Apes of the State

Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Apes of the State took shape in 2015 around songs by April Hartman, initially written solo after a period of recovery, before expanding into a band. The project sits within folk punk, with an acoustic foundation threaded with elements of emo, pop punk, folk and occasionally bluegrass; its format has evolved from a stripped-down approach to a fuller band sound. Centered on April Hartman, Apes of the State operates as a quartet with Dan Ebersole, Mollie Swartz and Ian Cornele, and quickly established a presence on the American DIY scene through touring, open mics and strong ties to the folk punk community. Their discography includes This City Isn’t Big Enough (2016) and Pipe Dream (2019), followed by the split EP They Can’t Kill Us All, shared with Sister Wife Sex Strike in 2023. During the pandemic, April Hartman also launched Coping with Dystopia, an online series featuring other artists from the scene. Since live shows resumed, Apes of the State has toured more widely across the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia, while maintaining an independent organization and an aesthetic closely tied to DIY punk culture.