Experimental skramz project Gingerbee say goodbye in Chicago with a 16-piece band

The band, which formed through online connections, is playing its farewell show at Thalia Hall.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:13pm

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Gingerbee, an experimental skramz project that formed through online connections, is playing its farewell show at Thalia Hall in Chicago. The band, which started as a solo project by Toronto multi-instrumentalist Melody Sohani, quickly expanded to include musicians from around the world, including Brazil, South Carolina, and Colorado. For their final performance, Gingerbee has assembled a 16-person collective to play every song they've ever released.

Why it matters

Gingerbee represents the creative potential of the bedroom skramz scene, a fiercely underground subgenre of screamo music that has flourished through online communities and DIY labels like Bedroom Skramz / DIY Jamz. The band's ability to bring together musicians from across the globe showcases how the internet has enabled new forms of collaborative music-making, even in niche genres.

The details

Gingerbee started when Sohani posted a demo to the Bedroom Skramz / DIY Jamz Discord that caught the attention of Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Gustavo Nome. The two formed the core of the band, later adding vocalist Dani Giguere from South Carolina. Over the years, Gingerbee has expanded its lineup to include a rotating cast of musicians, with as many as 16 players contributing to their final EP, 'Apiary'. The band's sound has evolved from its initial lo-fi, bedroom-recorded origins to a more ambitious, orchestral style that incorporates elements of video game music, samba, and screamo.

  • Gingerbee formed about four years ago.
  • The band released their debut EP 'Our Skies Smile' in 2023.
  • Gingerbee's single 'Petal Dance' was released in 2024 as part of their 'Apiary' EP.
  • Gingerbee's farewell show at Thalia Hall is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 5 PM.

The players

Melody Sohani

A Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist who started Gingerbee as a solo project.

Gustavo Nome

A Brazilian multi-instrumentalist who joined Gingerbee after collaborating with Sohani online.

Dani Giguere

The vocalist for Gingerbee, hailing from Greenville, South Carolina.

Jordan de Graaf

The founder of the Bedroom Skramz / DIY Jamz label, who contributed to Gingerbee's music.

Jacob West

A member of the Chicago-based emo project Summer 2000, who contributed cello to Gingerbee's final EP.

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What’s next

Gingerbee's farewell show at Thalia Hall on March 1, 2026 will feature the full 16-piece lineup performing all of the band's released material.

The takeaway

Gingerbee's story demonstrates how the internet has enabled new forms of collaborative music-making, even in niche genres like bedroom skramz. The band's evolution from a solo project to a global collective showcases the creative potential of online communities and DIY labels.