The Scary Jokes

The Scary Jokes
Genres
Years active2014–present
LabelsNeedlejuice
Members
Websitethescaryjokes.com

The Scary Jokes is the musical project of American singer-songwriter Liz Lehman, conceived by Lehman in 2014 in New Jersey.[1][3] Their[a] music has been characterized as bedroom pop and synthpop.[1][2] Their albums include April Fools (2016), Burn Pygmalion!!! A Better Guide to Romance (2019), and Retinal Bloom (2023).[2][6]

Career

Liz Lehman created the Scary Jokes from their bedroom in New Jersey in 2014.[3] Following several early demo releases,[3] the Scary Jokes released their debut album, bad at math, that same year.[7] It was followed by April Fools (2016) and Burn Pygmalion!!! A Better Guide to Romance (2019), the latter being a concept album about a journalist contemplating their romantic relationship.[1] Throughout this time, the Scary Jokes amassed an online following, particularly on the website Tumblr.[1][3][non-primary source needed]

In 2021, a version of April Fools, remixed and remastered by musician Angel Marcloid, was released on digital platforms, as well as on CD, vinyl, and cassette.[2][8] Marcloid also co-produced the Scary Jokes' fourth album, Retinal Bloom.[2][4][9] Retinal Bloom spawned the single "Our Murderous Descent", a song Lehman was inspired to write after standing near a large waterfall; during the songwriting process, Lehman tied the concept of standing up under the force of a waterfall to members of the LGBTQ community supporting each other in the face of hostility.[2][4][9] The album also spawned another single, "Riptide", based on the 2009 film Jennifer's Body and the media's exploitation of the film's lead actress, Megan Fox.[10] Retinal Bloom was released on May 26, 2023.

Discography

EPs

  • blankets (2014) Tumblr exclusive EP [11]
  • car phone (2014)[12]

Albums

Members

  • Liz Lehman – vocals, songwriting, production (2014–present)
  • Juniper Abernathy – guitar (2019)[1]
  • Ellie Bennett – bass (2019)[14]

Notes

  1. ^ Lehman is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Scary Jokes". Needlejuice Records. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Ruckle, Taylor (March 9, 2023). "The Scary Jokes Push Through Unrelenting Force on New Single "Our Murderous Descent"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "About". The Scary Jokes. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Scary Jokes, a queer / non-binary synthpop project, has announced a new Fire-toolz produced LP". LGBTQ Music Chart. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ^ @thescaryjokes (January 10, 2020). "i am nonbinary and i make music as the scary jokes :)" (Tweet). Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ Marlin, Natalie (2023-05-26). "The "Nightmare Pop" of The Scary Jokes". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  7. ^ a b "bad at math". The Scary Jokes on Bandcamp. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "April Fools (2021 Mix)". The Scary Jokes on Bandcamp. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Premiere: The Scary Jokes – "Our Murderous Descent"". Wonderland. March 13, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Baker, Bruce (May 10, 2023). "Exclusive Single Premiere: The Scary Jokes "Riptide" (2023)". The AU Review. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. ^ the scary jokes (2014-12-09), the scary jokes - Blankets (EP) 2014, retrieved 2023-08-02
  12. ^ the scary jokes (July 2014), the scary jokes - Car Phone (EP) 2014 Temporary release, retrieved 2023-08-02
  13. ^ "Burn Pygmalion!!! A Better Guide to Romance". The Scary Jokes on Bandcamp. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  14. ^ Palmer, Jonce (2019-01-07). "WFA: The Scary Jokes". Everything Is Noise. Retrieved 2023-08-01.