This Friday, Jawdropped — the Los Angeles rock’n’roll band helmed by Roman Zangari (vocals/guitar), Kyra Morling (vocals/tambourine), and Sean Edwards (bass) — will release their debut EP, Just Fantasy, via Fire Talk Records’ emerging artists imprint Angel Tapes. Ahead of the EP release, Jawdropped presents its final advance single, “Outside,” and a music video helmed by Peter Lombardo. Just Fantasy is a five track outing filled with arena-ready rock, and “Outside” showcases Jawdropped’s distinct knack for sing-a-long rock.
“Outside” begins with an immediate riff, and grows into an undeniable anthem as Zangari and Morling’s vocals intertwine. “A little on the outside always,” the couple duets, “a little on the edge of in-between.” The accompanying music video fittingly features the band outdoors, collaging clips of the quartet around Los Angeles with footage from Just Fantasy's recording sessions and Jawdropped’s previous live shows. Fresh off a supporting slot for This Is Lorelei, Jawdropped’s next live show will be a free EP release show at Zebulon on Saturday, May 2nd.
Of “Outside,” the band adds: "‘Outside’ is about feeling like you never really fit in. But when you have true love in your life, feeling like an outsider doesn't matter as much. The little voice in your head isn’t as loud when you have someone that knows exactly how you feel.”
Watch Jawdropped’s “Outside” Music Video
Just Fantasy is music for being late to work; music for hanging with your friends at the same bar you always go to; music for thinking about moving to New York, but never leaving Los Angeles. Jawdropped’s distinct take on grungy power pop is earnest and immediate, sung with a smirk on their face and fingers crossed behind their back. The members of Jawdropped each come off their own trail of past projects — Alms, The Shaking Hands, jerseygirl, Destiny Inn — but together strike a kinetic alchemy. Recorded with little more than friendship and guitars, Just Fantasy is propelled by adrenaline and the excitement of something new feeling so right.
Jawdropped formed just under a year ago in Los Angeles, California. LA courses through Just Fantasy, and it's easy to imagine many of Jawdropped’s witticisms as overheard conversations at local haunts like Zebulon or Permanent Records. “I saw that your dad sent you money on Venmo, he said ‘Anything that’ll keep you stable!,” Morling sings on EP standout “Fantasy,” named one of Stereogum’s Best Songs of the Week. Elsewhere, Zangari sings of “vitamin deficiency, lack of sleep and ketamine,” satirizing the classic Los Angeles come-ups with celebratory melodies that burrow in the mind. The cheeky observations nuzzled in Just Fantasy eschew the high horse, and instead poke fun from across the bar. It’s a balancing act between cynicism and optimism, forever falling apart but never giving up.
Just Fantasy is available on a limited run of 50 cassette tapes via Angel Tapes (ira glass, Sleeper’s Bell, shower curtain), available for pre-order here. To celebrate its release, Jawdropped will perform a pair of EP Release shows, beginning at Los Angeles' Zebulon on Friday May 2nd, followed by a performance at New York City’s Nightclub 101 on May 24th. Presented as an Angel Tapes showcase, the NYC show will also feature labelmates shower curtain, plus Bedridden and DJ sets from fantasy of a broken heart and Computerwife.
Pre-order Just Fantasy
Watch “Fantasy” Music Video
Watch the “Skully” Video
Watch the “Star” Video
Jawdropped Live
Fri. May 2 - Los Angeles, CA Zebulon
Sat. May 24 - New York, NY Nightclub 101