Just Penelope Share New Single, "Sister," From Debut EP 'Great Lake' (Out 9/18 via Angel Tapes / Fire Talk)
Just Penelope are the Bloomington, Indiana quartet of Ella Curiel (guitar/vocals), Ethan Cantrell (percussion/synth/vocals), Theo Erz (guitar), and Drew Goforth (bass). Today, Just Penelope present their new single, “Sister,” from their forthcoming debut EP, Great Lake, out September 18th via Angel Tapes / Fire Talk. Just Penelope recorded Great Lake across three days at a picturesque cabin on the outskirts of Bloomington, and their debut outing is with ferocious signs of life, the embers of youth that burn fast and bright for those lucky enough to bear witness. Great Lake opening track “Sister” swirls through bursts of noise, combining twinkling indie sensibilities with emotional grunge. “The air she breathes is not like mine,” Curiel sings atop a kaleidoscopic backing, creating a cathartic and indelible earworm.
“Sister” comes off the heels of Just Penelope’s recently-wrapped tour, which followed the announcement of Great Lake and release of its lead single “After,” named one of the week’s best songs by Stereogum. Of "Sister," Just Penelope add: "“It’s a story of the ingenuous feeling of love and the swiftness to push things aside after being wronged. 'Sister' is our most dynamic song yet, compiling many sensibilities of the EP into one song.“
Watch Just Penelope's "Sister" Visualizer
Past the east side of Bloomington, the hum of Indiana’s largest college town dies down, tulip trees multiply, and a deaf dog perches next to Just Penelope’s drum kit. The change in scenery sets the backdrop for the young quartet to release reality — assignments, exams, part-time jobs — and zero in their debut EP Great Lake. Just Penelope recorded Great Lake across three days here: a cabin-esque home-studio cherished for its unassumingly high-fidelity capabilities. “It’s one of those places that feels like it should be further away than you actually are,” Curiel says of the transportive space just outside of their hometown of Bloomington.
The self-produced Great Lake EP spans cathartic indie and grunge, forming an assured opening statement that could only emerge from the midwest. Themes of vulnerability reoccur, but Just Penelope regularly resist the urge to catastrophize a situation, pushing back on the idea that any one setback should be taken too seriously. Just Penelope’s lyrics often operate in abstract vignettes, allowing the emotional instrumentation to lead their charge. “The lyrics and melodies are always one in one with the guitar,” Curiel says of Great Lake’s affective compositions.
Just Penelope’s commitment to dense instrumentation and crystalline production stems from the group’s shared roots at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Through classes and extra-curriculars, the quartet bonded over shared technical interests in the indie rock of the ‘90s and early ‘00s. They cite bands like Modest Mouse, Interpol, and Deerhunter among their guiding influences, always returning to the texture of each band’s recordings. “It’s hugely important to us,” Curiel insists, “not just how good a part is, but how we can use a microphone to record it and get a cool sound out of the instrument. How can we blend everything in a beautiful way?” Their technical curiosity results in production that allows the emotional weight of each moment to thrive.
Just Penelope bridge adolescent emotions with a finely-honed palette that soars above and beyond Lake Superior. While they’re still a young band, Great Lake captures the ineffable electricity of tapping something new and exciting. It is the sound of Just Penelope finding their voice in real time. “This band has helped me learn how to be loud in a controlled and emotional way,” Cantrell says, continuing: “We really found a way to lock in with one another.”
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