PREMIERE | Exploding Flowers, "Crowded Streets"
LA’s beloved denizens of DIY, Exploding Flowers; photographed by Aaron Giesel.
Everyone is searching for something. With a new year upon us we all wonder what the universe has to show us. What new lessons the world has to teach us. How we can be better, kinder, more receptive to one another, more attentive and active listeners, conscientious observers, and constructive contributors to our respective communities. And though the planet we inhabit is often and always a troubled one, we once again look for signs that offer a sense of splendor and joy amid the imperfections that surround and consume our conversations and lives.
Enter the iconic Los Angeles group Exploding Flowers, titans of the historical DIY cross-sections of scenes. Announcing their new album Watermelon/Peacock for Meritorio Records/Leather Jacket Records, they present the debut of "Crowded Streets" that rings loud, clear, and true with the pursuit of new shinier purposes as a humble quartet of artists making a joyful sound among the masses. The lineup of Sharif Dumani (known for work with luminaries such as Alice Bag, Cody Chesnutt, Sex Stains, the Moon Upstairs, Classics Of Love, Nick Garrie, Jowe Head, Nikki Sudden, Silver Apples, etc) Josh Mancell (also of the Moon Upstairs, Cell\Borg), Happy Tsugawa-Banta (of Lassie Foundation, Ray Barbee), and Mark Sogomian (noted member of the Moon Upstairs as well); the group compounds their lineages of influences for a contemporary melodic clamor of music made to mesmerize any and all who have ever felt alone in the crowd. The band basks in the light from all who have arrived before, all of the greats they have ever worked with, and sets their visions toward what underground arts mean for both the present and future in a world that is forever in a search for semblances of inspiration and creativity that feels touched with a supernatural sense of divinity (as if heralded by some sort of act of providence). Also working with fellow DIY pop veterans Rachel Love (from girl group institution Dolly Mixture), alongside Jowe Head (of Swell Maps, Television Personalities fame); Exploding Flowers raise the banner of what pop art means in a world that has criminally undervalued the role of artists and their impact that continue to play out both in ways that are known, unknown, lesser sung, yet have an impact in everything we hear, see, and feel (whether implicitly acknowledged or not).
Exploding Flowers exhibit an ode to the individual as they navigate their dreams, desires, and visions among the collective of our shared humanity and human experience. The quartet and company codify a curiosity of fabrics together that recollect the sounds of young Scotland, the underground kiwi waves, the London loves, the Paisley subterranean sects, and all the movements both contemporaneous and beyond the scope of assigned designations of style, scene, sub-genre, and so forth. “Crowded Streets” is an anthem for 2025, a reminder to follow our flights of fancy, to recognize that we are all in this together, albeit operating on our own respective planes and paths of purpose in connection with infinite aspirational dreams of prosperity. The Flowers gift the world an inclusive bouquet for the benefit of self-betterment, self-care and a botanical array of unlimited inspiration that reaches towards the stratospheres of sentimentality and a spirited generosity of global solidarity. “Streets” oscillates between the pavement and the stars, recognizing our unlimited array of hope among our fellow folks as we celebrate one other, ourselves, and recognize that together we can move toward a more beautiful society of the self, in hand with our brothers, and sisters, and everyone in-between, and everywhere.
Cover art for Exploding Flowers’ new album Watermelon/Peacock.
Featuring punky eye-popping visuals directed by Exploding Flowers’ own vibraphone/keyboardist Happy Tsugawa-Banta’s daughter Kiki Banta and Giulia Ferracci; “Crowded Streets” becomes elevated to a sound & vision spectacular for the ages. Accentuating the song’s timeless quality, the band is seen as if they were part of a Warhol-esque inspired cavalcade of screen tests and film collages that showcase Los Angeles and the world as a living, breathing, moving, animated art house installation. The video further underscores the group’s moniker by illustrating the song in a collection of stills, footage, splashes of color and so much more that makes the song and the band’s presence even brighter by highlighting their indefatigable vibrancy and velocity of presence and pop prestige.
The band shared some insights on the new single and upcoming release:
“Crowded Streets” was one of the earliest songs written for the upcoming new album. The song is told through storytelling form and touches on themes of longing and searching, and the overwhelming or exciting possibilities of the unknown. Watermelon/Peacock is a similar exploration into the psyche and emotional landscape of a group questioning all ideological frameworks on a quest for something else, something interconnected, yet unknown.
Exploding Flowers’ new album Watermelon/Peacock arrives March 21 via Meritorio Records and Leather Jacket Records.