistent inner conversations about comfort, art, and purpose,” Bender says. “It questions what impact art can have if the artist feels trapped in a box of their own making.”

    The new album, out Friday via Exploding in Sound, finds Cusp more grounded and more daring than ever. While their 2023 debut You Can Do It All chronicled transience and reinvention, What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back is about finding roots—and questioning what comes after. Recorded live at Chicago’s Electrical Audio, the album glows with analog warmth and emotional urgency.

    Songs like “Oh Man” and “Follow Along” shimmer with melodic clarity while peeling back the layers of self-doubt and desire. Elsewhere, “In A Box” serves as the record’s emotional center—a rallying cry for anyone struggling to reconcile ambition and authenticity.

    Cusp’s chemistry as a five-piece—Bender, Bates, Matt Manes (bass), Tommy Moore (drums, vocals), and Tessa O’Connell (synths, vocals)—is palpable. They shift effortlessly between ragged indie rock anthems and vulnerable confessionals, blending jagged guitar work with shimmering harmonies. The result is an album that feels alive—jubilant, restless, and deeply human.

    “Yes, this is worthwhile and yes, it means something,” Bender concludes—and by the end of What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back, you’ll believe her.

    Listen / Watch

    🎧 Listen to “In A Box”

    🎧 Pre-Order What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back

    🎥 Watch “In A Box” Lyric Video (YouTube)

    Chicago indie rock Cusp Exploding in Sound female-led rock Follow Along In A Box Jen Bender live at Electrical Audio new music 2025 Oh Man What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back
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    Chris Ryan
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    Chris Ryan is the founder and visionary behind AudioFuzz.com, a destination for cutting-edge music discovery and cultural commentary. With a deep-rooted passion for music, community, and connection, Chris brings a rare blend of experience across the worlds of nightlife, activism, mental health, and media.Before launching AudioFuzz, Chris made his mark as one of New York City’s premier nightlife producers, curating some of the city’s most iconic events. Known for turning parties into immersive cultural experiences, his work was recognized by the Mayor of New York City, who awarded him for his contributions to activism and for fostering unity and visibility through nightlife. His events received multiple accolades for creativity, inclusivity, and social impact — always with a focus on bringing diverse communities together under one roof.Chris also produced SHINEOUT, the first-ever LGBT music festival, a groundbreaking celebration of queer artistry and music that set a new precedent in the industry.Driven by a lifelong desire to understand and support others, Chris pivoted to mental health, earning two master’s degrees and becoming a licensed psychotherapist. His clinical work reflects the same values that defined his nightlife career: empathy, authenticity, and the power of human connection.A global citizen and avid traveler, Chris has explored over 70 countries, using his journeys to inform the eclectic, international lens that defines AudioFuzz. From the underground clubs of Berlin to street performances in Bangkok, his firsthand experiences with music across cultures continue to fuel the site’s unique voice.Through AudioFuzz.com, Chris Ryan continues to celebrate the power of music to inspire, heal, and unite — curating a platform where queer voices, experimental sounds, and boundary-pushing artists take center stage.

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