Chicago-based experimental pop duo Immaterialize—comprising Alana Schachtel, known professionally as Lipsticism, and Erik Fure, performing under the moniker DJ Immaterial—continue to carve out a distinctly individual path in the indie music landscape. Earlier this year, the duo announced their signing to Fire Talk Records’ emerging imprint, Angel Tapes, setting in motion a series of single releases that culminated in the much-anticipated announcement of their debut album, Perfect, scheduled for release on 23 January 2026. Today, they unveil the album’s final single of 2025: the introspective and spellbinding track, Evolution.
A slow-burning and contemplative composition, Evolution delves into the tension between personal uncertainty, self-perception, and desire. Schachtel opens the track with stark, fearless admissions—“I am ugly inside”—later adding, “I don’t want to imagine desire.” These confessional lines intertwine with ethereal guitar-pop textures and Fure’s meticulous production, creating a dreamlike soundscape that navigates the spiritual and emotional complexity of love, loss, and longing. The track is at once intimate and universal, capturing the human experience in its myriad contradictions.
Speaking about the song, the duo shared: “Evolution encourages confronting aspects of oneself that are neither kind nor flawless. We acknowledge these facets and explore them as part of a larger mental and emotional expansion. There is capacity for generosity here, but also a tendency towards greed. Ultimately, it’s a song about coming to terms with oneself.”
Perfect, Immaterialize’s debut album, is the product of over a decade of intermittent collaboration between Schachtel and Fure. Their creative sessions gained momentum in 2024 with the release of two standout tracks, laying the groundwork for the full album. While rooted in Chicago, the record charts its own independent course, reflecting the duo’s singular artistic vision.
Rejecting conventional band structures, Immaterialize recorded the album through a combination of personal collaboration and contributions from key collaborators, including studio professional Michael Mac on vocal processing and Angel Marcloid (Fire-Toolz) on mastering, bass, and composition for the track “Everything But Myself.” Recorded entirely at home, the album radiates an organic, authentic intimacy.
Both artists maintain active solo careers—Lipsticism with Wanted To Show You (released via Phantom Limb) and DJ Immaterial with Post-Op LP—yet Perfect exemplifies a rare, focused partnership. To mark its release, Immaterialize will perform at Schubas on 30 January as part of Angel Tapes’ showcase, promising a deeply immersive and emotive live experience alongside their labelmates.