GIRLSPIT Exhibit Panic, Pleasure, & Pedal Power In “Epic”
Few things compare to the thrill of surrendering to music that refuses restraint. It’s a visceral rush, liberating the self by shattering inhibition and flooding the senses with raw, unfiltered energy. Richmond trio GIRLSPIT has built their identity around that very rush, crafting songs that turn emotional turbulence into cathartic joy, where volatility becomes celebration. With the release of their new video for “Epic,” they offer a tantalizing taste of that experience for those who haven’t yet caught the fever firsthand.
After an opening akin to a cosmic ephiphany, “Epic” begins with an intense, pulsating energy that radiates with the collective force of Sera Stavroula, Harley Viktoriya, and Rosa Hamilton. Viktoriya’s synth lines are impish and enthralling, while Stavroula’s vocals shift from urgent cries to meditative mantras, capturing the tension of emotional unrest with uncanny precision, an urgency further driven by Hamilton’s drumming. The song’s ambiguous tension, reflecting both the onset and aftermath of a panic attack, draws listeners into its transfixing melody, offering a gritty cathartic release and a wild dancefloor anthem, the latter mood brought to life in its accompanying video.
The video, filmed by MT and both directed and edited by the band, portrays the trio as exhibitionists-for-hire under the cheeky alias Cycle Sluts, a nod to their chosen mode of transport, and perhaps a wink to the glam metal band featuring Queen Vixen and She-Fire Of Ice, signed to the label sharing this song’s name. With a drum kit broken down to fit inside a customized bike compartment, and synths and keytars packed into a low-riding pedal cruiser, the group answers a call and hits the road for their next “gig” that will cure a case of emergency idleness. Upon arriving, they unleash decadent melodic chaos that gradually veers into near-hedonistic frenzy. At the close, the band’s wild antics drive the crowd’s energy to a euphoric peak, all powered by the hypnotic pulse of “Epic.”
Equal parts shock and camp, the video perfectly embodies GIRLSPIT’s “gay space synth punk” persona. Their theatrical flair is amplified by a visceral dance-punk sound that commands attention, pulling listeners into a swirling electronic vortex where chaotic splendor reigns and defiant celebration thrives. “Epic” comes from GIRLSPIT FOREVER, their 2023 debut EP encapsulating this ethos. The shadowy textures of darkwave mix with the high-energy pulse of gritty underground rock, presenting songs that are atmospheric and mesmerizing. It’s a potent brew born from the trio’s sharp chemistry and unique charisma, which shrewdly borrows from shock rock staples and emerging scenes like eggpunk.
The band released this video in the lead-up to their performance at the annual Daddy’s Grotto 4th of July party this past weekend, a diverse queer-inclusive backyard bash. GIRLSPIT headlined alongside titular fellows Hotspit, earning this year’s incarnation the subtitle “SPITFEST,” another outlandish (and successful) marketing approach from the group that regularly bottles their saliva in vials and labels the space in front of their performances as “the Spit Pit.” All of this has made GIRLSPIT a favorite live presence in Richmond the past two years, establishing their shows as a rite of passage spoken of in the same breath as the band’s predecessor, Toxic Moxie, as well as more globally recognized local legends like GWAR. Seeing them sooner rather than later is recommended, even if you’ve already become indoctrinated into their world of melodic debauchery.
Watch the video for “Epic” above, and make sure to follow GIRLSPIT on social media for updates on their next release and concert announcement.
