Born out of the vibrant music scene of Long Island, rising trio Gamblers emerge as a dynamic force, blending hip-hop and club influences with their indie-rock sound. As they gear up to unveil their latest project, the band has dropped their new disco-tinged single “Pulverizer.” With a penchant for crafting catchy melodies and a sound that effortlessly stretches the boundaries of indie-rock, the band, led by charismatic frontman Michael McManus, stands poised to captivate their ever-growing fanbase yet again. We had the pleasure of having a quick chat with Gamblers about the release of “Pulverizer”, their influences, and what fans can expect from them next.
JG: Congrats on the new single “Pulverizer.” Can you tell us what inspired the song?
Gamblers: Thanks. This one is about those moments when you kinda feel like life is testing you, fucking with you, piling it on. But the song still brings a party feel, tough times call for good hangs and loud tunes.
JG: The new song definitely has more of a disco feel to it. How did you decide on that sound?
Gamblers: Expanding our soundscape beyond our previous indie-rock-flavoured songs was intentional. One way we shook up our musical approach was by bringing in sounds and beats generated by old drum machines in the writing phase. “Pulverizer” started with a loop from a toy beatmaker and the disco bass just sort of fit immediately. We eventually brought a more organic rock guitar vibes in the chorus and live saxes to balance the electronic elements with the live band feel.
JG: What artists or bands have influenced the direction of your new music?
Jimmy: Throughout production, I kept referencing Huey Lewis and the News’ album Sports– it seamlessly blends synthetic and live musical elements in a way that retains feel and delivers big shiny hooks at every turn. I remember referencing a couple of Super Furry Animals and Pavement songs for style and production inspiration. As far as guitar parts, I did my best Nels Cline impression for “Too Proud to be Happy.” Slinky Jazzmaster countermelodies creeping all over that song.
Johnny: For this album (drums specifically) I was doing my best Phil Collins impression.
JG: Your 2022 EP When We Exit gave us the great collab “Another Dose” with Mick Jenkins. Are there more exciting collaborations on the horizon?
Gamblers: That’s a safe bet. That EP served us in multiple ways; it was a great project for us to work on during COVID when live shows weren’t possible. It was a very fulfilling experience for us working outside of our usual rock bounds and the response we got from those tracks vastly exceeded our expectations.
JG: What’s next for Gamblers?
Gamblers: Our new full-length is arriving, on digital and vinyl! Music videos and tour dates to support and all that. We’re setting up a record release show in NYC this spring, come out and say hi and let us bum a smoke.
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