Dummy — the Los Angeles band comprised of Alex Ewell, Emma Maatman, Nathan O’Dell, and Joe Trainor — released a new album, Free Energy, in 2024 via Trouble In Mind Records. They allowed that up this year with a remix album, Bubbelibrium DLC!
Now, Dummy play live at Songbyrd Music House on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Pop has always been a big part of Dummy’s sound, but it manifests differently on Free Energy. Sometimes it’s quite literal (and funny), such as the bubbly synth sequence made with a Korg EM1 popping all over lead single “Nullspace,” which features a melody written by O’Dell and is the song the band calls the record’s “sonic mission statement and really influenced by Mark Van Hoen, especially the cut-up dreamy dance-pop he was making on the Locust record Morning Light.”
Watch the official music video for “Nullspace” by Dummy on YouTube:
Dummy followed up its sophomore album with a set of remixes, Bubbelibrium DLC. Bubbelibrium DLC reimagines Free Energy by collaborating with their community of peers and heroes. Dummy invited GMO, Wishy, Three Quarter Skies (Simon Scott of Slowdive), seminal 90s 4AD band Insides, and more to participate. Bubbelibrium DLC pushes Dummy’s songs further into the electronic, dance, and experimental space that showcase each artist’s individual talents.
Dummy’s debut full-length Mandatory Enjoyment arrived in late 2021 and quickly became one of the year’s sleeper hits. Pitchfork, Bandcamp Daily, Stereogum, Aquarium Drunkard, and other publications praised Dummy’s mix of ambient and twinkly guitar pop, their deep musical references, and the intentionality with which they patchworked it all together. Fans bought copies of Mandatory so quickly that Trouble in Mind couldn’t keep it in stock. Sub Pop Records also invited the band to contribute to their legendary Singles Club series.
Where Mandatory Enjoyment was cerebral and lo-fi, the product of a lot of time inside, Free Energy is all movement, presence, and physicality.
Dummy
W/ Flowers for the Dead, Instant Success
Songbyrd Music House
Sunday, Sept. 14
Doors @ 7pm
$23.18
All ages
