For the first Speedy Ortiz album since 2018’s Twerp Verse, Sadie Dupuis has been manifesting a bit of good fortune. Their new record Rabbit Rabbit is an ode to the songwriter’s monthly ritual where on the first of each month she’ll repeat the title’s phrase as a way of bringing good tidings, acting as a charm of focus and protection.
With that in mind, it would seem as though Speedy Ortiz is in its healthiest state to date, with touring members Audrey Zee Whitesides and Joey Doubek now full-time members of the band alongside vocalist/guitarist Dupuis and guitarist Andy Molholt. With Dupuis and Whitesides discussing the new LP over video call, it becomes clear just how well the new Speedy Ortiz dynamic is working.
Although the writing process began with Dupuis, it quickly became collaborative when the other band members were given their parts, inevitably leading to some changes. “It was a lot of, ‘Here’s my idea for what I think you like to play, can you make it a million times better?’” Dupuis says. It was all about playing to the strengths of each personality and playing style and welding it into a cohesive unit. “We really spent two months where it would be me and Audrey alone, or me and Andy alone, or Joey and Andy together, just trying to figure out how these complicated parts could fit.”
Combine this meticulous approach with the production of illuminati hotties’ Sarah Tudzin—who Whitesides describes as the “tireless backbone of the process”—and you have Rabbit Rabbit, an album emphasizing what’s often made Speedy Ortiz an enthralling listen. With guitars overlapping like the paint splatters of a Jackson Pollock at times, they can go from scuzzed-out grunge to math rock and Breeders-esque indie rock in a heartbeat. Their commitment to throwing in small electronic elements and other left turns makes for an engaging, polymorphic listen.
“[‘You S02’] is about how frequently in people’s early careers there’s a pureness in their values, and those can frequently be corrupted by power, money, excess. And we hate it! Just stay nice—it’s possible.” —Sadie Dupuis
Meanwhile, songs like “You S02” show the other side of Speedy Ortiz in Dupuis’ biting and uncompromising lyricism. “The love you claim is for no one / Other than you and your cronies who excuse your mess,” the track bites in its final moments after rallying against those who don’t practice what they preach. Mentioning their disappointment when certain musicians from DIY backgrounds align themselves with political messages and don’t back up their talk, Dupuis stresses that the track is generally concerned with the ways in which people’s behavior can change the longer they’re involved in the entertainment industry. “It’s about how frequently in people’s early careers there’s a pureness in their values, and those can frequently be corrupted by power, money, excess. And we hate it! Just stay nice—it’s possible.”
Having all come up through DIY communities, the members of Speedy Ortiz are well-versed in backing what they believe in—whether it’s playing local benefit concerts or donating proceeds to charities such as Girls Rock Camps. “My musical background is a very trans, punk background,” Whitesides says. “I feel like I’ve stayed connected to that, and I think of all these people who do as much—or more—than we do. There are a lot of people doing work in local communities that is extremely liberating and powerful.”
Action at a grassroots level is as essential as it’s ever been, especially when our increasingly polarized society so often leaves people feeling helpless and alone. Whitesides finds that being an artist is an essential part of her finding and experiencing queer joy. “Whenever I feel at my most angry or jaded, I try to remember that the world wants me to feel defeated and helpless. It makes me really want to seek out art. I love movies and books—these things are such a fun way to say, ‘Hey, I’m here and you can’t take this joy away from me.’”
Not only can authenticity be felt in Speedy Ortiz’s beliefs, but also in the way they appreciate art and their understanding of their own placement within the music scene. While you could be tempted to label them a “cult band,” it won’t diminish any sense of influence that they’ll have in the future, as commercial success doesn’t equate to influence. “A lot of the musicians I idolize more than anybody are not very popular,” Dupuis says. “I feel like that individual connection to art has probably driven all of our tastes in ways that make us interesting players. We’ve toured with Deerhoof, and I think about how every one of their records has a real intention and statement of purpose behind it. They’re lifers, they’re dedicated to art and the goal they created and have stayed true to in their pursuit of making interesting music.”
While Rabbit Rabbit is steeped in ritual, with the studio switches, recordings, and single releases occuring on the first of the month, the repetition came about as a coping method for previous trauma in Dupuis’ life, which rears its head throughout the album. With some of the subject matter concerning early childhood abuse, she takes a moment during the conversation to emphasize the weight of having to discuss heavy themes during interviews even if she isn’t going into specifics.
A lot of Rabbit Rabbit is concerned with re-examining the past, but Dupuis states that Philadelphia is as much of an influence as her own experiences, having moved to the city in 2016. “I was having a rough day and I was driving home and I saw a woman on the corner eating ice cream. She’s just having a dance, eating this ice cream, and having a great Wednesday in August in Philly, and I feel like we all just really love our city and take inspiration from it. Some of the lyrics that I really like a lot on this record are describing scenes across West Philadelphia.”
The lyrics stay in tune with the concerns of the city, speaking of the need to address Fentanyl overdoses, improved mental health care, and better support structures within schools. They also backed and played benefits for local mayoral candidate Helen Gym over the summer in an attempt to bring about the change they want to see. “We all see things that impact the city, to more or less a degree,” says Whitesides. “Similar to being in music scenes that care about communities, we’re all people who believe in the possibility of change and a better world, and we want to support people who also believe in that.”
“Similar to being in music scenes that care about communities, we’re all people who believe in the possibility of change and a better world, and we want to support people who also believe in that.” —Audrey Zee Whitesides
The final song on Rabbit Rabbit is “Ghostwriter,” wherein all the discontent on the album feels like it bubbles over into one song. Yet it’s juxtaposed with Dupuis’ declaration of being “tired of anger,” a statement of growth and recontextualization of the past. The world we live in can be frustrating when it feels like we’re helpless and anger is a natural response, but in working hard for the changes we want to see we can use it as a positive. “You’re not going to feel anger unless it’s something that’s very important to you,” says Whitesides. “A lot of what we’ve talked about is, ‘How do we take that feeling of anger or dissatisfaction and learn from it? What do we want to do in the world because of it?’”
Speedy Ortiz are back with a renewed sense of focus, showing us that they’re the type of band who will always be pushing for the brighter world they want to see. FL
