Advertisement

Artist in profile: Girlpool

Girlpool

Introspective punk duo Girlpool has attracted a following of critics and fans who are drawn to their candid, heartfelt lyrics and stripped-down sound. They've just announced a debut LP and have a series of live shows planned to mark its release.

Who?
Girlpool is Philadelphia-based Cleo Tucker (guitar) and Harmony Tividad (bass), who were born and raised in Los Angeles and moved to Philly in 2014 after releasing their self-titled EP. The duo's raw sound, consisting of harmonized vocals set over their guitar and bass instrumentation, is spotlighted on their upcoming debut LP, "Before the World Was Big," due out June 1.

Why the buzz?
Girlpool has won over critics with powerful and often vulnerable lyrics delivered in a punk-inspired style with minimal accompaniment.

In a review of the LP's title track, Pitchfork writes, "On songs about gender, sexuality, and the fraught process of going to rock shows alone, the duo has constantly grappled with themes and subjects that demonstrate the unique anxieties of growing up in the 21st century."

That title track has for its theme the nostalgia for a lost childhood, and The Line of Best Fit writes, "Utilising simply a tandem bass and guitar riff, Girlpool put on a strong, yet cheerfully innocent face for the rest of us who struggle to make sense of and accept our inability to keep things the way we want them."

What to listen to?
Over on SoundCloud you can hear the title track from Girlpool's upcoming LP. On YouTube you'll find an official video for earlier track "Plants and Worms" as well as the tour documentary "Girlpool: Things Are OK." "Before the World Was Big" is available for pre-order via Wichita Recordings.

Where to see?
Girlpool has a few California shows at the end of this month, followed by more US shows throughout May and a gig at Eagle Rock in Los Angeles to mark LP release. Two shows in London are set for June 7 and 10, followed by a gig in Brooklyn in July, two shows in Atlanta in August, two UK festival appearances in September and a gig in Paris on September 16, among many others.

Find out about these shows and more at the band's Facebook page. You can also follow them on Twitter.