Exclusive: GRLwood's sophomore effort, I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12, is their punkest release yet.
Scream pop duo GRLwood are here to bring the ruckus. With the amazingly abrasive new album, I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12, the two self-described ‘Kentucky-fried queercore punks’ emanate rebellion and nonconformity on track like Fuck Me Up, I’m Having Sex Tonight, and I Hate My Mom. Not only that, but they also fearlessly fight for their rights on political anthems, such as the confrontational first track Get Shot, on which they deadpan: “Mama said, ‘Be nice to sad boys or else get shot’ / ‘Say yes sir to a cop or else get shot.’”
We caught up with GRLwood for a quick chat about their brutal coming-of-age tale.
Can you tell us about where the title of the album came from?
12 is such a turning point, because childhood begins to vanish and people start to treat you differently. You start making decisions for yourself and begin to realize who you are...then blood starts falling out of you.
What goes into your unique brand of angry noise-rock? What aspects of society inform your pissed-off sound?
*hand gestures to everythang* We live in a toxic climate that four years ago sounded like an internet meme that would never happen. We are a product of our environment and there is a lot to be angry about.
How does I Sold My Soul... differ from your previous album, Daddy? What has been the biggest change for you guys sound-wise?
I Sold My Soul is a continuation of Daddy, like a younger sibling. They are alike in both discussing modern queerdom/American sociopolitcal issues, but this album has a far more diverse sound. Our heavy songs got heavier and our pretty songs got prettier. We’ve widened the spectrum of the loud-soft dynamic.
You're playing the Gathering Of The Juggalos this year -- how do you think your music connects with the average ICP listener?
We are SO excited to play the Gathering! GRLwood and juggalos are alike because we are both seen as freaks and outcasts by society. Juggalo culture is about coming together and supporting each other, and we are all about that. We’re gonna get really weird together, and it’s gonna be fucking great. We’re tryna swim in the Faygo.
Check out our exclusive stream of GRLwood's explosive new album below:
GRLwood's I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12 comes out tomorrow via sonaBLAST! Records, and is available for preorder.
Make sure to catch GRLwood on tour, because their performances are un-fucking-missable. The dates are as shown below:
August
01 - Springville, IN (Gathering of the Juggalos)
02 - Birmingham, AL @ Secret Stages
23 - Cincinnati, OH @ Urban Artifact
September
On tour with Man Man
13 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project
14 - SLC UT, @ The Urban Lounge
15 - Grand Junction, CO @ Barons
17 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
19 - KCMO @ Riot Room
20 - Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
21 - Detroit, MI @ The Magic Stick
23 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
24 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
25 - Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf
27 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Philly Music Fest
30 - Boston, MA @ TBD
October
01 - New York, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
02 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
03 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant St
05 - Beckley, WV @ The Raleigh
06 - Cincinnati, OH @ Top Cats
07 - Lexington, KY @Cosmic Charlie's
09 - St Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
10 - Little Rock, AR @ Revolution Music Room
11 - Fort Worth, TX @ Lola’s Trailer Park
12 - San Antonio @TBD
14 - El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
15 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
Read this next:
