JPNSGRLS

JPNSGRLS – pronounced “Japanese Girls” — is a four-piece Canadian garage pop band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2010. The band consists of Charlie Kerr, vocalist/lyricist, Christopher McClelland, bass guitar, Graham Serl, drums, and Colton Lauro on lead guitar.

History

The band members are all originally from the Greater Vancouver area. Kerr and co-founding lead guitarist Oliver Mann formed a core project in 2007 while still in secondary school, with McClelland joining in 2009 and Serl rounding out the lineup in 2010.^[1] Live shows were integral to the band from its beginning, performing in battles of the bands, and packing out any venue that would allow teenage performers and their audiences.

Prior to 2010, JPNSGRLS was originally known as The Beauties, but due to a name conflict with an existing band, changed its name to Japanese Girls. This name was chosen as a tribute to another band they admired - an all-female Japanese indie band called Mass of the Fermenting Dregs.^[2] However, upon realizing it caused difficulty when searching for the band online, they stylized it to the current JPNSGRLS.

The band is a fixture on the Vancouver independent music scene, and is known for its hyperkinetic live shows. While Kerr is the sole lyricist, JPNSGRLS takes a democratic approach with all members contributing to the building of the songs overall.

JPNSGRLS was nominated for the Sirius XM Canada Independent Music Award for 'Emerging Artist of the Year (English)' in April 2015.^[3]

In January 2016, after the recording of their second full-length album was completed, Oliver Mann announced via Facebook that he was leaving the band for other pursuits. 'As some of you already know, 2016 will be a big change for me, in the fact that I have recently decided to leave JPNSGRLS. It was a tough decision to make, but something I had been thinking about for a long time. Being in a band as active as JPNSGRLS required an enormous dedication of time, and to make it work I had to put a lot of other aspects of my life on hold. It was a struggle to continuously weigh the opportunity and cost - and in the end, that weight was bringing me down from even enjoying being in the band anymore,' he said. 'Being a part of JPNSGRLS was amazing, and I am sad to leave it. I got to see so much of the world and am very proud of what we had accomplished over the last 8 years. Most importantly, I got to enjoy the journey with some of the most amazing people I have ever known. I want to thank everyone for all your support over the years, and hope that my departure from the band won’t stop us from being creative together in the future. I am already very excited for what JPNSGRLS will be accomplishing in 2016, and I hope you will be too.'^[4]

After JPNSGRLS mounted a search and auditioned several musicians, Colton Lauro became the band's new lead guitarist in the spring of 2016. Lauro, also from the Greater Vancouver area, was previously a member of Hillfolk - and has also worked with Lanie McAuley and Black Wizard, along with being a session musician.

Discography

The Sharkweek EP (2013)

JPNSGRLS made their debut with The Sharkweek EP in June 2013, distributed by Light Organ Records. The EP was produced and engineered by Justin Brown, and co-produced by the band and Mike Paton.^[5]

Reviewers noted the band's unique combination of syncopation, cohesion, modernity and experimentation with lyrical content, musicianship and influences.^[6] The first single and video released from The Sharkweek EP was Vancouver Grizzly, and the video for the follow-up single Monarch Butterfly debuted on Diffuser.fm in January 2014.^[7] JPNSGRLS also played in BIME Festival in Bilbao Spain in November 2013, in support of the EP.^[8]

Standalone single Red and Green was included on Light Organ's Christmas album Sleighed, also in November 2013, with the video released at Christmas 2014.

Circulation (2014)

For their full-length debut, having now been fully signed by Light Organ Records, the band went into Vancouver's Greenhouse Studios with producer Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties (band)), and engineer Greg Calbi (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Tame Impala, St. Vincent). Circulation was recorded in seven days without a click track. The album was released in North America on July 15, 2014.

Singles released from the album in North America were Mushrooms, Smalls, Tiger, Circulation and Southern Comforting, with official full videos released for Mushrooms, Smalls and Circulation.

Overall, reviews of Circulation were positive, and called particular attention to the record's energy and how it would translate live, and vice versa - noting the uplift of the rhythm section and the contrasting darker lyrical content.^[9] Reviewers also noted that JPNSGRLS' combination of 90's alt-rock and post-punk revival created a complex modern rock sound that made it a 2014 musical peak.^[10][11] AbsolutePunk's review indicated it was 'easily one of the best rock albums of 2014'.^[12]

In dissenting reviews, Alan Ranta of The Georgia Straight stated that Circulation was 'a little inconsistent and under-developed' as a whole, but concluded that 'hooks abound...so the future holds promise',^[13] while Ride the Tempo also made mention of 'uneven' results - expressing frustration that they believed that JPNSGRLS clearly had the capacity to be 'exceptional', while also admitting that the songs were 'solid and enjoyable'.^[14]

Hit single Smalls went straight in at #1 on CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Canadian Indie Songs and held that place for 4 weeks in April/May 2014,^[15] and went to #5 on the CBC Radio 3 Playlist overall the week of May 30, 2014.^[16] It reached #24 on Mediabase's Alt Chart (Canadian Commercial Radio), and staying at between #26 and #28 for a further 8 weeks. The iconic video for Smalls, directed by Nathan Boey, and partly inspired by the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the stop-motion films of Tim Burton, was put into heavy rotation on Canada's MuchMusic in July 2014.

Follow up single Tiger hit #1 on CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Playlist Chart for the week of August 6, 2014,^[17] spending 8 weeks on the chart in total and even rising again to #2 the week of September 2, 2014. On the CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Indie Canadian Songs Chart, it went straight in at #7,^[18] and remained on the chart for 8 weeks.

Circulation, the album, debuted on the CMJ 200 (American College and Community Radio)) at #96 in July 2014, spending 10 weeks on the chart with highest chart position of #35 in August 2014. On Exclaim! Magazine's !Earshot National Top 50 (Canadian College and Community Radio), Circulation debuted at #34 in July 2014 with highest chart #27 in August 2014.^[19]

In the UK, BBC Radio 6 Music debuted Smalls in March 2015 with New Music presenter Lauren Laverne referring to the single as 'feisty' and remarking on the 'huge guitars'. The British press compared JPNSGRLS to their own independent music scene, with NME Radar name-checking Arctic Monkeys for comparative musicianship but making clear vocalist distinctions.^[20] Q Magazine debuted first single 'Mushrooms' as one of '5 Songs To Hear This Week', for the week of March 9, 2015, instead referencing The Strokes for comparison.^[21]

Circulation was released in the UK and Europe in April 2015. The video only single Brandon, directed by Rayln Gladue, was initially released exclusively on the German website Noisey in May 2015.^[22] Both the song and its visceral video were inspired by Boys Don't Cry (film), a 1999 film starring Hilary Swank, which told the story of Brandon Teena, a trans man who was raped and murdered in Nebraska in 1993. The British Columbia Teachers' Federation listed the Brandon video as a recommended resource for teachers, relating to LGBTQ social justice issues. ^[23]

Divorce (2016)

JPNSGRLS' sophomore full album Divorce was released on July 22, 2016, with staggered releases set for the United States and the UK shortly thereafter. Once again, Steve Bays produced some tracks, along with Tom Dobrzanski (The Zolas, Said the Whale) and David Schiffman - a well-known American producer/engineer who has worked on many iconic albums by Rage Against the Machine, The Mars Volta, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Biffy Clyro and Red Hot Chili Peppers - producing several other songs. Mastering was once more done by Greg Calbi. Recording took place in Vancouver's Monarch Studios and in Los Angeles.^[24] Two days prior to the release, JPNSGRLS held a livestream event, whereby they played the album in its entirety, start to finish, along with inserts of dramatic video readings via the Exclaim! music website. ^[25]

Preview reviews for the album were positive and strong, with one reviewer pointing out the maturity and progression of the album from the time of Circulation. "Kerr moves away from predictable ‘indie-rock’ clichés, with Divorce being essentially a collection of unorthodox love songs; about letting go rather than holding on, about love as a two-way street, about what could have been, and about how we approach love in the modern world," said music website Circuit Sweet. "The driving dominance of the Serl-McClelland rhythm section pumping out masterful and edgy layers, combined with the well-placed cross-section of electric guitar tones is a strand running throughout." It went on, "(The album) is of a more mature, melodic alternative-rock sound without losing any of JPNSGRLS infectious energy."^[26]

British music website FMS (FashionMusicStyle) went further in its take on Kerr's abilities as a lyricist, stating, "The tales of isolated youth, love and lust that filled their first album, Circulation, make a welcome return, set apart from the pack by the quality of songwriting from lead singer Charlie Kerr...His songwriting captures elements of the witty social insight of Alex Turner (musician), the sing-a-long choruses of the Gallagher’s and the honest emotion of Jesse Lacey and weaves it all together, as Kerr swings from vitriolic roar to crisp falsetto, singing with such passion that the listener cannot help but be pulled into his world...Whilst JPNSGRLS continue to experiment with their sound and influences, Divorce is a testament to the band's craftsmanship and talent as they create one of the best indie rock albums of the year so far."^[27]

Post-release reviews of Divorce were also largely positive. "Stupid fun meets adult themes and wins in the end", said Muso's Guide, who also gave the album "a thumbs up", called the track A Comprehensive List Of Things I Love "charmingly summer tinged" and stated the "band’s strength in depth is amply plumbed on subsequent track Circus as they slow things down just the right side of cornball". ^[28] Substream Magazine said that "Divorce offers a wholly refreshing take on indie rock that traverses several areas of the genre and its adjacent variations. Throughout its 11-track, 30-plus minute runtime, the newest from JPNSGRLS brings to mind acts like Rozwell Kid, Diarrhea Planet, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, RX Bandits, Dinosaur Jr, and more, but all with its own distinct twists, turns, and thrills. It’s catchy, structurally innovative, and sonically invigorating, with riffs riding riffs to victory, sure to accept its trophies atop ‘best of 2016’ podiums aplenty." ^[29]"The band have drawn clear influence from the likes of The Hives and Arctic Monkeys but added their own unique touch – Divorce is still very much their own music", said Clunk Magazine, giving it 7.5 stars out of 10, and going on to say that the "uncontrollable Oh My God (is) a fiery ball of pulsing energy, followed by the hook-heavy A Girl From A Different Dimension. Both songs act as the perfect introduction into the album, grabbing the listener’s attention and leaving them wondering what is around the corner… Overall, it is 11 tracks of sludgy rock inspired by the best elements of both the new and old school. The band have found complete confidence in their sound and this is heard through the whole album – it is cohesive, infectious and has multiple layers of intelligence through the songwriting." ^[30]

Glide Magazine gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, also calling out the single Oh My God for particular attention, stating that "the song showcases what JPNSGRLS does best, combining post-punk’s energy and riffing with the raw power and emotion of grunge". The site went on to say that "relentless in its intensity and deceptive in its intelligence, Divorce serves as an apt follow up to JPNSGRLS’ critically acclaimed debut." ^[31]In their review, Louder Than War (website) print version also gave Divorce 8 out of 10 stars, and stated that "the thundering indie rock of A Girl From A Different Dimension, cool guitar effects of Trojan Horse and infectious riff of Bully for You mark them out as witty, fun, and intense indie rock in the same league as The Strokes and The Libertines. Full of verve and energy, these are unorthodox love songs about letting go. However, this could make you fall in love with them, and JPNSGRLS should take a step up into the big leagues with Divorce, deservedly so."

In mildly dissenting reviews, NME had the initial view that the album was "packing angst-ridden, power-chord-heavy rock played at breakneck speed" and that “Divorce is sprinkled with enough inventiveness to make it a success” with “gems to mine here”, calling out A Comprehensive List of Things I Love for attention as well as noting the "looping guitar riff of Gap Year is the kind of addictive indie-pop confection that makes you pine for old-school Strokes", and that the "crushingly honest" Circus was also a standout – but ended by stating that “Divorce is by no means a bad record, but nor is it a particularly memorable or noteworthy one.” ^[32] Stuart Derdyn of the Vancouver Sun said in his review of the album that “Charlie Kerr has the requisite swagger in his voice and enough range to go from a seductive and detached lower register to high-pitched howling on A Girl From A Different Dimension…(JPNSGRLS) keep to the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) and it pays off. While the group is mostly thrashing full-on, it displays a great sense of pop hooks on the super-catchy A Comprehensive List of Things I Love — complete with call-and-response girl-group-style choruses. It doesn’t all work. Holding Back and All Of Myself are plodding filler and the slower numbers generally leave little or no impression. ^[33]

JPNSGRLS debuted Divorce's first single Bully for You exclusively via the PopMatters website in April of 2016, with wide release set for April 15. PopMatters called Bully for You "an empathetic expression of male sympathy over the every day misogyny that women must face."

Kerr's statement on the song was that it is "an observational protest song about the ceaseless, unfair treatment of women from the point of view of a cisgendered man. It explores the passivity and complacency of misogyny in society throughout the ages, from the beheading of Anne Boleyn to modern day disrespect for female lives and bodies around the world.”^[34] In an interview with Jon Williams of The Zone 91.3, a radio station out of Victoria, BC in Canada, Kerr expanded on this first by referencing the historical trope of rock music misogyny and not wanting to be on the wrong side of that, but also saying that he was "frustrated by stories from female friends, of oppression and unfair treatment", and that "maybe it's not our place as men to comment on it, but I haven't seen men say much." He finished by stating that it's "a difficult thing to articulate" and that he wanted to "let the poetry of the song speak for itself...every word in that song is very much chosen with a lot of thought and heart in mind." ^[35]

Venerable German alternative music site Visions noted the socio-critical theme of the single and shifts from the band's previous work, along with the band's continuing ability to segue seamlessly between indie, pop and blues rock.^[36] Other music sites also commented on the explosive nature, both musically and lyrically, of Bully for You, with one stating it was 'raucous rock at its best...filled with intense riffs, impassioned lyrics and exciting instrumentation.' ^[37]The video for Bully for You was released simultaneously via the British music website Clash (magazine) and the American music website Impose. Directed by Kevan Funk, it initially appears to be a violent fight in a boxing ring between two men, that then subtly and viscerally changes to an intimate dance. “We have created this piece from a place of hope empathy and compassion. The song “Bully For You” is essentially a protest song about the lack of gender equality in the world. And a big component of what society teaches boys, growing up, is to reject everything about themselves that is traditionally feminine, which ultimately leads to men seeing women as less than human," Kerr said. ^[38][39]

Even before wide release, Yangaroo had Bully for You as the Number One 'most active Indie' for the week of April 11, 2016 - meaning the 'most streamed and downloaded Singles during the given period on releases not directly promoted to radio by any of the 'major' record companies'. Bully for You debuted on the Billboard charts at Number 49 on the Canada Rock National Airplay Chart, for the week of May 28, 2016 - remaining on the same chart for thirteen weeks running with highest chart position at Number 42.^[40][41]

On May 10, 2016, JPNSGRLS live-streamed a one-off video event via the Light Organ Records website. This served as live shot video for the second single Oh My God, and also to announce the release date for the Divorce album. The Gondry-esque video showed Kerr, initially in a balaclava, being chased by a police officer through a purpose-built set in the Light Organ headquarters - half-destroying the set in the process - and ending up caught with the band while performing in studio. The video was later released in regular format via the New Noise Magazine website.^[42] The single for Oh My God went on to hit Spotify Canada's Viral 50 at Number 10 for the week of June 2, 2016 - based on the number of people who shared the track divided by the number who listened to it - across Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Spotify itself.^[43][44]In October 2016, the band debuted the video for the single Trojan Horse via the CLRVYNT website. In it, the band is playing in a Stranger Things (TV series) style basement to a couple of loved-up aliens. Directed by Thomas Affolter, the video captures the filmic obsessions of the band along with the theatre of the absurd suggested by some of the lyrics.^[45]

On the week of August 9, 2016, Divorce debuted at #36 on Exclaim! Magazine's !Earshot National Top 50 (Canadian College and Community Radio) charts - jumping 22 slots the following week to #14, and a further 8 slots the week after that to #6.^[46][47][48] The album stayed on that chart for a total of 14 weeks, re-entering the Top 20 several times, and also hitting the monthly !Earshot Top 200 Charts at #16 for August 2016, #14 for September 2016, and #33 for October 2016.^{[49][50][51][52]} Divorce also charted well on the North American College and Community (NACC) Chart - debuting at #21 the week of August 16, 2016, hitting its highest spot the following week at #10 - staying on that chart for a total of 10 weeks. ^[53][54]

Musical and other influences

JPNSGRLS' wide-ranging musical influences include Nirvana, Frank Ocean, Queens of the Stone Age, Tame Impala, Led Zeppelin, Franz Ferdinand, Rage Against the Machine, Phoenix, White Stripes, Death From Above 1979, Foo Fighters, Pixies, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tokyo Police Club, Black Sabbath, Dirty Projectors, Local Native, and Gorillaz.^[55]

The band is also highly influenced by film. This is reflected in several lyrics, and in the band's videos. JPNSGRLS has also long been a supporter of the LGBT community and women's rights, as evidenced by the singles Brandon, Mushrooms, and Bully for You - along with several gigs they have played over the years supporting women's causes.

Tour history

In 2014, JPNSGRLS toured extensively in Canada, the United States, and Asia.

Beginning as tour support for their labelmates Mounties (band) across Western Canada, the band then played several individual gigs, festivals and showcases - including JUNOFEST in Winnipeg, MB, Music Matters Live in Singapore, NXNE in Toronto, ON, Rifflandia Music Festival Victoria, BC, Canadian Indie Week, Toronto, ON, and the CMJ Music Marathon, New York City.

In March 2015, JPNSGRLS made their debut at SXSW in Austin, Texas.^[56][57]

In April and May 2015, the group embarked on their first full-length tour of the UK and Europe, with individual dates in England, Germany, France and the Netherlands, along with several festivals - including the Hit the Deck Festival in Bristol/Nottingham, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, and the Liverpool Sound City Festival.^[58][59][60]

Both the European and British press were impressed by the band's live shows on this tour. The German press remarked on JPNSGRLS' particular mix of influences and how they played out live, calling their sound 'a bit grungy, a little blues, a pinch of post-punk, the full program alt-rock - and implemented on a very unique, modern way'.^[61]

However, it was the normally stoic British music press that were the most moved by the band's performances and indeed the anticipation of same. In Brighton, the band 'had a line down the street to try and witness their much lauded performances',^[62] while the Nottingham press declared that JPNSGRLS 'were not only a pleasure to watch, but a pleasure to listen to, playing an incredibly tightly-woven set of songs, full of intensity and gusto.' ^[63] In Birmingham, Kerr drew particular attention as 'he gyrates and dances like Jagger, (and) wraps himself around the mic stand like Julian Casablancas'.^[64]

But it was JPNSGRLS' final date on this tour, in Liverpool at the Sound City Festival, which cemented their international live reputation as one where anything can and does happen. Kerr, already known for his physical dynamism onstage, accidentally split his head open on metal risers holding Serl's drums in place. Undeterred, both he and the band continued the set to a double encore with Kerr bleeding profusely, stating, "How's this for a deal? I bled for you, you can dance for me." It was coincidentally the day before Kerr's birthday and he ended the set by saying, "In just two hours I'm going to turn 24, and I can't think of any better place to be than here with you and a head trauma." This left the local press commenting on the 'insane beauty' of the band.^[65]

Throughout the rest of 2015 into early 2016, JPNSGRLS continued to perform at festivals, individual gigs and showcases across Canada and the United States - once again taking in CMJ Music Marathon and the Taste of Edmonton, as well as new ones with Sofar, Breakout West, and the Pemberton Music Festival. One reviewer called the latter performance 'genuine, passionate and intimate'.^{[66] [67][68][69]}

In April 2016, JPNSGRLS embarked on a two-month international tour. The first leg of the tour was a cross-Canada jaunt that finished at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. The second leg segued to the UK and Europe - these dates included opening for The Heavy, the festival Camden Rocks, and individual headline gigs. In Europe, the band travelled to Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. ^[70][71] Glasgow critics said the band 'sprung the place (to) life with their frenetic riff-rock'. Music site Gigs North East stated in their review of the Newcastle performance that the crowd fell in love with the band 'from the first song', and that Kerr 'owned every inch of the stage' - going on to state that 'JPNSGRLS have such a distinctive sound. What’s impressive is how all their genre stylings mesh together to create real quality.' While in Germany, JPNSGRLS were interviewed, and played several unplugged songs for German music television institution Rockpalast. Their live concert performance in Cologne was recorded, and broadcast by Rockpalast in July 2016.^{[72][73][74][75]}

In August 2016, JPNSGRLS announced the Divorce World Tour via Facebook and Twitter - with initial dates with Fizzy Blood declared for the UK and Europe in November 2016, and dates for Canada and the United States to follow.^[76][77][78]In the event, the band first toured across Canada, then the States, through Europe - including for the first time Italy and Denmark - and finishing in the UK. Leeds music site GigSoup stated that the band's gig there was a 'masterclass on how to play a rock and roll show', and that '(the band) were extraordinary, one of the best live performance(s) of this year.' In Glasgow, music site Musicscramble observed the strength of the band even at the penultimate stop on a two-plus month tour, observing that the band were 'were still thriving and feeding off the energy provided by a pocket of fervent gig-goers', continuing that the music itself was 'both manic and serene all at once. You can feel the rocky undertone trying to break free from the pop shackles that seem to tame it.^[79][80]

References

External links

• JPNSGRLS Official Website
• JPNSGRLS YouTube
• The Beauties, Battle of the Bands Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC Canada, February 5, 2009, Retrieved April 3, 2015
• David and Goliath video, The Beauties August 22, 2009, Retrieved April 3, 2015