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Get To Know: Los Angeles Band Jawdropped

Ben Pagani

 

Los Angeles band Jawdropped will release their debut EP Just Fantasy on Friday, April 25 via Angel Tapes. Today, the group shared the new single “Outside.” Jawdropped released their debut single “Star” in November 2024. That song will also appear on Just Fantasy and serve as the closing track. There will be five tracks on the EP, including the other singles “Skully,” “Fantasy,” and an unreleased song called “Another Day.”

Jawdropped has two upcoming shows. The band will perform an EP release show at Zebulon in Los Angeles on May 2. They will also share a bill with labelmates Shower Curtain at Nightclub 101 in New York City on May 24. Ticket information for the Nightclub 101 show is available here.

Now, ahead of their first proper extended release, Jawdropped–made up of Roman Zangari, Kyra Morling, and Sean Edwards–answer questions about being an LA band, working on their upcoming EP and share their current mindset. Hear the new song “Outside” by clicking play on the video below. Scroll down to read the full Jawdropped interview while listening to the track.

Get To Know: Jawdropped

Beyond The Stage: Jawdropped formed after you all spent time playing in acts around Los Angeles. How did you all end up in this band together?

Jawdropped: We’d been watching each other play for years — we were all at a house party Kyra played a million years ago before we knew each other — once we figured out we were all into The Lemonheads and Teenage Fanclub, it seemed natural to make something. Roman and Kyra had some songs and other projects were slowing down. We hung out in some hot springs one time and the seeds were kinda planted there. 

BTS: You’re about to share a new EP called Just Fantasy, the band’s first completed major project. How does it feel to have a finished release?

Jawdropped: It feels like something all of us have been trying to make for a long time, but it took all of us together to make it work. But it happened kinda fast once we all got in a room — also it’s been done for a long time and we’ve played all of them a million times over so it’s more a “finally it’s coming out” type of situation over a “can’t believe it’s done” thing. But it feels good to have made a good rock and roll record (at least we think so). RnR is so derivative, sometimes it feels like there’s no more rock songs left to make, so it feels really cool to have proof that there are more and we made some of them. 

Also massive thank you to Angel Tapes for believing in us and helping so much in getting JF out there. We love yall <3.

BTS:  Just Fantasy’s lead single “Skully” comes with a music video. Tell us what filming it was like and where those rooftops, clubs and kitchens seen in the video are located.

Jawdropped: Half the video was filmed at one of our shows at Permanent Records Roadhouse – our favorite place to play in LA. The other half was shot in Kyra & Roman’s kitchen, and at some spots around the neighborhood in East Hollywood. The whole kitchen thing is kinda an homage to two of our favorite videos by Squeeze and Elliot Smith.

BTS: What’s your recording process like? And how do you all contribute to Jawdropped’s songwriting?

Jawdropped: Being a great live band is super important to us, so when it came time to record the EP, we knew we had to record it live. We all played together in a room: minimal takes and no metronome. We wanted to capture that feel of a band actually playing together. 

BTS: Some might argue Los Angeles has the best rock music scene in the United States right now. Is there some aura that comes with being a band in that part of the world?

Jawdropped: Being in LA right now just means you have to have your shit dialed. Everyone rips, every band is serious, you can walk into any given house show and three bands you’ve never heard of will crush. It creates an environment where everyone is really trying hard to make music that’s worthwhile and paying attention to each other — that’s where the aura comes from maybe, like everyone is killing themselves for this shit because, like, look around. All your homies are. There is no room for part-time punks. Are you a rocker or not? If so, prove it.

BTS:  If your fans had to know one thing about you, what would it be?

Jawdropped: We love each other, we love music, we love the pub.

BTS: Jawdropped is scheduled for some upcoming Los Angeles shows. Will there be opportunities to see you perform live elsewhere in 2025?

Jawdropped: We’ll be performing in NY on May 24th at Night Club 101. 

Jawdropped | 'Just Fantasy' EP Cover Art

Just Fantasy EP by Jawdropped Tracklist:

1. Skully

2. Another Day

3. Fantasy

4. Outside

5. Star

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Ben Pagani
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Ben Pagani

Ben is a music journalist living and working in Chicago. They joined Beyond The Stage as an intern and have stayed on the staff for several years. Now serving on the editorial board, Ben is proud to be BTS' Music Projects Manager, coordinating coverage between international record labels and our staff. Ben has interviewed, photographed and written about bands from across the world. Ben has lived all over the United States working in television and media. They are an Emmy Award-winning writer. Ben can be found spinning records as 'DJ Wearing Sunglasses' in clubs and basements across the US.