Brooklyn experimenters tear down gender and genre expectations
The latest offering from Grumpy, the album Unfindable Ring, isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a journey through the fluid landscapes of identity and love. At the heart of the sound is a track like Twenty Five, a piece where songwriter Heaven Schmitt conjures a moment of playful time travel, imagining a possibility that is both wistful and deeply romantic.
The concept for the song arose from a heartfelt conversation between Schmitt and bassist Ellie Long about being trans. Long shared the idea that if she had the chance to go back in time, she would transition at a younger age. Initially, Schmitt wrestled with the thought, wondering what would happen if they didn’t meet. The song ultimately became a sweet ode to trans love, a plea for reunion while simultaneously celebrating the beauty of change. As Schmitt sings, “I love watching you as you’re changing,” the track beautifully encapsulates the acceptance and joy inherent in trans experience.
This theme of fluidity and acceptance is woven throughout Grumpy’s musical tapestry. The album is rich with songs that celebrate love taking various shapes, moving seamlessly between jubilant declarations of love and the more reflective moments that acknowledge the complexities of acceptance. Musically, the band mirrors this emotional range by liberally smashing together electronica, alt-rock, and folk, demonstrating a fearless approach to genre that reflects their lived experience.
For Grumpy, a group comprised of six individuals—all except drummer Austin Arnold—experimenting with gender and genre is inseparable from their artistic identity. As Schmitt notes, there is no prescribed blueprint for living, and this freedom naturally expands their boundaries in music and art. Long echoes this sentiment, suggesting that the best music and the best genders emerge from this very willingness to tear down expectations.
The making of Unfindable Ring was a deeply collaborative effort. The album serves as the proper full-band debut, capturing the sound of six musicians working together in a small, intensely creative space. Every member was present for the creation process, moving away from the insularity of bedroom-pop toward warmer, more tactile sounds. This process allowed the band to make their intimacy audible, creating songs that felt both intensely personal and universally relatable.
The personal history of the band members fuels the honesty in their work. Schmitt’s journey from a solo artist to embracing his identity as trans and non-binary, and the complex family dynamics within the group, infuse the music with profound sincerity. The band has found comfort and deep respect in their shared reality, recognizing that love can indeed be a different shape, and that this shared vulnerability forms the bedrock of their sound.
Beyond the album, Grumpy continues to evolve. Schmitt has found an exciting new direction as a favored backing vocalist for country-pop superstar Zach Bryan, joining him on stadium tours with his 23-piece live band. This experience reinforces Schmitt’s belief in instinct over technical know-how, highlighting the bandleader’s trust in the people he gathers. As they look toward the future, Grumpy is set to explore even more sonic territory, aiming to rock harder and test the limits of their creative boundaries on stage.
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