The Side Chicks break out the charm and the chops in their debut EP Moving On

After six years jamming around the regional music scene, jazzy Philly pop ensemble The Side Chicks released their debut EP this month.

Moving On, released back on May 9th, is a suave collection songs that explore the emotions and uncertainties of interpersonal relationships. “Love’s Like A Riddle” finds singer Alexa Korogodsky singing that “I’m take my time with you ’cause you’re worth it.” Meanwhile, we find scorn but also closure at the other side of the EP in “POS,” where we hear Korogodsky sing the project’s title: “I don’t need no love from you in my life / I’m moving out, I’m moving on.”

The songs are built around smooth beats, endearing melodies reminiscent of Lianne La Havas and Emily King, and strong saxophone leads by Staci Fink. Korogodsky and Fink co-founded the band while studying music at Bucks County Community College, and enlisted various other players to round out the project. Currently, The Side Chicks consist of bassist LK Powell, keyboardist Will McDonnell, and drummer Jett De Cola-Heller.

The bandmates are all versed in musical improv — something that comes across strongly in the sound of the EP, like the way McDonnell’s spacey synth trades fours with Fink’s robust sax on “the Fire” — and are all equally enamored that with artists that bring pop and soul hooks into their playing, particularly Anderson .Paak and Hiatus Kaiyote.

Though the band has been keeping to itself since self-quarantine kicked in, Korogodsky tells us they hope to have a celebration of the EP at Creep Records when the world resumes normalcy (whenever that is and whatever it looks like), and should release a music video filmed pre-pandemic between now and then. Keep your eyes on their social media for more info, and listen to Moving On below.