Biography

New York City's Pretty Sick emerged in the late 2010s with a raw and gritty sound rooted in 1990s alt-rock and grunge. Led by vocalist and bassist Sabrina Fuentes, the band issued a pair of EPs before unleashing their fiery, full-length debut, Makes Me Sick Makes Me Smile, in 2022. Pretty Sick was founded in 2014 by Manhattanite musician and model Sabrina Fuentes, who was just 13 at the time. Coalescing around an early lineup that included friends Ella Moore and Eva Kaufman, the band honed their chops in the Lower East Side D.I.Y. venues and built a loyal following in the process. With Fuentes splitting her time between modeling and music, Pretty Sick became a revolving door for musicians. A lineup consisting of Fuentes, ex-Virgins guitarist Wade Oates, and Onyx Collection drummer Austin Williamson helped push the group's indie rock sound into a grungier style reminiscent of bands like Hole and Pixies. Pretty Sick's live shows and videos became more theatrical, with blood and hospital imagery featuring prominently, and Fuentes' lyrics adopting a darker and more dystopian tone. In 2018 Fuentes moved to London to attend Goldsmiths University and formed a new incarnation of the group that featured guitarist Orazio Argentero and drummer Ava Kaufman. The band inked a deal with Dirty Hit, home to Wolf Alice, Beabadoobee, and the 1975, and released their debut EP, Deep Divine, in 2020, with Comedown appearing in 2021. Working with producer Paul Kolderie (Hole, Radiohead), Pretty Sick issued their first full-length effort, Makes Me Sick Makes Me Smile, the following year. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi