DUMP BABES ANNOUNCES NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM, KNOWN LIAR
Saskatchewan indie/rock group Dump Babes announce a new full-length album set for release on May 13, 2024, titled Known Liar. The first preview of the album arrives with the single “Citronette”.
Originally a folk-rock project, Dump Babes has experimented with pop, disco, psych-rock, and elements of heavy metal on their journey toward their current sound. Their music is extremely lyrically driven, with Aurora’s powerful vocals propelling the music in a style reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane/Starship. It is driving, heavy, and at times hypnotic (think Frigs, Dehd), while still compelling you to dance, laugh, and breathe in its lighthearted moments.
Sharing more on lead single “Citronette”, Aurora explains,
“I wrote this song after painting my entire office (including the ceiling) this electric green colour this past summer. The whole process felt a little manic, especially with the intense colour that I chose. I thought that the colour had a really beautiful-almost delicate name that contrasted how bright it was. The song ended up turning into a metaphor for keeping yourself busy so you don’t have to feel things, like grief. Also, one of my favourite artists and mentors Ruth Cuthand has a series of paintings with a very similar green as the background, and she’s talked about how for her the colour really represented a feeling of anxiety and suffocation.”
Known Liar is at its heart an album about grief, the ways that we navigate death, and the ripples of change (both negative and positive) that it causes within our communities. In 2022 their dear friend, bass player, and founding member Jill Mack passed away after a ferocious and heartbreaking battle with stage 4 cancer. Aurora explains,
“It was an overwhelmingly painful experience which we are still processing, however, the clarity of death tends to remind us what is truly important in this world. When Jill first got sick, her friends, family, and greater community rallied around her at an unprecedented level. This outpouring of compassion and support speaks to our human desire to care for each other.”
Like reality, this album reflects the process of mourning as a constant and non-linear experience. For example, ‘Bitter’ is about allowing yourself to feel angry, upset, and hurt. ‘Heavy Eyes’ speaks to the strains on other relationships that grief causes. ‘Smoking’ addresses how difficult times can reveal repressed traumas from the past. However, this album also has light- even goofy moments that reflect deepened friendships, moments of shared comfort, and new beginnings. In its entirety, Known Liar isn’t a concept album, but a love letter for a friend whose impact extended past her earth bound vessel and continues to reverberate through those who loved her.
“Musically, ‘Known Liar’ is a refinement to our distinct sound. Staying true to our self-described ‘trash-pop’ genre, we’ve strived to bring forward the danceable, lyric-driven, and retro elements that our fans know and love. It’s heavier and more driving than our previous releases, while still incorporating a healthy dose of unexpected pop moments. Additionally, we won’t be making the mistake of taking for granted how special it is to create art with your friends. This album represents a lot of tears, hugs, and laughter and we hope that it’ll remind everyone to hold your pals close.”
Known Liar is out everywhere May 13, 2024.
Live Dates
May 22, 2024 – Ship and Anchor – Calgary, AB
May 23, 2024 – The Buck – Edmonton, AB
May 24, 2024 – Amigos – Saskatoon, SK
May 25, 2024 – The Cure – Regina, SK