Q&A with The Ophelias and Introducing GUNK's Anonymous Show Review Column

and i found god in the perfume genius album

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Johanna Sommer

Apr 11, 2025

Q&A with The Ophelias

by Jojo Sommer

“Spring Grove,” the fourth album from The Ophelia’s, will be out April 4. Forming ten years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio, the band— Spencer Peppet (vocals and guitar), Mic Adams (drums), Jo Schaffer (bass), and Andrea Guttman Fuentes (violin)— have released two singles ahead of the album’s release, “Cumulonimbus” and “Salome.” After meeting at a show in Nashville in 2019, singer-songwriter and boygenius member Julien Baker reached out to the band asking if she could produce “Spring Grove,” making it the first album Baker has produced for an artist other than herself.

“Spring Grove” reimagines old ghosts and the conversations one wished they'd had. On “Cumulonimbus,” Peppet sings, “Not like I could have told the future but it makes sense,” recontextualizing the past with the knowledge of the present. “Salome” is a metaphor for the rage Peppet has felt towards older men in the music industry, based on the biblical myth of the princess who danced for John the Baptist’s head on a silver platter. The drums swell as Peppet sings, “The knife sways heavy in my hand,” her voice urgent with the desire for vengeance. “Salome” is coy in its danger, similar to when Liz Phair sings, “I know I’m a real cunt in spring” on “Dance of the Seven Veils,” a song written about the same story.

I spoke to Peppet over Zoom ahead of the new album and The Ophelia’s April 5 “Spring Grove” release show at The Broadway. Her shamrock-green hair was pulled into long pigtails as she spoke with a serene calmness about the record and her future in the music industry— it’s clear that whatever happens to Peppet, she is just happy she gets to keep playing. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

It’s been four years since your last full-length release, so why is “Spring Grove” coming out now?

It always takes longer than you think it will. The people that we were working with had a lot of opinions and so we chatted about everything and got really into the teeny tiny details. And then we were shopping the record around and put out a couple of EPs, so we were just waiting for the right time. It reached a point where I was like, “Is this album ever going to come out?” And the answer is yes, and now it feels like the right time.

Is there anything you find different about this album sonically?

I think for a long time our recorded music sounded very different from how we sound live. We got categorized into the “cute” category, of like, “a girl and violin… cute.” I think we were already starting to push against that live, we were like, ‘Oh, we can play a lot of these songs louder and faster than they were recorded.” It feels like this record is maybe the most accurate to how we actually sound, which is big and dramatic. I also think we are trying to build more of a visual world this time with things that really felt connected across the whole record.

How are you feeling about being an indie musician these days?

The financial side is obviously very difficult. Every couple of years I check in with myself and I’m like, “Can I do anything else? Would I be happy doing anything else?” And the answer is always no. I’m lucky because I enjoy it a lot and feel very excited, like yeah I’m broke, but this is what I have to do. We’ve been sitting on [“Spring Grove”] for long enough that I just want people to hear it. If it goes well, awesome, and if it doesn’t, fine, I’m going to keep making music for the rest of my life.

Do you prefer writing in person or remotely?

I’m kind of of two minds about it because the first album we wrote, a decade ago, in one practice. It was the first time we had ever played together and I came in with a bunch of songs, and they all wrote parts, and I was like “It’s perfect, what the fuck?” But then I also like writing remotely because I can send them songs and they can send me back parts and we can get really granular about it.

If The Ophelia’s could be on a four-band bill with anyone who would it be?

I’m gonna pick someone for everyone in the band. For Andrea, The Beach Boys. For Jo, Moor Jewelry. Joanna Newsom for me. And I think Paramore for Mick. Oh, and then us. I don’t even want to play that, I just want to watch.

What are three things you are obsessed with right now?

FABSCRAP (second hand fabric warehouse in Brooklyn), writing letters, and the sun setting at 7:30 p.m.

by Jojo Sommer

GUNK ANONYMOUS SHOW REVIEWS COLUMN ;)

<headstandgirl>

Seeing Port Ross at Brother’s Wash & Dry was a breath of fresh emo-twee folksy goodness. Endearing with dejected and lightly lewd lyrics, Port Ross felt like a highly original experience. Each song was varied and different and exciting, but consistently captivating and perfectly quirky. I am so excited to see what they do next!

<superstar444>

at the Katy pinke album release puppet show I felt so inspired and humbled — what have I ever done on stage besides make silly jokes. Jana horn didn’t play my favorite song

<sillygrrl_123>

i was hoping to see a battle of the same-named bands go b2b but alas purgatory is too cozy a venue for that setup. others were under the impression that there would be wrestling which did not happen here but did occur at frida kill's second set (!) of the night @ our wicked lady. i would fight anyone who didn't love this riot revival rendezvous.

<shush>

The small chucks afternoon set at Union Pool was SO refreshing! It was my first time seeing small chucks in a full band and it did not disappoint. Try getting through one small chucks song without getting the chills or tearing up. I dare you. The vocal harmonies were jaw dropping and the trumpet player did a really cool wind sound throughout her new stunning single “meadow song”

<headstandgirl>

Sunshine, SXSW, and Shoegaze - a trio I thought I knew I needed and was right about! I had the pleasure of traveling down to Austin, TX for SXSW this March and the Julia’s War X Sandrin showcase at Cheer Up Charlie’s was the definite highlight. Two stages hosted 14 bands primarily out of Philly and New York, including local shoegaze rockers Mx Lonely, Bedridden, Her New Knife, as well as YHWH Nailgun, who had an incredibly busy SXSW run kicking off their nationwide tour with some wildly transgressive experimental punk. My personal favorite performance came from New York grungegaze band Glaring Orchid. Their riffy, emo take on modern shoegaze is so rock-and-roll. They seamlessly switched from rawer, peeled-back vulnerability to noisy, energetic jams, and the entire set felt fresh and electrifying. Check them out if you haven’t already!

april gunk is very sexy and everyone is saying it. if you haven’t found it in the wild yet, there are few chances left. become a paid subscriber? does anyone have a direct line to the promoters at knockdown center..

submit your may shows, send us poetry, email us your classifieds, catch us at the deli mag’s zine fair on 4/20 at baby’s all right.