Interviews - In our short history we've had the pleasure of being interviewed or spotlighted in a few great music magazines. These scathing tell-all pieces are filled with all the news you need to know and should give you a unique insight into our wonderfully delusional pop world...
AOL Interview
This fun-filled chat with Fred Belden of AOL Chicago delves into our lovely music, our new home in Chicago, places we like to go and the few local bands that we really dig.

 Big Takeover
A great article by Ben Szporluk touching on our days in Alison's Halo, our love of 60s pop, the dismal state of music, and, as always, the semi-bright future of Insta.
Vendetta
An insightful Kitten Factor Q&A from this excellent up-and-coming fanzine. Lot's of other great interviews like Mogwai, Rialto, Spiritualized, Polak (ex-Adorable) and others.		 Stratosphere
 A snappy little chat conducted by indie-press wonder girl Jen Dan. Includes our top records, the Submersible label, our everchanging band names, and the inherent dangers of inbreeding.
'Zine De Colores
Our records have on caught on like wildfire in Spain, so it's no small wonder that we've done a few bits with zines over there. This interview certainly stands out as our favorite. Viva La Insta! 		 
Reviews - Here's a just a few of the reviews we've been collecting over the past year or so. All of these underground publications are excellent sources of information about obscure, yet wonderful, pop music. We would encourage you to follow the links to find out more.
Splendid Zine "Insta creates the most sugary of '60s flavored pop by utilizing Catherine's airy, girlish vocals and the couple's plethora of vintage instruments.The music here is supremely melodic and sounds as if each track was crafted not with frenzied urgency, but with utter glee."

Get Out Magazine "If there's one downside to Insta's "Checklist for Love," it's that the album is simply too short. At just over 34 minutes, the duo's happy-go-lucky pop gem will certainly leave you satisfied, but the 11-song disc will also leave you craving much, much more.In all, 'Checklist for Love,' with its carefree beats and not-too-sugary-sweet vocals is the perfect soundtrack for lazy, sunshiny days and, of course, love." Adrienne Frank

Yahtzeen "This has been sitting around in the yahtzeen review bin for too long and I'm sorry I didn't get to sing its praises sooner. At first I hated this, but I'm listening to it right now, and this guy-girl duo is definitely appealing. It's sugary-sweet to the 100th power. a lot more poppy than Cub if you can believe it. The singer, listed only as Catherine, actually sounds kind of like a kitten; high pitched and cute, but also kind of sultry and seductive. It's hard to tell if the extremely complimentary and over-the-top copy on the back of the record is tongue-in-cheek or not. Even if it's serious, this band has the tunes to back it up. my girlfriend says it's music that belongs on the soundtrack to "pretty in pink" or "some kind of wonderful." i'd say that's pretty accurate."

Stinkweeds "Adam and Catherine Cooper hang onto band names for almost the length of the average Tyson title fight. For those of you who might have gotten up to go to the refrigerator, here is a little scorecard to get you up to date.

Our intrepid couple got their start as the nucleus of Alison's Halo, one of Tempe, Arizona's sterling contributors to the "Beautiful Noise" scene. Think American Shoegaze. The band refused to be pigeonholed, however. They soon completely changed gears and reemerged as the Bacharach inflected Pastry Heroes. After one fantastic ep (Horn Rim Fury) that presaged the current sounds in indie rock by four years, the band packed up and moved to Chicago. Another name change ensued, this time to Kitten Factor and a single or two emerged. A heartbeat later the name was changed again to Insta. It's been a year or so since the new name was unveiled. Could this moniker actually stick?

The seemingly infinite time that has elapsed since their last release combined with the fact that I am a rabid superfan means that their newest effort will either crash and burn in the fires of my disappointment or become one of the handful of CDs that I will rave about when I talk about the music of 2002.

Thankfully, the band has not tinkered too much with their distinctive sound this time out. In other words, more songs that sound like they were written in the mid 60's and then filtered through a post-punk/post-pop sensibility. Catherine's breathy vocals still continue to challenge Sarah Cracknell for the mantle of most alluring songbird in music today. Self professed guitar geek Adam probably had to resist considerable temptation to add layers of effects on top of their delightfully sublime pop songs. That restraint serves the songs well and gives the album a sparse ambience and ever important breathing room. The band does still have a studio trick or two hidden up their sleeves and aren't afraid to bring them out when appropriate. The whacked out guitar of "Eyelash" (or is that whacked out organ?) is a welcome and fitting addition to the band's arsenal of sound. The muted chorus pedal that opens "Pepe's Wish" is a brilliant example of less being more. And is that a Moog I hear on "So Far Away?" Bravo.

There's nothing here as insanely infectious as "Sydney" or as wonderfully sophisticated as "Nite-Lite," but that doesn't mean this is a weak effort by any means. "So Far Away" is a dreamy kick. The nostalgic culinary adventure of "The Pastry Hero" sounds better with every listen. "We know where baking leads." Indeed we do, it leads to irrepressible classic pop songs. The wistful "Mexico Sometimes" manages to strike some of the same emotional chords that they did all the way back in the halcyon days of Alison's Halo. Stirring. The band also tries something new: Adam gets a chance at the microphone on the all too brief "You Can't Hide Everything." The only other singing I can recall him doing was some back-up vocals back in the Halo days. His voice is certainly up to the task and makes me wonder what the band might sound like if he and Catherine really begin to experiment with blending their voices. Something to build on in the future, I hope.

With "Checklist For Love", the band attempts to do a service for their fans. In the years since their last CD release, they've amassed a small horde of singles and compilation tracks. Some really neat songs ("Leaving With So Little Said," and "Brittle") are rescued from obscurity and properly showcased here as some of the band's best material. Some material, unfortunately, remains uncollected. "Far," from the Sunny Sunday Smile II comp and the contents of the Surround ep (including the superlative "Dim" and an ace cover of the Zombies' "Leave Me Be") would all have fit in well here. Ah well, incentive to track down the originals. One of these days this band will release a killer rarities collection that truly surprise folks who haven't been paying attention.

Is the band's sound as fresh and innovative as when they debuted four years ago? Of course not. Something is only new once. Has their dedication to humming perfect pop songs wavered? Not in the least. Adam and Catherine once again serve up another satisfying platter that is sure to hog my stereo for quite some time. -Chris

All Music Guide "There isn't a whole lot of fury on this debut EP from Chicago popsters Insta, but if you're looking for a serving of tuneful, well-crafted pop tunes that merge a '60s style with a millennial melodic sophistication, this could be just what you've been dreaming of. For their debut, Insta are Adam Cooper and Catherine Cooper; he writes most of the songs, she sings 'em, and they both play guitar and keyboards, with various friends pitching in on bass, drums, and other instruments. While Horn Rim Fury would be the perfect title for a power pop record, this is a few shades too polite to qualify on the "power" half of the equation, but the hooks will make any pop addict smile, and Catherine's sweet, breathy vocals are just the instrument this material calls for. A fine calling card from a band with talent and real potential."

Java Magazine " Since leaving Tempe for Chicago a few years back, precious little has been heard from husband-and-wife musical team Adam and Catherine Cooper. The pair - who led space rockers Alison's Halo and popsters The Pastry Heros here in town - break that silence with Checklist for Love and Insta, their latest in a long line of monikers. The disc is brimming over with sparkling pop hooks and breezy melodies for Catherine's breathy and beautifully intimate voice. "Thumbtack," "Suddenly" and "Brittle" are impossibly catchy upbeat numbers with outstanding guitar work and the band is equally adept at slowing things down for the succulent "The Pastry Hero" and the touching "You Can't Hide Everything," which features Aam's debut as a lead singer. This is indie pop at its finest. Illinois-based Sunday Records has also released Horn Rim Fury, under the Insta name. It's an excellent five-song EP (no tracks overlap on Checklist...) that the band first issued in Arizona as The Pastry Heros. Both discs are very highly recommended." - Phillip Black

PennyBlack Magazine (UK) "Ian Brown, the legendary frontman from the Stone Roses, once gave me two pieces of advice. First donÕt make rash judgements on issues that you have time to deliberate on, and secondly NEVER ever namedrop. Well, I suppose I learnt from one of those nuggets of wisdom. You see dear reader what IÕm trying to say is that initially I really disliked this release to the point where I had already consulted libel lawyers in preparation for this review. I was stuck at first base on singer Catherine Cooper 'Stars in Your Ryes' Cerys Matthews style of delivery and intonation. Once stuck there my mind laboured over various lazy journalistic type bile and recriminations. For example I had already earmarked the sub-literate comparison for this album as Cerys fronting The Smiths and a stream of literary slurs that would follow at high speed to package this release within the confines of my blinkered ears (if thatÕs not mixing metaphors and I think it is).

I decided wisely to leave the CD for a week or so then reappraise the situation and what can I say except I was wrong. On re-listening I discovered that this caterpillar with a hundred wooden legs had grown the most delightful wings and had learnt to flutter and grow from all that I had imagined it to be. The way the first track 'Leaving with So Little Said' segues into 'Thumbstack' is as seamless as the way in which a verse rolls into a chorus on many other songs. 'Thumbstack' is as bright and sunny as an English summer is not. I think what appeals to me now, is the jangly guitar with permeates every song (always a weakness of mine). The simple production on earlier listens hadnÕt bolstered the lead vocal (which isnÕt, I hasten to add, instantly accessible but a long slow burner), and gives the melody atmosphere and the space to breathe.

The album as a whole conjures up a feeling not dissimilar to Birdie or Heavenly, but in essence only. To write this off as a mere slipstream album would, I feel, do the band an injustice. From reading the sleevenotes I noticed that 'Checklist For Love' was recorded over the last four years yet it doesnÕt suffer from a fragmented feeling or sound as do other albums recorded over such a period (i. e 'Second Coming' by the aforementioned The Stone Roses). It effectively achieves a coherent whole and demonstrates a long-term conviction for what must have been a laborious and IÕm sure at times, frustratingly taxing exercise before Insta finally glimpsed their collective realised vision.

Okay so itÕs not a classic. I wonÕt be selling my granny to get a copy just yet, but in this long ŌhotĶ summer with very few releases you could do a lot worse than this poppy summer album. One word of adviceÉ. Just give it time." - Gary Wollen

Big Takeover - "Between the glow in Catherine's singing, and the irresistible, snappy, friendly tunes, this little-known Chicago, outfit should be on the current Sub-Pop roster; like the best of that label, they explore the glory of intelligent music for those who are tired of a deluge guitars, guitars, guitars, but still admire the instrument and all the other things it can do within the usual framework. This is excellent." Jack Rabid

Scram Magazine "Absolutely delightful pop in a '60s meets early '90s vein. Insta are made remarkable by Catherine Cooper's clear, gorgeous voice, sparkling guitars, and a songwriting sensibility that's as smart as it's heartfelt. Really really good." - Kim Cooper

Vendetta Magazine "Catherine is a stunning singer who Bacharch would have begged to have sung on his 60's hits while Adam's edgy and innovative arrangements make sure the music stays clear of saccharine excess. From the breezy opener "Sydney" to the more melancholic "Nite Lite and "Sparkle," this five song debut is nothing short of spectacular." Ben Splorlzuk


All Music Guide "Blending the sweetly sunny attitude of the K Records clique with the melodic sophistication of more grown-up pop enthusiasts, Insta is the sort of band so engaging, fresh-faced, and eager to please that you want to give them a big hug and a cup of cocoa. Adam Cooper's songs boast a junior-Bacharach tunefulness along with a pop classicist's love for simple and strong guitar figures (jangly and otherwise), while his spouse and collaborator Catherine Cooper has the sort of breathy voice that doubtless makes skinny pop boys swoon the whole world over. Insta's first full-length album, Checklist for Love, sounds like some sort of hooky pop souffle - delicious, but so airy and light that at moment one fears a heavy tread on the floor or a slam of the door will make the whole thing collapse. It's lovely stuff, but just a bit on the slight side; as pleasing as the songs (and the performances) happen to be, most of them follow a very similar formula, and while the material is uniformly strong, by the end of the disc Insta appears to have said about all they have to say a couple times over. Still, there's some very genuine talent in this group, and enough of Checklist for Love sounds like pure pop heaven that it's hard not to imagine they won't have something even stronger to offer the next time the Coopers enter their studio.

New Times " This is ear candy like music writers rarely experiences. The songs are constructed with gentle brush strokes of strums, serene bass lines and a quiet Farfisa in the background over themes of yearning hearts and scooter rides. This disc belongs on a label like TeenBeat or SpinArt. Those who savor the tender aspects of pop music should rank this alongside their Crabs, Unrest and Softies CDs." Brendan Kelley

Get Out Magazine "Insta are all about the purest pop. And it's pop for purist, baby, with classic tunesmithing all the way. The songs are short, sweet and direct. Montsrously catchy hooks on guitar, trumpet and farfisa fill your ears from the get-go. Melodies sparkle with Catherine's beautifully breathy voice way out front - inviting you to sing along with the breezy choruses." Thomas Bond

Incite "How could an indie-pop fan say no to a 5-song CD called Horn Rim Fury by a band called Insta? Hell, they even sing a song about fireflies on the first song, and this song also features the refrain "humming the perfect pop song - which is about what they do except they sing it, in a bright girl voice that just needs a British accent to be the Darling Buds. And the last song, "A View From Space", get carried away with itself on a loud guitar melody that deserves better than Chicago, Illinois."

Splendid Zine "Playing supple female vocals off of chiming guitar notes, this Chi-town-based band has me thinking about Stereolab or Fonda as each track sparkles with clarity and precision. An unassuming run through meandering indie-rock rhythms and bouncy melodies, you can't help but like this airy three song 7". Add some farfisa and a touch of trumpet and the lascivious Insta will be teasing your ears with a familiar, yet charmingly pleasant sound after a few spins of the faithful turntable.

Java Magazine "Insta rely on crytalline clean guitars and the power of pure pop. Guitarist/songwriter Adam Cooper dips into a seemingly never-ending well of hooks and melody here, producing one gem after another. The songs shimmer like like a cool autumn breeze, with Catherine's voice gently lulling you off to slumber. Stylistically, Insta sounds like. Heavenly met Swing Out Sister for a nightcap. Or perhaps the Carpenters with a really good distortion pedal. Either way, it works for me" - Noah Slankard

Fanzine De Colores (Spain) "This record encompasses five magificent pop songs full of catchy, happy melodies that recall Heavenly or Evergreen Dazed. The guitars, farfisa and voice dazzles you from the start. Totally recomended for lovers of good pop. Delicious!.

Mod Magazine "Pull the sweetest glistening sounds of classic pop songs, have them arranged by Burt Bacharach wearing a parka, and voila! you get the idea. Adam & Catherine's maturely distinguished pop stylings are ever-present and effervescent across their diverse discography; Insta counts as one more important check-mark on their spreading sheet of fame." Keith Mod

Option Magazine They've got the style down, and a name to match; I wracked my brain trying to figure out which mid-'80s Creation band (the Jasmine Minks? the Weather Prophets?) Insta sound like. Well, it took a while, but it finally dawned on me that their lovely little EP is a picture perfect cop of some the Cardigans' better material. I'll cut 'em this much slack, however: since the Cardigans' lush production delivers a sunny '60s thing that Insta can't afford, their indie bashing gives 'em a tad more grit."

Music News (Phoenix) Insta draw you in with breezy melodies, strummy rhythm guitars and exquisite hooks on trumpet, organ, and lead guitar. Each song on this five track disc is an absolute gem." - Phillip Black

Kick Bright Zine "All five songs on the EP are simply adorable in a Cardigans and Velocity Girl way. There's not a mediocre song in the bunch and believe me, you will have to listen to this at full volume."

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