Earlier this year, Grumpy returned with the grungy, glitchy anthem “Twenty Five.” Today, the band has officially announced that the track is part of their upcoming album, Unfindable Ring. Alongside the announcement, the group has shared the project’s second single, “OBL,” a track that leans into an alt-country sound.
Grumpy, which began as the eccentric solo project of Heaven Schmitt, has evolved into a full-fledged band featuring Anya Good, Ellie Long (Kid Lake), Austin Arnold, Diego Clare (D.A. Crimson), and Lane Rodgers. Discussing the inspiration behind “OBL,” Schmitt explains the band’s perspective on touring as a group of trans individuals:
Touring across the country as a band full of trans people, we often worry about how we will be received, and sometimes wonder if we will be safe. But what we usually find is love. We protect each other and laugh and live our normal lives. OBL is about how we experience joy (“I’m so happy I could die”) despite those who don’t want us to be able to exist (“they’re so happy we could die”).
The band also addressed the accompanying music video, directed by Alex Tepper. Schmitt notes that the visual continues a recurring theme in their work, where they portray a “creep” figure lurking and observing the band members. “It wasn’t intentional at first, but with ‘OBL’ it finally felt obvious why that character keeps showing up,” Schmitt shares. “We often wonder in real life; is the guy at the gas station staring because we’re trans? Is that disgust on his face? Confusion? We don’t usually get to know the answer. We’re left to wonder and go on experiencing joy and tenderness between us.”
Unfindable Ring is scheduled for release on October 23 via Bayonet.
