Even through Ocean Child’s energetic alt-rock performance, Chicago-based 21 year-old frontman Marco Landaverde is the very same obsessive, awkward, and prolific songwriter/producer he was when he created Ocean Child in high school. Soulful and raspy vocals, surf-esque indie rock hooks, and hazy production quickly became essential to Ocean Child’s sound. Landaverde further built Ocean Child as a dreamy indie-pop outfit with the release of the jaunty, summery anthem “Maye” in 2021, amassing over 100,000 streams across his entire music catalogue. The band has performed with touring act SALES at the University of Illinois’ Foellinger Concert Hall and played a pre-show for Irish rock band Inhaler at House of Blues Chicago. Ocean Child also played with touring indie-punk trio VIAL later that year. 2023’s “Benton Steps” marks Ocean Child’s shift from solitary bedroom production to ambitious studio artist, blending musical styles of new wave, indie, and alternative rock.