Centering Fun with Grocer on “Smooth Operator” [Music Video Premiere]
“I think we’re always trying to center fun when we make stuff, but we take having fun pretty seriously, if that makes sense.”
“We try to lean into a sense of ‘play’ when we are making stuff,” explained the communal creatives of Philadelphia, PA’s bouncing bubblegrunge noise pop project Grocer, discussing the mini golf thread that weaves its way into the band’s latest album cover, music video, and promo photos with Wormbrain World, “and that, mixed with the visual aesthetic of astroturf — for no especially good reason — was interesting to us, so it all kind of grew from there.”
Emphasis on the seriously unserious holds strong with Grocer, as is evident in their music video for new track “Smooth Operator" premiering today on W.W ahead of the band’s Scatter Plot EP release on fellow Philly-based Grind Select on March 3rd, 2023. Their second single from Scatter Plot, “Smooth Operator” is an unpredictable and dizzying sonic barrage that never fully loses footing on pop sensibility, with the bizarre and messy music video a fitting companion.
Grocer are sharing their new single “Smooth Operator” today, premiering alongside a delicious video, via Wormbrain World:
“It was very fun to get sloppy, especially with the spaghetti hairdos!” the band told Wormbrain, reflecting on the video’s creation. “The egg was super fun, but somehow smelled even worse than we assumed it might? The plate of pasta and meatballs with the 9 Iron was also very fun! The sexual banana moment stands out as a fun moment while filming — we honestly didn’t even realize the camera was on at that point! We were just connecting personally by then.”
“Nick came up with the spinning camera concept with the messy dinner table and then we mainly improvised. It’s basically how we all eat anyways, so didn’t require too much range, so to speak.”
Photo by Gab Bonghi.
“This EP definitely feels like a transitional effort for us,” the band stated about Scatter Plot. “It’s one foot as a four-piece and one as trio, so there was a lot of exploration from an arrangement standpoint. I think we’re trying to set more structural and numerical intentions in our jams and letting those inspire us, which maybe sounds dry, but getting basic math involved is honestly when it starts to get really fun for us.”
“We both actively and incidentally oscillate between a handful of different sonic whims and notions,” they said, discussing who their music probably appeals to and why. “I think that we maybe appeal to those listeners who seek those little things out and don’t like to sit still either?”
“That surely sounds pretentious, but I don’t know — we really pride ourselves on subtleties and ‘ear candy’ moments, but that’s because we always deeply appreciate them when we’re on the listening end. I think if we had to actually name names, though, we would die happy if an unknown third party held us in the same breath as The Breeders, Squid, and Palm.”
The week of Scatter Plot’s release, Grocer will embark on a full cross-country month and a half long tour in support of the EP, but the well-traveled merry band of self-proclaimed “road dogs” are no strangers to touring at this point.
“Sometimes it’s venue to venue,” once they’re in the van, they said of the usual Grocer tour experience. “At the very least we always seek out the most highbrow coffee shop in any given place.”
“A lot of time visiting friends comes down to sleeping on their couches, but occasionally we’ll get a day off in a city where we can fully detach from ‘show mode’ and manage a legit hang with people — swimming is atop the activity list when we do get those chances.”
“We are kind of suckers for trying new flavors of snacks,” they shared, on road snack preferences. “We drink a lot of seltzer! Usually an assortment of sour straws, trail mix, and Cheez-Its. We’ve tried to limit the gas station or fast food stops and lean more heavily on grocery stores as we try to eat a little healthier. We try to remain price conscious which is sometimes hard to do.”
“Frankly, I have no allegiances — any hot dog topping can work.”
Photo by Gab Bonghi.
Wormbrain World asked the members of Grocer how they prefer to eat their hotdogs outside of “Smooth Operator” and they told us:
Danielle Lovier (Bass/Vocals): I microwave two chopped dogs on a plate and throw some ketchup on them. No bun.
Nick Rahn (Guitar/Vocals): with cheese, or with mustard and relish, or even Chicago-style sometimes.
Cody Nelson (Drums/Vocals): Frankly, I have no allegiances — any hot dog topping can work.
Photo by Gab Bonghi.
W.W: What is Wormbrain?
G: Wormbrain is life. Long live Wormbrain.
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Grocer’s upcoming Scatter Plot EP will be out everywhere via Philadelphia, PA record label Grind Select.
