Bad Self Portraits is an indie rock band from Omaha, Nebraska, known for emotionally charged songwriting, bold vulnerability, and magnetic live performances. Formed in 2017, the band features Ingrid Howell (vocals, bass), Cole Kempcke (guitar), Connor Paintin (guitar, keys), and Jesse White (drums, vocals). Their debut LP I Think I’m Going to Hell marks a breakthrough moment in their journey. For Bad Self Portraits, this release is a reclamation. I Think I’m Going to Hell is an unflinching exploration of grief, mental health, religious anxiety, and family trauma - the aftermath of chaos, rendered in sharp detail. The title, drawn from Howell’s experience growing up with undiagnosed childhood OCD in a strict religious household, captures the early sense of dread that shaped her worldview. “Even when people told me I was good, I felt inherently doomed,” she shares. “It felt like I was born missing some essential information that everyone else had.”

That emotional weight permeates the album, from the visceral tension of “All Bark No Bite” - an unsparing portrait of Howell’s relationship with her mother, shaped by fear and emotional confusion - to the lead single “Pensive,” a character study inspired by her relationship with her partner Joel. Where Howell is spontaneous and firebrand, Joel is cautious and reasoned. The song explores their differences with warmth and clarity, reflecting on how growing up in contrasting faith environments shaped their personalities - and how those differences ultimately balance each other. The band’s arrangements mirror these emotional contrasts. Bad Self Portraits blend cathartic indie rock textures with psychologically rich storytelling, shifting from whispered introspection to full-body catharsis. “We want our music to feel lived-in, like an emotional mirrorball,” Howell says. “Nothing polished - just real.”

With I Think I’m Going to Hell, Bad Self Portraits offers a debut that doesn’t flinch - a record steeped in self-examination, soul, and defiance. It’s an invitation to sit with discomfort, and maybe even grow from it. In a world of disposable content, this is music made to last.