Q&A: Grenade Jumper Bring Back The Heat with New Single ‘Heat Wave’

Hailing from Sydney, four-piece pop-punkers Grenade Jumper are back with a brand new single, “Heat Wave”.

These guys have managed to cut through the noise in the scene with the launch of their debut single “Get Ahead” back in November 2018, and found themselves quickly rising through the ranks, making a name for themselves in an extremely short period of time. Their next release “Gazed” quickly gained recognition and hype from Triple J’s Home and Hosed host Declan Byrne, as well as the song being added to their Unearthed radio rotation, making these guys Sydney’s new revival band on the scene. 

They made sure not to waste any time between releases, and started jumping on shows around Sydney as a support act. They have shared the stage with the likes of Hellions, which saw vocalist Bianca jumping on stage with them as guest vocals, as well as Deaf Havana, Eat Your Heart Out, The Dead Love, and Stuck Out. 

“Heat Wave” sees the band coming back in their true Grenade Jumper fashion, with cathartic and melodic lyrics, and a super catchy chorus with an amazing hook that leaves you with this feeling of wanting to break free. It speaks of hope, shaking off those shackles that try to tie you down, and learning how to start over again. Vocalist Bianca's voice has undeniable affect upon first hearing it, it’s smooth and pitch perfect, and it instantly draws you in.

The instrumentation also has a lively energy to it, which will bring much nostalgia from early 2000’s pop-punk. It shows how much they have worked on creating a more mature and defined sound, which really shows when compared to their older releases. The guitar riffs in this song show it following an upbeat melody, that is captivating and instantly puts you in a good mood. The music definitely reflects the lyrics, making it an all round feel good song. 

We were lucky enough to sit down with Grenade Jumper to chat about the new single and the Sydney pop punk scene.

What is the meaning behind your new single “Heat Wave”?

Heat Wave is about hope, acceptance and ultimately shedding your negative skin. It developed lyrically out of a period in which I was trying to figure out what I wanted Grenade Jumper’s mission statement as a band to be – the song represents us landing on a message that doesn’t shy away from delving into things that may be confronting or difficult, but always offering a sense of empowerment. 

How do you go about your songwriting process? Are there certain steps you like to follow? Or does it vary from song to song?

Our lead guitarist Max is constantly demoing new songs – he’s a riff machine, so that’s where all tracks initially bloom from. I also try and write new lyrics almost every day, even if it’s just one line, based around an idea or theme I’ve been thinking about to develop them further. ‘Heat Wave’ was the first time we’d worked in a proper studio to record and write a song, and our producer Nat really helped us consider things like structure and helped us achieve desired tones and sounds which was super exciting.

How did you figure out your sound as a band when you started?

When Grenade Jumper first started (we began practicing in around June 2018), our main goal was to play a Doonside house show and “get in” with the local pop punk scene, so our sound initially reflected that. Over the last year we’ve had the opportunity to play many shows, spend a lot of time together and in turn, gain a greater idea as to what our “sound” and feel as a band would be.

‘Heat Wave’ was inspired by artists like Foo Fighters, Wolf Alice, Weezer, Incubus and Against Me! – artists who really evoke a huge, anthemic rock energy with a rough punk abandon. Moving forward, (and on our upcoming EP) that’s the kind of sound you can expect from GJ.

Do you feel as if people pigeonhole you by saying that you are female-fronted?

Although it is a label we have been given in the last year, it is important that I acknowledge that there is a sense of privilege in that it’s one of the only “identity” labels we could be held back by.

In saying this, it is frustrating that the idea of a “female fronted band” is still an anomaly. “Othering” women is still a major occurrence in rock (and heavy) music unfortunately, which I do believe is microcosmic of greater societal ideals at hand.

The whole ethos of unruliness, anger and loudness that rock music is founded upon is completely incongruent with the traditional idea of what a “woman” should be, and I think it is subconscious stereotyping like this that sets the bar 10-times higher for approval of women within heavy music.

However, I do truly believe our scene is becoming increasingly more accepting. I think we are all willing to stand up for what is right, and fight for representation as ultimately, this allows for creativity to blossom. Events like UsFest (which we were lucky enough to be part of), and just playing shows in general are indicative of the genuine effort to ensure not only women, but people of all diverse backgrounds are accepted and heard.

You have been playing a bunch of shows in the past two years with some huge names in the scene; what is the best part about playing live for you?

We bond as friends when we play live. The thrill of showcasing who we are and seeing people support us is overwhelming. Getting to know and chat with the other bands we play with is always incredible too – we’ve been lucky enough to play with bands who we truly look up to so it’s been an honour to be able to spend time with them.

You’ve regularly played at Sydney’s AM//PM Emo Night… What impact do you think events like these have on the heavy scene in Sydney?

I believe Sydney’s (and Australia’s) heavy music scene is like no other in the world right now – and it truly does have to do with the passion and hard work behind events like AM/PM. We played AM/PM as our third ever show to a crowd who were genuinely supportive and excited to vibe along to our set – it’s experiences like this early on that really give small bands the chance to push themselves and work on their live show, ultimately fostering a real ethos of support and camaraderie amongst bands and the people who attend these shows. I believe our scene has a real focus on enabling grass roots and small organisations to develop into something huge.

Other institutions like Crowbar and UsFest have been pivotal and helping further the growth of our scene here - a matched level of innovation and passion reverberates with these too.

Any of your up and coming Sydney pop-punk peers that you want to give a shout out to? Who have you been jamming out to recently?

There are so many amazing pop punk bands coming out of Sydney (and Aus) right now – Capitol Affair are so awesome, and of course we’re very excited to see what Headstrong and Oaks do next too!

What makes Grenade Jumper stand out from the crowd?

We won’t ever mope or wallow, our message will always be outward leaning. I think our influences will definitely help shape a sound that is different from the “modern pop punk” paradigm.

What can fans look forward to from you guys next?

We are in the process of completing our debut EP at the moment which has been a very emotional and fulfilling experience – so expect a lot more music and shows throughout 2020.