Based in North Carolina, Whoop only came into being last year, starting out as ‘barn jam sessions’ between friends and culminating in a new band complete with a debut full-length record. The relatively hasty process feels intrinsic to the Whoop sound. A melting pot of styles and influences developed through playful experimentation. A repudiation of overthinking or micromanaging in favour of something more intuitive and organic. “Whoop is a release of every emotion than can be, is, or was bottled up,” explains lead vocalist Fal. “It’s emotion manifested into one sonic symphony.”
Which is how indie rock, grunge, jazz, reggae and hip-hop can all inform the Whoop aesthetic. How such a combination can feel so free and seamless on the self-titled (albeit with an exclamation mark) debut record. And furthermore how Whoop! can draw upon the gamut of human emotion create something universally meaningful. “I hope that we can reach all walks of life,” Fal concludes. “Music is supposed to bring people together, shake things up, cause a ruckus [and] leave a lasting impression in someone’s mind/heart/ears.”
With it’s jaunty rhythm and rose-tinted textures, latest single ‘Smile’ offers a nostalgic take on the style. A track playful yet nonetheless shot through with a sense of loss and longing, where Fal’s vocals offer confession as a form of catharsis. And the track is only to happy to oblige, rising into clamorous rhythm for the chorus and shaking free of the sluggish backward-looking headspace.
Whoop! is out via Porcelain Records on 19th November and you can pre-order it now from their webstore.