gloomy june – Popsick (2022)
When the beginning of 2022 rolled around, the US-based band gloomy June did not exist. Yet, since their formation earlier this year they have performed at notable festivals like SXSW and Pouzza Fest, released original material, and featured on numerous music blogs and playlists. The band began as The Y Axes but, as guitarist Devin Nelson explains, they “wanted to re-brand and be a new thing…kind of starting from scratch”. As the new band, gloomy june brought us two singles and a five-track EP which we will be reviewing. Come with us as we dip into gloomy june.
Exploring issues like frustration, inner conflict, anxiety, confusion and uncertainty in today’s society, gloomy june’s debut EP Popsick takes a stance on modern-day existence. Written during 2020 and 2021 when social interaction seemed a distant memory that would never re-appear, the five tracks have an intimacy that is too relatable to contemporary audiences. Opening with the upbeat indie-rock meets pop-punk track ‘Save Anyone’, the foursome introduces themselves with a toe-tapping quality. Reminiscent of iconic band Paramore, ‘Save Anyone’ has a tinge of melancholia touching on inner turmoil but there is an overall empowerment in hopeful friendships.
Showcasing their innovativeness as a band, gloomy june adds a hint of retro-pop to the next single ‘Always Gonna Let You Down’. Yet, while there is a tinge of bubble gum pink pop, there remains a strong degree of pop-punk in the song. This is intriguing as the track contrasts jovial toe-tapping sounds with profound and melancholic themes. Intense and bold, the intimacy of gloomy june’s music is highly evident in ‘Always Gonna Let You Down’.
At this point you might consider the band a replica of many early-2000s pop-punk artists; however, this is not entirely true. Alexi Rose Belchere’s vocals are in line with Hayley Williams, but there is a naïve youthfulness in her tone. Effortlessly hypnotising listeners with her dulcet tones, she tosses you into a kaleidoscopic swirl of sound surrounded by a cinematic ambience. In fact, gloomy june as a whole toss you into a swirl of sound as the arrangement wraps you in a gossamer blanket of comfortable warmth.
Ending with ‘Tinderbox Heart’ and ‘Go Fast’ we see the sophistication of the gloomy june’s melodies where each instrument is given prominence and still come together as an intriguing whole. What I truly enjoy about gloomy june and Popsick is how they use upbeat melodies to elegantly share more profound messages. It is this intense intimacy set in a song to make you grin that indicates their strength, sophistication and sensational awesomeness.
For more from gloomy june check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
