The Julie Ruin
Punchy, synth-flecked punk that pairs a defiant sneer with a danceable beat. High-energy anthems for reclaiming your space and speaking your truth.
Punchy, synth-flecked punk that pairs a defiant sneer with a danceable beat. High-energy anthems for reclaiming your space and speaking your truth.
The Julie Ruin sounds like the smartest, loudest person at the party finally getting the floor. It is a vibrant collision of garage rock grit and new wave synth brightness, anchored by a rhythm section that demands movement. The guitars are jagged and surf-influenced, while the keyboards add a layer of neon-lit urgency that sets this apart from standard punk fare.
What makes the band distinctive is the evolution of Kathleen Hanna's vocal delivery, which has shifted from the raw screams of her youth into a more nuanced, yet equally powerful, melodic sneer. The interplay between the campy, theatrical synth lines and the driving, traditional punk percussion creates a sound that is simultaneously nostalgic for the 90s underground and perfectly tuned to modern indie sensibilities.
Start with the album Hit Reset. It captures the band at their most cohesive, blending personal vulnerability with sharp social critiques. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who wants their political anthems to come with a side of infectious, danceable hooks.
The Julie Ruin is an American band formed in 2010 in New York City. The band rehearses in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and records at Oscilloscope and Figure 8 Recording in Brooklyn. Band members include lead vocalist Kathleen Hanna, bassist Kathi Wilcox, keyboardist Kenny Mellman, drummer Carmine Covelli and guitarist Sara Landeau. Hanna and Wilcox also perform together as part of Bikini Kill. The band's name was previously used as the title of Hanna's debut solo album. In December 2010, the Julie Ruin previewed a performance at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, New York. In 2012, the Julie Ruin released the song "Girls Like Us," featuring queercore artist Vaginal Davis, as a free download as part of a series inspired by the book Real Man Adventures by T. Cooper. The band's first album, Run Fast, was released on September 3, 2013, by Dischord Records. The first track, "Oh Come On," was released in June of that year. The band's second album, Hit Reset, was released on July 8, 2016, by Hardly Art Records. The first track "I Decide" was released on April 11, 2016.
Shares punk rock, indie rock, art rock (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares punk rock, indie rock, dance-pop (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares indie rock, garage rock, dance-pop (subgenres); intense, nasal (vocal style)
Shares indie rock, punk rock, garage rock (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares indie rock, art rock, garage rock (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares intense, nasal (vocal style); rebellious, energetic, defiant (moods)
Shares intense, nasal (vocal style); garage rock, punk rock, indie rock (subgenres)
Shares intense, nasal (vocal style); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares punk rock, indie rock, garage rock (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares garage rock, indie rock, punk rock (subgenres); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares punk rock, garage rock, nasal, indie rock (signature)
Shares punk rock, art rock, nasal, indie rock (signature)
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