Jawdropped released their debut single “Star” in November of 2024, though they were far from done exploring that recording’s themes of looking for fame in LA only to burn out shortly after touching down in the city. In fact that loose concept permeates their forthcoming debut album Secret to Spare, which co-vocalist Roman Zangari has noted is intended to channel how life in LA feels. “There’s a sensibility of Los Angeles music where, under the sunshine and brightness, there’s this seedier, melancholy, darker aspect,” he shared leading up to the record’s release. “We're trying to carve out our own niche in that vein.”
The project’s latest single, “Cup,” is in direct conversation with that earliest recording, though—albeit with a much glossier finish that feels perfectly in line with the subject of the song. “We wanted to write about this same character who moves to LA with stars in their eyes, only to see themselves burn out,” the band shares of the new track, which cuts their baseline ’90s-alt sound with something more modern and upbeat in the lineage of West Coast pop-punk outfits like Joyce Manor. “ It’s about getting swept up in the idea of a place, rather than the reality. Realizing you're the last one at the party.”
Well, as the track’s music video reminds us, it’s fine being the last one at the party if you bring a really cool cup with you. Check out the video for “Cup” below, and pre-order Secret to Spare here ahead of its September 18 release. Additionally, the band answered some of our burning questions about the new single, video, and record—check out their answers beneath the visual.
What inspired you to revisit lyrical ideas from “Star” for this song?
There is always more to the story.
You note that Secret to Spare marked “the first time where we were building songs together in a room”—in what ways did that change the process for you?
Most of the songs on our debut EP had been written before the band even started. This time around it was a lot more collaborative, which allowed us to bring everyone’s individual strengths to the table. It often felt more like building something from the ground up rather than adding onto a pre-existing idea.
Was there an added pressure to recording the album now that you’ve signed with Transgressive?
We don’t want to waste anyone’s time or money—including our own!
Alex Farrar seems to specialize in producing records that land at the intersection of grunge and country. What drew you to working with him?
I don’t think Jawdropped is really either grunge or country, but meeting him and getting to talk to him, and after hearing that first mix, I think he really understood what we were trying to say. We produced the record ourselves and we felt really good handing over the mix to Alex. He has the golden touch, for sure, and we’re big fans of a lot of albums he’s produced thus far.
Where did the chalice in the video come from, and how frequently does it get used among the band?
We can’t tell you, but just know one of us always has it on us.
