Macie Stewart: The Master of Equilibrium in Chicago’s Music Scene
Macie Stewart is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter, and improviser renowned for her versatility and influential presence in the Chicago music community. Hailed by DownBeat magazine as “a master of equilibrium,” Stewart effortlessly moves between the worlds of indie rock, avant-garde jazz, and contemporary classical composition, establishing herself as one of the most distinguished and in-demand collaborators of her generation.
Early Life and Musical Foundation
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Macie Stewart’s connection to music began at a remarkably young age. The daughter of a career musician, she started learning piano at age three and violin at age five, essentially discovering music as a foundational mode of communication alongside language. Her formal training, which included studies in classical music, instilled a strong sense of technical discipline and a unique appreciation for the creative potential within structured composition.
This rich background in classical and Western notation provided the perfect springboard for her eventual deep dive into the experimental and improvisational realms of Chicago’s music scene, notably at key venues like Constellation and The Hungry Brain.
A Career Defined by Collaborative Brilliance
Stewart’s career is marked by an exceptional breadth of projects, showcasing her adaptability across multiple instruments, including piano, violin, guitar, voice, and synthesizers.
Co-Founding OHMME (Finom)
One of her most significant endeavors is the experimental duo Finom, formerly known as OHMME, co-founded with Sima Cunningham in 2014. Blending art-rock and avant-pop, the duo has released multiple critically acclaimed records, including Fantasize Your Ghost (2020) and Not God (2024), celebrated for their distinctive vocal harmonies and adventurous soundscapes.
The Go-To Collaborator
Stewart’s skill as a multi-instrumentalist and string arranger has made her a highly sought-after collaborator for a diverse roster of major artists across genres. She has performed, played strings, or arranged for:
SZA
Chance The Rapper
Japanese Breakfast (touring multi-instrumentalist)
Tweedy (the band led by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco)
Whitney
Makaya McCraven
The Weather Station (touring multi-instrumentalist)
In the experimental scene, she has been a member of influential ensembles like Ken Vandermark’s Marker and the improvised trio The Few.
Solo Work and Compositional Depth
In addition to her collaborative projects, Stewart has cultivated a powerful solo career that allows her to fully explore her voice as a singer-songwriter and composer.
Debut Solo Album
Her debut solo record, Mouth Full of Glass (2021), was self-recorded, arranged, and produced during the early stages of the pandemic. The album, praised for its “lush, baroque-tinged folk” and blooming string arrangements, offered a deeply personal exploration of solitude and self-discovery, marking her emergence as an artist with a singular voice.
Contemporary Composition
Stewart’s work as a composer has increasingly dissolved boundaries between disciplines, leading to high-profile commissions in dance and theater. Her compositional achievements include:
Co-composing a piece for Hubbard Street Dance’s 2021 film, “Half of Us”.
Creating the score for a 50-piece orchestra premiering the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Before I Was” in 2022.
The 2025 release of her album, When the Distance Is Blue (International Anthem), a cinematic and symphonic work rooted in prepared piano improvisations and soundscapes.
Unique Facts and Recognitions
Genre Fluidity: Stewart’s background encompasses classical, jazz, and Irish folk music, all of which she expertly draws upon in her arrangements.
Early Success: Before OHMME/Finom, she helped found the Chicago bands Kids These Days and Marrow, getting her start in the music industry during her teenage years.
Prepared Piano: Her 2025 album, When the Distance Is Blue, heavily features the sound of prepared piano, an instrument modified with objects like coins and felt to produce unique percussive and tonal qualities.
Multiple Labels: She has released music on prominent independent labels, including Orindal Records, Full Time Hobby, and the Chicago-based avant-garde powerhouse International Anthem Recording Company.