In 2020, Steve Ciolek's long-running and much loved group The Sidekicks called it a day, and he found himself without a band for the first time in much of his adult life. Ciolek had never stopped writing, but now with endless possibilities ahead he found himself creating at a different pace. As his well of potential songs began to grow, Ciolek brought in some familiar faces to help hone them into an album, recruiting The Sidekicks’ Matty Sanders to play drums and Saintseneca mastermind Zac Little to help with writing, recording, and production.
Infinite Spring is bursting with that sense of discovery and promise without sacrificing the warmth that’s always made Ciolek’s songwriting feel so timeless and satisfying. The record feels like an amalgam of his many musical interests, woven together into something unique; throughout, sparse folk intersects with soulful indie, and the intricate arrangements and sweeping hooks of ‘60s and ‘70s pop rock overlap with the charming looseness of midwest punk. And just as so many of Ciolek’s musical inspirations feel evergreen, so does his lyrical focus: falling in love.