The Cle Elum

Based in Chattanooga, The Cle Elum brings together Sarah Sargent Pepper and Ian Lee in an indie rock duo that blends power pop, alternative rock, and melodic songwriting nourished by vocal harmonies. The project took shape after their meeting in 2011, in the wake of careers already anchored in the American rock and punk scenes: Ian Lee has played in several bands including Bad Oskar, Woolworthy, Not Rebecca, Tom Daily, Electric Airlines and Kevin Lee, while Sarah Sargent Pepper has long evolved as a drummer, but also in organizing tours. This shared road experience threads through The Cle Elum’s music, built around direct choruses, nervy guitars, and writing that remains concise without limiting itself to a single register. Their first album, It’s Ok If It Falls Apart, released in 2024 on Winston Sounds, establishes this aesthetic between power-pop energy and indie sensibility. Notably, it features “I Am A Robot,” with Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, and “Goodbye Night Sky,” with Josh Caterer of The Smoking Popes. In 2026, The Cle Elum releases the single “Guided By Guided By Voices,” announcing a second album, and continues its live activity with tours in the United States and Europe, notably alongside Nada Surf, Grandaddy, and then Men Without Hats during a Canadian tour.