hot mess - Make Myself Your Favorite Scene EP
Milwaukee newcomers hot mess are wasting no time making their presence felt with Make Myself Your Favorite Scene, a six-track debut EP that thrives on neon-soaked nostalgia, infectious hooks, and just enough punk rock attitude to keep things from getting too polished. Blending retro-futuristic synths, punchy guitars, and modern pop rock sensibilities, the band deliver a soundtrack for late nights, questionable decisions, and the kind of chaos that feels worth repeating. It's an energetic first statement from a group already showing plenty of personality.
Formed in 2025, hot mess brings together frontman Reid Stevenson, guitarists Sam Theno and Owen Stevenson, bassist Trevor Gallagher, and drummer Aidan Scheuren to create a sound that sits somewhere between danceable alternative rock and the rebellious spirit of pop punk. There's a distinctly '80s-inspired sheen running through the EP, but the band aren't interested in simply recreating the past. Instead, they combine cinematic synth textures and larger-than-life swagger with contemporary production and a darker edge, giving their music a sense of familiarity without feeling entirely derivative.
The opening track “Showtime” sets the stage with an introduction that feels tailor-made for a band eager to make a grand entrance. Its title promises spectacle, and hot mess lean into that idea with an attention-grabbing energy that establishes the EP's aesthetic from the outset. The band's knack for pairing attitude with accessible melodies becomes even clearer on “Take Me Home,” where Blade Runner-esque synth layers collide with glam metal swagger and punk rock urgency. It's a confident combination, capturing the excitement of neon-lit nights while giving the band's retro influences a modern makeover.
That balance between glossy pop appeal and heavier rock instincts becomes one of the EP's defining characteristics. “Toxic Cloud” pushes further into guitar-driven territory, taking aim at a music scene more concerned with everything surrounding the music than the music itself. The track's heavier approach and breakdown provide a welcome jolt, demonstrating that hot mess aren't content to rely exclusively on catchy choruses and danceable rhythms. There's a little more bite here, and it helps establish the band's willingness to explore the rougher edges of their sound.
“New Addiction” moves in the opposite direction, embracing pop-punk urgency and a more immediate melodic rush. Where “Toxic Cloud” delivers tension and weight, this track thrives on momentum, offering a different side of the band's personality without abandoning the grit that holds the EP together. The contrast between the two songs is particularly effective, suggesting that hot mess understands the value of variety within their sound. They can lean into heavier guitars when the moment calls for it, then pivot toward brighter, hook-driven territory without losing their identity.
“One More Tear” continues the EP's exploration of emotional turbulence, fitting neatly into a collection shaped by ambition, relationships, jealousy, and self-reflection. These are familiar themes for pop-rock and pop-punk, but hot mess approaches them through a sound that feels more neon-lit and nocturnal than purely nostalgic. The result is a collection that pairs the messy realities of growing up and figuring things out with music designed to be played loudly, preferably with the windows down and the night still ahead.
The EP's closing track “See You In Hell” rounds out the six-song release, with its heaviest statement yet. Bringing the band's introductory statement to its conclusion while reinforcing the attitude that runs throughout Make Myself Your Favorite Scene. With the EP introducing two new songs alongside previously released material such as “Take Me Home,” “Toxic Cloud,” and “New Addiction,” the collection works as both a showcase of the band's early momentum and a clearer picture of what they hope to accomplish.
That momentum is already translating beyond the studio. hot mess recently opened for Diva Bleach at The Annex before supporting WARGASM at X-Ray Arcade, marking a significant week for a band still in the earliest stages of its career. Those opportunities make sense for a group whose music thrives on immediacy, big hooks, and the kind of high-energy presentation that can translate naturally to a live setting.
If there's a defining strength to Make Myself Your Favorite Scene, it's the band's ability to make their influences feel like ingredients rather than limitations. The synth-heavy atmosphere, pop-punk backbone, and glam rock confidence all serve a cohesive vision, even as individual tracks pull in different directions. At times, the familiar ingredients make the EP feel like an introduction to a sound that's still developing, but that's hardly a disadvantage for a band just getting started. The six tracks establish a solid foundation, and the willingness to move between heavier riffs and unabashedly pop-minded melodies gives hot mess room to grow.
Ultimately, Make Myself Your Favorite Scene is an inviting debut from a Milwaukee band with a clear sense of aesthetic and an appetite for big, memorable rock songs. hot mess have the hooks, the swagger, and the restless energy to make an impression, while their blend of retro-futuristic atmosphere and contemporary pop-punk grit gives them a promising starting point. They're still writing the opening chapter of their story, but this EP makes a compelling case for paying attention to what comes next.
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