How Um, Jennifer? Explored the Big Questions of Life on Their Debut EP, The Girl Class
Elijah Scarpati and Fig Regan make up the New York City-based musical duo Um, Jennifer?, and they're making their mark with today's release of their debut EP, The Girl Class.
The five-track EP was all written within the last year, consisting of five tracks, including fan favorites "Girl Class," "Cut Me Open" and "Glamour Girl," plus new songs "Jazz Machine" and "Sweet Until I'm Not."Bustling with energy and an irresistible indie pop-punk sound, the tracks are joyful and fun while making a statement as the band reflects on self-discovery, the trans experience and life and relationships in general. We were hooked from our first listen of title track "Girl Class," and we had the pleasure of chatting with the duo to find out more about the new EP and why its message is so important to them in the interview below.
Sweety High: What does the EP title The Girl Class mean to you? Why did that title track feel like the right summation of these five songs?
Elijah Scarpati: "Girl Class" was the first song we put out, and kind of felt like an introduction to ourselves as the band and a lot of the themes this project discusses. In a lot of ways Um, Jennifer? is kind of an ode to femininity and gender. It's centered around female archetypes and trans stories.
SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the EP? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?
Eli: I find that there is a lot of honest exploration in this EP. Writing these songs was a lot of trying on a perspective and seeing how it felt to embody it. Saying something, then seeing if it feels true. My hope is people are able to feel a sense of freedom and openness for themselves to explore their own questions without having to land at any right conclusion.
(Photo credit: Avery Davis)
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SH: How would you describe the EP's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?
Eli: We worked with our friend Teddy O'Mara on recording and producing this EP, and we focused a lot on musicality and serving the songs. The production and sound seemed pretty intuitive because the songs had such a strong sense of what they wanted. It was a lot of just trying something until it sounded good.
SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you all are in life right now?
Eli: I'd say these songs are a very good indication of where I'm at. It would be cool if they weren't such a good indication of where I'm at, but they definitely are.
Fig Regan: I think I'm constantly in the process of becoming a "girl," but I've definitely gotten better at it since we wrote "Girl Class." My need to yell "f*** you" at transphobes, however, remains evergreen.
SH: What are your favorite songs on the EP? Why?
Eli: My favorite song is probably "Sweet Until I'm Not." I love the way our voices blend and how the harmonies sound together. I love the textures we found and the world we arranged for it. The lyrics feel the closest to me, I'd say. When we play it live, it has a really trancelike quality that feels really wonderful to be in.
Fig: I love "Glamour Girl"! The guitar melody and lines are so groovy and perfect.
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SH: What does the band name Um, Jennifer? mean to you?
Eli: It's something you might say before you're going to speak to someone named "Jennifer." Sort of a way of getting her attention or addressing her.
Fig: Jennifer is my girlfriend and I'd prefer if you didn't speak to her directly.
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Eli: We have banger music videos for many of these songs on our YouTube page on the internet
Fig: Support trans kids and trans adults! To love a trans person is the greatest honor <3
For even more of our favorite music out today, click HERE to read our interview with Emmy Meli on her latest single, "Silence."