Snõõper — the Nashville-based DIY punk outfit — announces their debut album, Super Snõõper, out July 14th on Third Man Records, and presents the lead single/video, “Pod.” Snõõper is a band who, in a 33 ⅓ RPM world, make 45 RPM music they play at 78 RPM. They maintain super precise instrumentals and skillfully melodic vocals, even though they’re flooring it almost the entire time. Snõõper doesn’t play fast; they play at the speed of Snõõper. Formed in 2020 by vocalist/visual artist Blair Tramel and guitarist Connor Cummins, Snõõper’s initial 8-track recordings were released on DIY labels. Although not originally intended as a performance project, the duo brought these recordings to life with the additions of Cam Sarrett (drums), Happy Haugen (bass) and Ian Teeple (guitar).
“Snõõper are an adrenalized mix of mutant punk and garage rock, with a little twee and art rock in there as well, all thrown in a blender and set to puree” (Brooklyn Vegan). They are known for their raucous live show which integrates many different artistic mediums — music, video art, puppetry, assemblages, and more — to create a unique experience for each performance. The full band made its live debut in September 2021 and has been touring the world ever since, opening for the likes of Amyl and the Sniffers, Lil Ugly Mane, Snail Mail, and more. As Vinyl Me Please stated about their SXSW 2023 set: “Erupting into a tight set at hyper speed, Snõõper checked every possible box: matching tracksuits, massive stage props, crowd surfing, synchronized movement, big riffage — the vibes were immaculate.”
Today’s single “Pod” is high octane, with Tramel at the wheel questioning “Big shot // Big shot // I got a question // Who sees // Who sees // Society’s infection.” The accompanying video, featuring collage art and claymation, was directed and animated by Owen Summers. Of “Pod,” Tramel explains: “‘Pod’ was written over the pandemic, when people only felt comfortable being around other members of their ‘pod.’ It’s wild to think about that as a concept in hindsight. When we formed our pods, however, our anxieties began to multiply and everything felt so extreme. Our pods confirmed and echoed our worst fears. Everything felt dark and all anyone could do was blame someone else for why we all felt so bad.”
Super Snõõper was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville. It follows EPs “Music For Spies” (2020), “Snõõper” (2021), and “Town Topic” (2022), as well as the live album LIVE AT EXIT/IN 11-23-22 released in February. Given the brief glimpses into Snõõper’s music from their 7”s, EPS, and thrilling live performances, one might wonder if the group could hold the line for a full album. The answer is an enthusiastic yes. In the words of Henry Rollins, “Speaking selfishly, I want Snõõper to hurry up and make another album. Super Snõõper is a really cool record.”