THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “An adversarial network of ideas, electronic post-punk trio The Wants welcome the possibility that embracing friction can give rise to something cathartic and unexpected.
Formed by Madison Velding-VanDam and Jason Gates in 2017, and with the addition of Yasmeen Night in 2021, The Wants’ sound is defined by the push and pull of its members’ processes: Floating rhythms upheaving grounded songwriting, pulsing synths overwhelming live instrumentation. Their new record, Bastard, is an evolution of many of the seeds planted in their debut record, Container (2020), with a refined sense of acerbic emotional urgency and sonic experimentation.
Drawing from a deep well of influences across decades and genres, The Wants forge an unlikely alliance of sounds that feels both radical and inevitable. Velding-VanDam channels both the raw power and snark of Public Image Ltd. and The Smiths’ romance, while Gates draws intensity from bands like Bauhaus and Throbbing Gristle, and inspiration from experimental techno. Night’s sound bridges inspiration from ’90s alternative rock like Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage between the nocturnal trip-hop atmosphere of Massive Attack.
The result sits in its own category — too raw to be pure electronic music, too mechanised to be straight rock — drawing favorable comparisons to early PiL and contemporaries like Model/Actriz while remaining distinctly their own beast.
A chaotic and compelling introduction to this visceral full-length, the single 87 Gas captures the band’s self-described no wave / no-pop techno-punk ethos in peak form. Built on the nervous energy of live performance and driven by a hypnotic bassline from newest member Night, the track fuses industrial textures with digital dissonance. It’s a turbulent portrait of youth, routine, and rebellion — transforming the mundanity of a convenience store into a battlefield for personal ambition and existential unrest.
The band explain: “It’s a playful reflection on youthful ambition and rebellion rubbing up against alienation and monotony. The song’s mantra and instrumentation chart the repetition of daily life. As fantasy and reality grow further apart, the tension between the two can ultimately drive you crazy.”
With 87 Gas setting the tone, The Wants are poised to expand their sonic territory — and redefine the boundaries of modern post-punk.”
