Our recurring feature series Track by Track sees artists guiding readers through each song on their new release. This week, The Ophelias offer insight into their new LP, Spring Grove.
Though they originally started as an “all-girl” band, The Ophelias have made a concerted effort to shed that label. With one queer and two trans members, the nuances of identity are central to their work and explored in depth on their new album, Spring Grove.
Produced entirely by Julien Baker, the project is the result of primary songwriter Spencer Peppet trying to make sense of the overlap between her dreams and reality. In navigating this intersection, she was able to resolve her feelings about personhood, love, past romances, and friendships by organizing them in the form of songs.
Though Peppet tells Consequence that the LP features “zero songs about breakups,” it does still explore rifts and gradual withdrawals in non-romantic relationships.
“I do really believe that friendship breakups can be harder than romantic breakups because the terms are less clear,” the vocalist/guitarist explains in her breakdown of “Parade.” “It can be confusing and tiring and hard to classify.”
In that very spirit, all 13 tracks on the album traverse everyday emotions from alternate perspectives, but with such attention to detail that they end up feeling strikingly familiar.
Spring Grove is now available to stream below, followed by Peppet’s Track by Track breakdown of each cut.
The Ophelias are currently performing across North America. Grab tickets to see them in concert here.
