Macie Stewart: Chicago’s Master of Equilibrium Across Indie, Jazz, and Classical
Macie Stewart is a highly esteemed American multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter, and improviser based in Chicago, Illinois. Hailed by critics as a “master of equilibrium,” Stewart possesses a rare ability to move seamlessly between the technical demands of contemporary classical music, the spontaneity of the avant-garde jazz scene, and the melodic structure of indie and art-pop. This versatility has cemented her status as one of the most distinguished and in-demand collaborators in modern music.
Early Life and Foundational Musical Training
Stewart’s musical career began at the exceptionally young age of three when she started learning piano. She later added the violin at age five. As the child of a career musician, she was exposed to a rich variety of sounds, which helped her establish a deep, intuitive, and technical connection to music early on. Her formal classical training provided the rigorous structure and discipline that underpins her later, more experimental work.
Before fully emerging into the Chicago avant-garde and indie scenes, Stewart co-founded the notable Chicago bands Kids These Days and Marrow during her teenage years, giving her an early taste of collaboration and performance across diverse genres, including a stint playing Irish Fiddle.
Dual Career: Band Leader and Sought-After Collaborator
Stewart’s discography is an impressive blend of her own projects, compositional commissions, and expansive session work.
The Duo: Finom (Formerly OHMME)
Stewart is the co-founder of the experimental art-pop duo Finom (previously known as OHMME) alongside Sima Cunningham. Since forming in 2014, the band has become celebrated for their complex sonic landscapes and distinctive, often interwoven, vocal harmonies. They have released several acclaimed records, including Fantasize Your Ghost (2020) and Not God (2024), and have toured extensively.
The String Arranger and Session Musician
As a multi-instrumentalist specializing in strings (violin/viola) and piano, Stewart is a prominent figure behind the scenes, elevating the work of major artists. Her work as a string arranger draws on her fluency in classical, jazz, and folk traditions, creating unique textures for popular records.
Key artists she has performed, arranged, or toured with include:
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SZA
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Chance The Rapper
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Japanese Breakfast (as a touring multi-instrumentalist)
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Whitney
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Makaya McCraven
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Tweedy
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Kara Jackson
Jazz and Improvisation
Rooted in Chicago’s renowned jazz community, Stewart is also a key improviser, having been a member of influential ensembles like Ken Vandermark’s Marker and the improvised trio The Few. This experimental work provides a contrast to her structured arrangements, allowing her to explore pure spontaneity.
Solo Work and Genre-Bending Composition
Stewart’s solo career demonstrates her complete vision as a composer and artist, seamlessly blending her acoustic, folk, and experimental sides.
Solo Albums
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Mouth Full of Glass (2021): Her debut solo record, which was self-recorded, arranged, and produced during the pandemic. Praised for its “lush, baroque-tinged folk” and poetic lyricism, the album established her as an artist with a singular, distinct voice.
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When the Distance is Blue (2025): Released on the experimental label International Anthem, this album is a cinematic and symphonic work rooted in prepared piano improvisations, string arrangements, and field recordings, embracing the experimental aspects of her background.
Compositional Commissions
Her work as a composer transcends the album format, with high-profile commissions in dance and installation art:
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Pacific Northwest Ballet (2022): Composed a score for a 50-piece orchestra for a major ballet premiere.
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Hubbard Street Dance (2021): Co-composed a piece for their dance film, “Half of Us.”
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Sound Installations: She has created sound installation pieces, such as “The World Doubles in Size”, commissioned for the ESS Florisonic Installation in the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Macie Stewart remains a vital and essential creative force, constantly pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a modern multi-disciplinary musician.