“Hotel Ugly” is the vessel that brothers Mike and Chris Fiscella chose to express themselves with. As musicians, they’ve cultivated a style with strong audience identification. By putting their work in the hands of others, they’ve changed the meaning of indie music as a whole. As Hotel Ugly continues to see new heights, it is evident that their hit single “Shut Up My Mom is Calling,” is just the first of firsts for these indie-pop duo.  

Working as brothers, it is surprising to say the least that Mike and Chris Fiscella didn’t see eye to eye as brothers. It was through music that these brothers found their common ground. While Mike works in audio engineering and the likes, Chris predominantly oversees music writing for the duo. Both on vocals, this shows the range of skill sets that is evident in “Hotel Ugly”. A blend of the best of both worlds, Hotel Ugly’s influence soon blossomed through their debut EP. 

Under their band, they released an EP titled “The Ugly EP”, which features the soon to be hit song titled “Shut Up My Mom’s Calling”. Upon release, the song began to make rounds on social media. Featured in numerous TikToks, the song gave Hotel Ugly the platform in order to take over the indie music scene of Houston. As the song gained in popularity, people began to notice the obvious talents of Hotel Ugly. Crafted with dedication and passion for music in mind, “Shut Up My Mom’s Calling” soon proved to be Hotel Ugly’s key to success. 

Since “Shut Up My Mom’s Calling,” Hotel Ugly has enjoyed much success. As a Houston-based band, they’ve toured all over Texas. Enriching the lives of new fans county wide, the traction made in Texas has proven fruitful to their success. Touring in places like San Marcos, San Antonia, and Dallas just to name a few, they’re showing a new side to the indie music scene. Serving as a catalyst for indie music, Hotel Ugly continues to grow within the industry.

Knowing the importance of core values for a band, Hotel Ugly has set their sights on tackling mental health. Through touring, they have raised awareness for mental health as well as provided donations from their show. Benefiting the MHA (Mental Health of America) greater Houston chapter, they’ve taken that into their core principles. Their attention to the public image of their band speaks volumes to dedication of their work. In addition, they’ve collaborated with their fans through GoFundMe to further progress efforts made for mental health awareness. By offering benefits for certain donation amounts, they’ve used their platform to aid a worthy cause.    

 “Shut Up My Mom is Calling” was just the first step for Hotel Ugly. Taking the success they’ve garnered from their single, they’ve put back the same amount of dedication and passion into their work since. Their highly anticipated single “The Ballad of Eddie Jabuley,” is set to be released on June 4th, 2021. Following the success of “Shut Up My Mom is Calling,” this serves as evidence of their dedication. With this new single, Hotel Ugly has capitalized on the momentum that they’ve garnered thus far. In addition to a single, Hotel Ugly’s fans can expect an album in the near future. 

With all the progress they’re making, Hotel Ugly has opened a new chapter for the indie scene. By combining the old and the new, they’ve created a whole new sound in the process. As they continue to explore the industry, Hotel Ugly has gained fans beyond the Houston area. A representation of their musical point of view, they’ve allowed others a glimpse into their innovative approach of the indie pop scene.