San Francisco’s gloomy june tell us “you probably have to be a little emo” to enjoy the sound of their hooky indie meets synthpop meets pop rock sound that they describe as “sad, gay, friends.” Luckily for them, we’re all at least a little bit emo.
gloomy june started out when Alexi Belchere (vocals), Devin Nelson (guitar and backing vocals) and Jack Sundquist (bass) decided the songs they were writing didn’t fit in with their previous project (The Y Axes). They soon recruited drummer Ash Hyatt, which saw their music become heavier and “more punk” and leaned into their new-found style of writing.
On the catchy style they’ve crafted since, Alexi told us: “I describe it as emo nostalgia for the gays. You don’t have to be lgbtq to enjoy it, but you probably have to be a little emo.”
Our latest taste of this is picking scabs, which was released as a double (is that a thing?) alongside making plans earlier this month. And, while the song sounds light, danceable and catchy, the story behind it is tragic, with Alexi explaining: “In 2020, my older sister passed away from a drug overdose, and the song explores interacting with family in her absence, and the realization that I’m getting older and she never will.”
picking scabs opens up with a building noise that drops into a funky little guitar lick, which tees up a mellow opening verse. It picks up pace as we flow into a catchy chorus “When you became a ghost, Empty space began to grow, All the jokes we used to know, I only tell myself so, I carry on but why? Some imaginary lie, Every wound could heal in time, Picking scabs of what we had so, You don’t fade out no.” A flickering, building guitar lick supports the verse before a slightly modified chorus, which drops into dreamy guitars and vocals that build up to a final blast of the chorus.
On the track, Alexi told us: “People have really been loving picking scabs! A friend of mine texted me that when it came out she listened to it three times and ‘was ugly crying and texting my sibling by the second time through.’ If you haven’t listened yet, be ready to dance and ready to weep.” Check it out in the video here:
That track is supported by the more laid-back making plans, and follows on from last year’s excellent Pisces. It opens up with a cool little riff that flows into Alexi’s enjoyable vocals with a verse that ends with the line “And I bet I’m just dreaming to ever think I’d have a chance with you.” The second chorus ends with repeats of “on and on,” teeing up a final blast of high-pitched vocals. And if that has you wanting more, we firmly recommend last year’s back from the dead and their debut EP Popsick, which is packed with catchy indie pop rock goodness like This Party Is A Warzone and the delicious Tinderbox Heart.
The gloomy june sound draws on an ever-evolving list of influences, with Alexi calling out the likes of The Beths, Bleachers, Remi Wolf, and Phoebe Bridgers. And on what inspires them to write music, Alexi explained: “I feel like over the years I’ve been orbiting some truths hidden within myself, and with each song I get closer and closer to uncovering them. When I first started writing songs, I would write about the apocalypse, and about being a time traveller, and existing in a world I couldn’t understand with people I couldn’t relate to. Then I would write about wanting to repair peoples’ broken hearts.
“Now I write about using escapism to avoid self-doubt, and about the feeling of sharing a life with someone. They say, ‘Write what you know,’ and I think what’s happened is with each effort, I’ve come closer to knowing myself. And to answer ‘what influences you to write music,’ I would say a deep desire to make sense of myself and everything I experience. I’d love to hear what you all think of the tunes. Send us a message on social media or come to a show and tell us!”
gloomy june are putting the finishing touches on a debut album that will be released in June. They’re also planning a tour around the US in the autumn (fall) along with a few fun gigs for Pride month. And additional kudos to the band for releasing a live cover version of one of this writer’s favourite-ever songs Cute Without The E, which makes us want to go blast out Taking Back Sunday.
You can follow gloomy june on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube.
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