While walking around DePaul’s campus on a beautiful, sunny day, one is bound to hear the sounds of an instrument. Whether it is the acoustic guitar being strummed in the quad or a harmonica being played outside the student center, DePaul University fosters an education to many students that value music as much as their academic studies.

I saw the Gnarwaals play for the first time two years ago in the Student Center auditorium. Since then, they have gone on to playing many shows at venues such as the Beat Kitchen and Lincoln Hall as well as countless house shows. In May, the Gnarwaals were the winners of DePaul’s Battle of the Bands and since then they have released their debut album, Galaxy Face. I recently talked with Marty Kaleta, junior geography major and guitarist/keyboardist of the Gnarwaals, about their past summer and the future goals for the band.

DePaulia: To start this interview off right, could you tell the readers how you guys got started?

Marty Kaleta: Ryan Ohm and I have known each other since preschool in Elmhurst and started playing music together in 7th grade covering Weezer and Green Day songs. Over the years and countless other projects completed together, we started the Gnarwaals as a lo-fi synth and drums two-piece. We both had little experience on our respective instruments, which is why I think we have continued as a band for the past 4 years.

DP: You guys recently became a three-piece this past year. What made you decide to add bass guitar to the mix?

MK: Last summer, we added our long time friend Ben Kostecki on bass because we wanted a fuller sound. Although it was super easy to write songs and practice as a two piece, we wanted something more. Since becoming a three piece we have been able to do so much more in terms of songwriting and playing shows. It’s great having that extra melody and voice on stage and on record

DP: In your opinion, how is the DIY Chicago music scene for up and coming artists?

MK: The DIY scene in Chicago and the ‘burbs is awesome here if you’re in a math rock/experimental/ punk band. There’s a bunch of sick DIY venues and collectives but honestly Chicago is a pretty tough place for the up and coming artist. Over the past year, however, our friends have donated their apartments for the night for us to play with a bunch of other DePaul bands which has been great. It would be rad to see more bands/artists at DePaul to get involved in a new DIY scene.

DP: Has DePaul helped, in any way, of getting your music out there?

MK: DePaul has been great over my time here in terms of helping us out. My freshmen year we played a show in the student center which was a super fun experience. This past spring we played at Lincoln Hall which was a dream come true for us. Also, I host a radio show on Radio DePaul so I’ve had the opportunity to do some self-promotion on the radio waves as well. We are still waiting to play in the Brownstones Lounge though on Thursday nights. I think that would be really fun

DP: Since you guys won DePaul’s Battle of the Bands last year, what else has changed for you guys? How was the summer?

MK: This summer was great. There was a month stretch in late July/August where we were playing a show every week, which was awesome. We also started writing and recording a 5 song EP over the summer to be released within the next month.

DP: Galaxy Face is the new album from you guys and it really praises the lo-fi sound.

How was the recording process for it?

MK: It was a good experience but honestly it could have been done in 2 weeks instead of 6 months. We recorded with our good friend, Hersh Chabra, who definitely helped us a whole bunch in terms of production and suggestions for songs. We love Hersh and his skills as a producer but for our new EP Magic Hour we decided to do it all by ourselves with a Mac and a rock band mic. Recording it ourselves allowed for us to experiment with new instruments and we finished it in a span of two weeks. I think it is some of our best work yet.