(Artist Update )

Written by: Abigail Brown   

In the ever-evolving world of modern rock, never disbanding or changing the lineup is a feat, but staying independent is the real statement. This report explores the twelve-year journey of The Nude Party, from their collegiate origins at Appalachian State to their recent exit from the major label system. We’ll look at how the band used a “label residency” to tune their sound before returning to independent status with their 2026 desert-recorded album, Look Who’s Back. It’s a story of friendship that traded the corporate standard of the rock genre cold shoulder, for a homemade studio created with only the music in mind. With this move, their edgy, alt Americana brand has become stronger than ever.

Forming in 2012 at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC., The Nude Party consists of a tight-knit seven-person brotherhood. The members are Patton Magee, Shaun Couture, Don Merrill, Alec Castillo, Austin Brose, Connor Mikita, and Jon “Catfish” Delorme. Their musical fingerprint was built on “British Invasion” sounds and 1960s garage rock. They bonded early on over a shared inspiration of the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, Leon Russell and the Doors. You can hear these influences in their music; in its dance-able swamp-funk vibes.

The Nude Party, like many other rock acts, started independently. In 2016, they released their Hot Tub EP, which initially put them on the map. This early success touring with and opening for Jack White and the Arctic Monkeys, caught the industry’s attention. The band officially announced their signing in early 2018, entering a seven-year stint with New West Records under a three album deal. Their time with the label could be described as a residency; they used the label’s resources and reach to build a reputation while sharpening their talents. This era begat their self-titled debut, The Nude Party released on July 6, 2018. Two years later, their second album Midnight Manor released on October 2, 2020, and was recorded live-to-tape. The Nude Party’s third album with New West is titled Rides On, and was released on March 10, 2023. This was self-produced versus the last two albums, which were produced by Oakley Munson, who’s mainly known for being the drummer for garage rockers Black Lips.

These albums were recorded in a barn-studio the band built themselves in the Catskills. After fulfilling their contract in 2025, they became free agents and dove straight back into the “good ol’ homemade studio” approach. Newest of all is their 2026 album, Look Who’s Back. The song “Walk That Walk” was released as a lead single on January 16, 2026, to promote the album. This was described by the band as their “Thin Lizzy ‘Jailbreak’ moment.” Contrasting with their New York woods era, their latest work was recorded at a friend’s house in the California desert. It serves as their first major indie release in a decade. Now that they have their brand back, the band has returned to independent status and officially joined the exodus of artists leaving major labels.

The Nude Party remains a rarity in the industry: a seven-person touring musical act that’s stayed together for over 12 years. The return to their independent origins with Look Who’s Back has been proof that their edgy, alt-Americana sound is not just a phase, but a brand built on camaraderie and a refusal to overthink their place in the rock world. In a world where there are superstar rockers that are known to take themselves too seriously, this group has shown that they’ve kept their original goofiness as well as furthering the development of their sound.

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