
Intimate New Single “Cherry Blossom” /Ow EP out September 6
Tour Dates
9/15: Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right (EP Release Show)
10/14: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade w/ Miss June
“‘Quiet grrrl punk’…a cute descriptor that doesn’t reveal nearly enough about
the multitudes contained within…” – FADER
“[‘Heavy Heavy’ is] one of the best songs of the week…
a mess of tangled guitars and a snarling outlook” – Stereogum
“Really hits you deep in the gut…Screaming in the face of chaos never felt better” – Highsnobiety
“A constant in the Brooklyn indie scene, here to ignite tearful fits in fans with
their vulnerable, lashing punk” – Thrillist
“Pom-Pom Squad shares their whole heart with us and its resounding heartbeat sticks
with you long after its conclusion.” – Lauren Rearick (Teen Vogue, The Grey Estates)
“College rock blasts with a feel-good, righteous end” – DIY Mag
Brooklyn-based “Quiet Grrrl” indie-punk/grunge outfit Pom Pom Squad just shared intimate new single “Cherry Blossom”, the third and final song ahead of their upcoming sophomore EP Ow, out September 6. Frontwoman and guitarist Mia Berrin describes “Cherry Blossom” as “an exercise in saying the blunt thing…it’s probably the most personal song on the EP, and the one that’s taken on the greatest depth of meaning for me.”
Listen: “Cherry Blossom”
The four-piece reminiscent of Rilo Kiley, Mitski and PJ Harvey previously released the cathartic first single from the EP, “Heavy Heavy” championed by the likes of Stereogum, Paste, SiriusXM Alt Nation, Under the Radar, Highsnobiety, Thrillist and more. The band has been a staple in Brooklyn for their modern grunge sound and raucous live shows (tour dates here), sharing the stage with indie-rock mainstays Soccer Mommy, Adult Mom, Wild Pinkand Long Neck to name a few.
When you hear Pom Pom Squad, you might picture a gaggle of matching teens, or a wry, sarcastic clan decked out in black; the reality is somewhere in between. Alongside Berrin, the band features bassist Mari Alé Figeman, drummer Shelby Keller, and guitarist Ethan Sass. Hailing from a variety of different backgrounds — from Keller’s jazz training to Berrin’s classic hip-hop and new wave upbringing — the group manages to be serious without taking themselves too seriously. It’s that balance of solemnity and whimsy that allows punk and tenderness to live side by side: chunky, distorted guitar on some tracks, and near-whisper on others; brash yells or tame, wry wit.
Berrin’s music reveals internal discord — she’s intent to cast off the “nice girl” narrative, turning herself inside out to show that she isn’t so put-together after all. Also integral to Berrin’s self-excoriation is her existence as a queer woman of color, two identities that come with their own preconceived notions. With lyrics centering on mental health, abuse, trauma, and healing, Pom Pom Squad pursues radical self-acceptance through periodic self-exposure and self-undressing.
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify
