WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
Scowl has quickly made a name for themselves as one of the most vivid and hard-working
acts in the rock world. Since the release of their debut album, How Flowers Grow in late
2021, the band has become a powerful force to be reckoned with. Lauded for its reality-
driven, aggressive blend of hardcore-punk, the critically-acclaimed album opened up new
doors for the band, including a non-stop touring schedule. As new music began to take shape,
it was no surprise that experiencing most of their lives on the road would greatly influence the
next phase of Scowl.
Enter Psychic Dance Routine.
Since forming in 2019, the band has consistently eschewed being pigeon-holed, moving far
beyond the confines of what a typical “hardcore” band is considered. Floral motifs lace their
artwork and merchandise, they’ve notably toured with diverse acts like Limp Bizkit and
Destroy Boys, and one of the most talked about tracks on How Flowers Grow was a melodic
number with a saxophone solo. On Psychic Dance Routine, Scowl continue to push the
boundaries of their sound and artistic presence, now laying somewhere between hardcore and
alternative. As the band puts it, “it’s like Negative Approach meets The Breeders.”
In September 2022, the Santa Cruz, California band traveled to Pennsylvania to seclude
themselves in the studio for a week, recording with Grammy-nominated producer Will Yip at
Studio 4. Working with Yip was a completely collaborative experience as he not only brought
life to these songs, but greatly encouraged Kat Moss as she worked on her elevated vocal
style found across the record. The highlights and challenges of performing, whether in the
studio, on tour, or in the act that is life, became a recurring notion on the five track EP.
As Moss states; “I chose to revolve the main theme around performance. This is both literal
and figurative, as the band has been on tour practically all of 2022. My perspective of being
consumed as the version of myself that is ‘performing’ has shifted dramatically, while
simultaneously grappling with the experience of being a feminine artist in a world that doesn’t
always take you seriously.”
Lead single “Opening Night” sets the stage marrying edgy melodies with dynamic riffs.
Stylistically, Scowl evokes the same feeling as first hearing bands like Sonic Youth and The
Strokes, making sounding cool seem almost effortless. “Shot Down” encompasses the battle
of fear versus confidence in both lyrical and sonic form, as the band teeters between circle-pit
ready moments and sugary hooks. The most vulnerable and pivotal moment of the EP comes
in the title track “Psychic Dance Routine.” Moss and the band emphasize their capability of
writing a striking indie-alternative song filled with breathy vocals, lush melodies, and a fundamental introspective for the entire release.
“The best way I can define Psychic Dance Routine is that it represents the mental gymnastics
or ‘dance routine’ one might have to participate in order to telepathically project their feelings
or emotions to another person because they no longer have the ability to express themselves
with words” comments Moss on where the title derives. She concludes, “The overarching
theme of this EP lies heavily in the definition of the name— I wanted to lyrically express
feelings of alienation and loneliness as well as questioning my own reality. I made an effort to
speak more with metaphors as I wanted these topics to be relevant to other people.”
On Psychic Dance Routine Scowl has exemplified their ethos of being true to themselves
through creating innovative song structures and personable lyrics. Their ability to be genre
fluid intersects with their up for anything attitude, whether that means playing in a fast food drive-in parking lot or hitting the stage at Coachella. It’s all just part of the plan for the ever-
evolving band that is Scowl.