MEET : Pom Pom Squad
Pom Pom Squad are the Brooklyn-based punk four-piece who make glitter strewn, mascara streaked, anthemic grunge rock and who have just released their divine full-length debut album, Death Of A Cheerleader. The record is a beautifully mature melting pot of old school grunge, punk and queer-pop which not only is a sonic masterpiece but also provides us with iconic imagery through their music videos (more like mini feature films)... Picture a David Lynch movie, where the costumes are 90s-centric and wine-red velvet curtains frame every shot. Then throw in some elements of drag culture and a badass rockstar lead (played by glorious frontperson, Mia Berrin) and there you have it, the visual equivalent of the album.
With Shelby Keller (drums), Mari Alé Figeman (bass), and Alex Mercuri (guitar), Mia formed Pom Pom Squad in 2015 and took to the streets of NYC, cutting her teeth playing packed venues alongside the likes of Soccer Mommy, Pronoun and Adult Mom. The foursome signed to Berlin-based indie label City Slang (José González, Caribou) earlier this year and are most definitely causing motions across the ocean.
We spoke to Mia just before the album drop as she took us through the concept behind Death Of A Cheerleader and lockdown in NYC…
(Pre-album release) How does it feel to have your debut baby out so soon?
Intimidating! It’s lived in my head for such a long time now, so it’s going to be weird seeing it filtered through so many other people’s lenses. Regardless, I am genuinely really proud of how it came out.
What’s the NYC music scene like at the moment? It seems to be having a wonderful punk-y resurgence.
The NY music scene is resilient! There are so many great bands out here and I feel like everyone has done a beautiful job of keeping up morale and community despite everything the past year has thrown our way.
Who should we be listening to?
The Ophelias, Wednesday, KAINA… maybe the album Death of a Cheerleader by the band Pom Pom Squad as well.
How was lockdown in the US? What did you spend your time doing?
It was very strange. I had moved into a new apartment just before lockdown started. It was on the street level, so if the windows were open, I could make direct eye contact with people at the bus stop. I went to a home goods place and bought that filmy stuff that frosts the windows over and keeps people from seeing in. It also meant that I couldn’t see out! The outside world to me was just light and silhouettes and sounds for a year. I very rarely left the apartment unless it was to go walk around the very small radius of my roof. I picked up a lot of hobbies, I watched a lot of movies, I demoed the album Death of a Cheerleader by the band Pom Pom Squad as well.
Can you describe the concept behind 'Death of a Cheerleader' and where it came from?
Death of a Cheerleader is about a reckoning with my queer identity that came about a few years ago when I fell in love with someone. Pursuing that relationship woke me up to the fact that I had designed my life around an expectation of femininity that didn’t fit me at all. The cheerleader archetype represents an ideal of youth, beauty, attractiveness, etc. — typically portrayed through a male gaze — that I used to see as aspirational. Part of my journey with that archetype has been re-framing the character through my own gaze. So, the long and short of it: The album is about the exhilaration, chaos and magic that accompanies killing off old expectations of yourself.
You're featured on a ‘Fierce Femmes’ Spotify playlist. Who are your fierce femme icons?
My mom, my best friends Leka and Spencer, my partner, my bandmates - I have a lot of really amazing femmes in my life!
Signing to City Slang is so impressive. How did you celebrate?
I had Japanese fried chicken and sushi rice! Then, I got very drunk!
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?
I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time answering this question! Writing is such an intimate space - I think I’m still learning how to let people into it. I would be ecstatic to work with Kim Gordon, Charli XCX, Dev Hynes… those are the folks that come to mind so far.
You’re also featured on some cinematic Spotify playlists. You’re clearly a very visually stimulating band, where do you draw this inspiration from?
I am?? That’s very cool to hear! Thank you Spotify! Visually I draw inspiration from directors like David Lynch, John Waters, and Sofia Coppola! I love artists who can create a completely immersive, heavily stylized, aesthetic experience.
If Pom Pom Squad were to soundtrack a movie, which movie would it be?
But I’m a Cheerleader!
It's the end of the night and you're on the Last Bus home, what are you listening to?
“Since I Don’t Have You” by The Skyliners - and I’m probably leaning against the window wistfully.
