Photo credit: Jenna Murray
New York has never lacked bands doing things their own way, and Gnarcissists keep that tradition alive. The Brooklyn six-piece is back with “Space Ghost,” the latest single from their upcoming EP, Paradise Aquarium, arriving November 13 via Killphonic Distro.
Featuring members of Malice K, Pretty Sick, Navy Gangs, and Taraneh, Gnarcissists have spent years carving out their place in New York's underground music scene. Their story dates back to a Brooklyn squat in the late 2010s, where the band first began taking shape. Since then, they've shared stages with everyone from The Voidz and OSEES to Viagra Boys, Fcukers, and Gibby Haynes.
Recorded at Sean Lennon's home studio and produced by Ben Romans Hopcraft, Paradise Aquarium marks a shift in how Gnarcissists approach songwriting. Known for developing material through improvisation and live performances, the band moved toward a more structured studio environment while putting together the new record.
During the writing process, frontman Matthew Orr was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder following a near-fatal accident that left him hospitalized. The experience brought the band closer together and ultimately shaped the EP's direction.
Themes of mortality, drug use, and New York City's changing identity began to find their way into the music. Rather than relying on the unpredictable energy of their live shows, Gnarcissists took time to develop their songs in the studio, allowing the material to evolve alongside everything happening in their personal lives.
The result is a new chapter for a band that has never been particularly interested in following a conventional path.
Listeners drawn to the hazy guitars and alternative-rock sensibilities of Wishy and Slow Pulp should keep Gnarcissists on their radar. Their previous single, “Hi,” already picked up support from Alternative Press, Austin Town Hall, The Punk Site, and our own Get Some Magazine.
With “Space Ghost” and Paradise Aquarium, the band continues building on that momentum while bringing a more personal perspective to its music.
Gnarcissists' new EP, Paradise Aquarium, arrives today via Killphonic Distro.
Paradise Aquarium - TRACK LISTING
1. Earl Grey
2. Hi
3. WOW
4. Space Ghost
5. Olive
6. Baby Doll