Play It Back: A Night Tapes Experience

Night Tapes at Bottom Lounge | Photo Credit: Mariana Servin

"portals//polarities," Night Tapes' fifth studio album, was released on September 26, 2025. It's the most ideal dreamy alternative indie album with dance/electronic components, and in my opinion, it's the ideal fall record. Listening to Night Tapes is a delightful experience because of their distinctive, whimsical, and enjoyable sound. Iiris has incredible vocals, and when she performs live, her vocals are practically identical to the studio version. I was blown away when I had the honor of photographing Night Tapes at Bottom Lounge on October 14, 2025, when they came to Chicago. 

Portals//Polarities at Bottom Lounge:

Night Tapes at Bottom Lounge | Photo Credits: Mariana Servin

Night Tapes drew a big crowd to their Chicago show. Their performance at Bottom Lounge felt very intimate. They were so close to the audience, and everyone was swaying to their melodies like they were in a trance. Their stage presence was amazing. Their choice of lighting also emphasized the dreamy mood they were setting and went exceptionally well with their vocals and melodies. Iiris, Max Doohan, and Sam Richards were accompanied by Will Woodfine on the drums. It was extremely hard focusing on taking pictures because this group is just incredibly talented, so I wanted to give them my full attention and just take in every single detail from their stage presence all the way to their notes. I highly recommend checking them out, especially now that the weather’s getting colder. You might be wondering, “Mariana, what do Night Tapes and cold weather have to do with each other?” Well, to truly capture the dreamy essence of Night Tapes, you’ve got to listen to them as the temperature gets colder. Put on your headphones, take a late-night walk, and let their rhythms guide you through the quiet streets. 

Here are my Night Tape recommendations: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2aciDY1GtzCCxoUVaEnMfc?si=d36c38040dca41ce

My Night Tape Edits:

This next section is a little more personal for me. I discovered Night Tapes in the winter of 2022, during my senior year of high school. It was cold outside as I walked home from water polo practice, snowflakes gently kissing my face when “Forever” by Night Tapes started playing. I remember feeling like I was slipping into a dream with every passing second. I glanced down at my red snow boots while Iiris’s voice flowed through my headphones, my body heavy but my mind calm and light. The moment felt soft, surreal, and incredibly peaceful.

Later on, I met someone who gave me that same dreamy feeling, except instead of cold, they made me feel warm. As our connection grew deeper, I started hearing “Forever” differently. Lyrics like “Cry for me honey. All that I love is all that you are” and “Forever, you and me” began to resonate deeply. We used to say “Forever and always” to each other, and I’d tell them they were the green to my blue. So when I saw Night Tapes live, they were the first person who came to mind. These edits are dedicated to someone who was once my forever:

This was also my first time experimenting with color edits! For more photos, check out @servintunes and @marianaserv1n on Instagram!

A special thank you to Night Tapes, their management, Bottom Lounge, and UIC radio for giving me the opportunity to attend the Portals// Polarities Tour in Chicago at Bottom Lounge. Because of it, I was able to experience this talented group live and capture awesome moments on my camera!