WHOOP

Whoop’s third album, Time to Talk, finds the genre-fluid North Carolina foursome maturing but still raw, evolving yet remaining hugely relatable. A nuanced, visceral mélange of nineties rock and indie-pop, sunny reggae, and earthy R&B, Time to Talk (Porcelain Records) marries innate talent and youthful joy to experience and eloquence, its rare emotive resonance free of studio gloss. 

 

“We definitely tapped into something special with this one,” said effervescent vocalist Fal. “ It felt like we all were ready to experiment with our sound in a way we haven’t before. This record feels like we stopped guessing and started going for it.” 

 

In an era of Auto-Tune and AI, Whoop remains defiantly organic and spontaneous. With their Grammy- and Juno-winning guitarist/producer Steve Bigas (Daniel Lanois, Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal) at the helm, they recorded Time to Talk mostly live, at full volume, onto tape. No headphones or click tracks were used, and only tambourine and backup vocals were overdubbed. The results are refreshingly intimate and honest, with succinct song structures and sometimes stream-of-consciousness lyrics shaping a primal, disarmingly human experience. 

 

Formed in 2020, Whoop developed out of Friday night jams in Bigas’ barn studio near Raleigh. While Bigas, whose ‘90s alt-rock band King Clancy landed a major deal with DreamWorks, is a lifelong lover of classic tones who surrounds himself with curated vintage gear, his bandmates were GarageBand/Soundcloud kids. Yet this ostensibly unlikely crew gels through mutual appreciation of each other’s contrasting, complimentary sensibilities and a shared love of letting music throb and breathe, free of overthought or overproduction.  

 

Whoop’s joyous yet introspective eponymous debut album emerged to rave reviews just a year after they formed, followed by the acclaimed Just What? in 2023. Their vibrant live shows, which have included Carolina Indie Fest and NC State Fair, further cemented their chemistry and collective instincts, all building towards the huge leap forward that is Time to Talk. 

 

“We normally start with a single idea and build off that until it evolves into a vibe,” explained bassist Nick (Whoop is completed by drummer Will). “Fal then takes that vibe and sings the first thing that comes to mind. Later, we chop up the best parts to form outlines for songs.” 

 

From the deliciously lived-in opening riff of first track “Make A Move,” Time to Talk is swaggering testament to musicality in the wild, with force-of-nature Fal pouring Wet Leg sass into tough-yet-tender performances that veer between rap-adjacent rants, tremulous soul, and finely grained pop. Poised and charismatic, her vocals are as much about attitude and vibe as they are notes, words, and cadence. “Take A Ride” craves escape from the everyday, its refrain swooning somewhere between early Sheryl Crow, prime-time Pretenders, and a gum-free Go-Go’s. Meanwhile, “Tightrope” is a smoldering, New Wave-y warning buoyed by ecstatic backing vocals and choppy guitar, imploring choruses framed by sparse, reggae-rinsed verses.  

 

“Music is supposed to bring people together, shake things up, cause a ruckus, and make a mark,” said Fal. “I always want Whoop to leave a lasting impression on minds, hearts, and ears.”