On JUMBO, Juicebumps Explores New Ground
Photo Credit: Dan Schmatz
From the opening riff of the dance-punk track “Scatterbrain,” Juicebumps will grab your attention. The four-piece band, consisting of Parker Richard, Spencer Owings, Shaina Pan, and Kyle Nosler, makes the type of noise that could only be born in California’s Bay Area. Their sound, which could easily soundtrack a video game, is a blend of new wave, post- and dance-punk. However, the band’s lyrical prowess, choice of melodies, and erratic rhythms make Juicebumps particularly special.
Released earlier this month, their new album JUMBO tells stories of paranoia and tales of horror. In “Scatterbrain,” Richard and Pan repeat phrases and sing half-formed sentences to reflect a lack of focus. The song “Licking Lady,” influenced by the horror manga “The Licking Woman” by Junji Ito, tells the story of a grotesque woman and her deadly tongue. In “Wiggler,” Richard’s vocals accentuate the delusion of something scratching at his “territory.” Pasting together sci-fi sounds and news-style audio clips, the band creates an environment in which theoretical monsters suddenly become an imminent threat.
Their music video “Wiggler,” filmed and edited by Dan Schmatz, is a 3-minute visual trip into what happens when a worm-like creature assumes control of your body. The band notes that it was as much fun to make as it is to watch. Pan recounts how her mustache and full beard kept sliding off.
“Sometimes I make lyrics more ambiguous so people can make up the story themselves,” Parker explains over email. “On songs like 'Scatterbrain' and 'Monosodium Glutamate' I mess around with wordplay and punchy little catchphrases. I feel like video advertisements influence those songs a lot. I ask myself, 'How can you grab someone's attention in less than 30 seconds, and turn their brain into a trampoline?"
Sonically, JUMBO pushes further than Hello Pinky!, the band’s debut album. Over Zoom, Pan calls their latest work “more dynamic.” The songs are often unpredictable, leaning into what sounds like the improvisational quality of jazz. Juicebumps credits this to their process. Each member brings a riff or an idea, and then together they workshop the song. As Richard explains, “The last album Hello Pinky! was sort of an expanded solo project, but that setup didn't work when it came time to write new material for what would become JUMBO. Everyone had an equal say in what went in the pot (or stayed out).”
Their new songwriting process created opportunities to work out fresh ideas. “That setup led to our drummer Kyle writing a few bass riffs, our synth player Spencer whipping up a drum part, or our bassist Shaina writing and singing lyrics. We all wear all of the hats on JUMBO, which allows us to dip further into the experimentation side of things.” According to the band, this method also allowed them to reference a diverse set of influences, and introduce new instrumentation in what results in what Pan calls, a “genre-bending” album.
Over the summer, the band played a string of shows across the EU. Richard says, “It was the first time we had stage divers. We weren’t sure if the crowd was into it or if they were into the idea of a weird California band.” Their live shows are part music and part theatrics. Whether it’s costumes or alien births, no two shows are alike. Their antics led to a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola in 2021 and the creation of the band’s mascot Cokiee (who has not been seen since).
What’s next for Juicebumps? “We have a lead,” the band replies in regards to a future sponsorship deal. We’ll have to wait and see who’s wise enough to take them on.
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
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