Tannen and Katz Share Lead Vocals in Breakthrough Song MFT

Los Angeles might be the city where Cheekface calls home, but the themes in their latest single, “MFT,” are resonating far beyond the indie rock scenes of Silver Lake and Echo Park. Released today alongside a music video directed by Mallory Turner, “MFT” marks a turning point for the band—not just musically, but in how they’re engaging with the anxieties of modern life. And if you’re sitting in a coffee shop in Austin’s Mueller neighborhood or scrolling through your phone on a lunch break in Seattle’s Capitol Hill, the song’s exploration of digital paranoia and mental health might feel uncomfortably familiar.

Cheekface—vocalist/guitarist Greg Katz, bassist Amanda Tannen (formerly of stellastarr*) and drummer Mark “Echo” Edwards—has never shied away from blending sharp social commentary with catchy hooks. But “MFT” is their first track to feature Tannen on lead vocals, sharing the mic with Katz in a way that amplifies the song’s sense of duality. The lyrics, which Katz describes as an “elegy for someone seeking a safe space to share her worst thoughts,” tap into a very 2026 kind of dread: the fear that even therapy isn’t truly private, that our darkest confessions could be flagged, logged, or worse—weaponized by systems we don’t fully understand.

It’s a sentiment that’s been simmering in cities like Austin, where the tech boom has brought both innovation and unease. The city’s reputation as a hub for startups and remote workers has made it a testing ground for new AI-driven mental health platforms, some of which have faced scrutiny over data privacy concerns. Meanwhile, in Seattle, where Amazon and Microsoft have long shaped the local economy, employees have reported feeling surveilled not just by corporate algorithms but by the very tools meant to support their well-being. Cheekface’s song doesn’t offer easy answers, but it gives voice to a question that’s increasingly urgent: Where do we go when even the spaces we trust feel compromised?

The Song’s Core: AI, Therapy, and the Illusion of Safety

Katz’s press release statement about “MFT” is worth lingering on: “What we have is a song that mentions AI, but it’s not about whether AI is lousy. (It’s bad, but that’s not the point of the song.) It’s an elegy for someone seeking a safe space to share her worst thoughts, and feeling that even therapy isn’t really safe, because the therapist might have to report those thoughts to the government.”

This isn’t just abstract fearmongering. In Austin, for example, the city’s growing network of telehealth providers has faced criticism for using AI-driven sentiment analysis tools to flag “high-risk” patients—sometimes with little transparency about how those flags are triggered or who has access to the data. A 2025 report from the Texas Health Institute found that nearly 40% of local mental health professionals had encountered cases where patients refused to disclose certain thoughts or behaviors out of fear their records would be shared with law enforcement or insurance companies. In Seattle, similar concerns have arisen around the use of AI in court-mandated therapy programs, where algorithms are used to assess recidivism risk but have been shown to disproportionately flag marginalized communities.

The song’s title, “MFT,” is a nod to the acronym for “Marriage and Family Therapist,” but it also carries a darker double meaning. In Katz’s words, it’s about the “minimum fucking trust” required to open up to someone—trust that feels increasingly fragile in an era where every keystroke can be logged, every hesitation analyzed. The music video, shot and edited by Mallory Turner, amplifies this tension with its stark, almost clinical visuals: close-ups of hands typing on laptops, faces half-lit by screen glow, and a recurring motif of surveillance cameras that feel like they’re watching the viewer as much as the band.

Cheekface’s Evolution: From Surprise Albums to Shared Vocals

“MFT” is the third single from Podium, Cheekface’s sixth studio album, set to drop on July 28. The band has a history of defying expectations—both in their release strategies and their sound. Last year, they surprise-released It’s Sorted in March 2024, followed by Middle Spoon in 2025, both of which earned spots on Under the Radar’s annual Top 100 Albums lists. This time, though, they’re taking a more deliberate approach, teasing Podium with a series of singles that feel like chapters in a larger narrative.

The album’s first single, “Hostile Street,” dropped in February and was named one of Under the Radar’s Songs of the Week. Its follow-up, “Black Site,” came with a music video that placed the band in prison jumpsuits, a visual metaphor for the feeling of being trapped by systems beyond your control. Now, with “MFT,” Cheekface is diving deeper into the psychological toll of those systems—not just the ones that lock us up, but the ones that claim to help us.

Tannen’s lead vocals on “MFT” mark a significant shift for the band. As a former member of the indie rock group stellastarr*, she brings a different energy to Cheekface’s sound, one that Katz describes as “more vulnerable, more immediate.” The song’s structure reflects this duality, with Tannen and Katz trading verses in a call-and-response that mirrors the push-and-pull of trust and paranoia. It’s a dynamic that feels particularly relevant in cities like Austin and Seattle, where the line between “connected” and “surveilled” is increasingly blurry.

Why This Matters in Austin and Seattle

If you’re in Austin, the themes of “MFT” might hit close to home in ways you didn’t expect. The city’s tech-driven economy has made it a magnet for AI startups, including several that specialize in mental health applications. But as these tools become more integrated into local healthcare systems, so too do concerns about their limitations. A 2025 investigation by the Texas Observer found that some Austin-based telehealth platforms were using AI to screen for “suicidal ideation” without clear protocols for how to handle false positives—leading to situations where patients were involuntarily hospitalized based on algorithmic assessments alone.

In Seattle, the conversation around AI and mental health has taken on a different tone. The city’s long-standing reputation as a hub for progressive policies has clashed with the realities of its tech-driven economy. Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, for example, has been at the center of debates about employee surveillance, with some workers reporting that wellness programs designed to reduce stress have instead created new forms of anxiety. The University of Washington’s Tech Policy Lab has been studying these tensions, releasing reports that highlight how AI-driven mental health tools can exacerbate existing inequities—particularly for communities of color and low-income residents who may lack access to traditional therapy.

Cheekface’s song doesn’t offer solutions, but it does something just as important: it names the problem. In a cultural moment where we’re constantly told to “prioritize our mental health” but are given few guarantees about the safety of the spaces where we do that perform, “MFT” feels like a necessary disruption. It’s a reminder that trust isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a systemic one.

What’s Next for Cheekface—and What Which means for Local Music Scenes

Podium is shaping up to be one of Cheekface’s most ambitious albums yet, not just because of its themes but because of its collaborators. The album features contributions from Teddy Roxpin (known for his work with Mac Miller), Skatune Network’s Jer Hunter, and Elise Okusami of Oceanator—artists who bring a mix of hip-hop, punk, and electronic influences to the band’s indie rock foundation. This cross-genre experimentation feels particularly relevant in Austin, where the local music scene has long been defined by its eclecticism, from the psychedelic rock of the 1960s to the modern fusion of country, punk, and hip-hop that defines venues like Cheer Up Charlies.

In Seattle, Cheekface’s music might resonate with fans of bands like Modest Mouse or The Long Winters—groups that have always balanced introspection with social commentary. The city’s indie scene has a history of using music as a tool for processing collective anxiety, from the grunge era’s raw emotionality to the more recent wave of artists exploring themes of climate change and digital alienation. “MFT” fits neatly into that tradition, offering a soundtrack for a moment when even the most personal struggles feel inextricably linked to larger systems of power.

If “MFT” Resonates With You, Here’s How to Navigate the Local Landscape

Given my background in cultural analysis and local journalism, I’ve seen firsthand how art can reflect—and sometimes even predict—the anxieties of a community. If the themes in “MFT” are hitting close to home for you in Austin or Seattle, here are three types of local professionals who might be able to help you navigate the complexities of mental health, digital privacy, and trust in 2026:

Boutique Therapy Practices with Clear Data Policies

Not all therapists are created equal when it comes to how they handle your data. Look for practices that:

• Explicitly state whether they use AI tools for session notes or client assessments, and if so, what safeguards they have in place.
• Offer transparent policies about when and how they might share information with third parties, including law enforcement or insurance companies.
• Have experience working with clients who have concerns about digital privacy—this could include tech workers, activists, or journalists.

In Austin, practices like Austin Mindfulness Center have been vocal about their commitment to client confidentiality, while in Seattle, Seattle Anxiety Specialists offers a sliding-scale model that prioritizes accessibility without compromising privacy.

Digital Privacy Consultants for Mental Health

If you’re using telehealth platforms or mental health apps, a digital privacy consultant can help you understand the risks and mitigate them. Look for professionals who:

• Specialize in healthcare data security, with experience auditing telehealth platforms for vulnerabilities.
• Can recommend encrypted communication tools (like Signal or ProtonMail) for sharing sensitive information with therapists or support groups.
• Stay up-to-date on local and federal laws governing health data privacy, such as Texas’ Health and Safety Code or Washington’s Public Records Act.

In Austin, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Austin chapter often host workshops on digital privacy, while in Seattle, the Seattle Privacy Coalition offers resources for residents looking to protect their data.

Community-Based Mental Health Advocates

Sometimes, the best way to address systemic issues is through collective action. Community-based advocates can help you connect with others who share your concerns and work toward policy changes. Look for groups that:

• Focus on mental health equity, particularly for marginalized communities who may be disproportionately affected by AI-driven surveillance.
• Offer peer support networks where you can discuss your experiences without fear of judgment or data logging.
• Engage in advocacy work, such as lobbying for stronger data privacy laws or pushing back against the use of AI in mental health assessments.

In Austin, Integral Care runs several peer-led support groups, while in Seattle, Crisis Connections offers a 24-hour helpline and community programs focused on mental health advocacy.

Ready to find trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated mental health and privacy experts in the Austin and Seattle areas today.