With Sad13, Speedy Ortiz front woman’s new solo project makes RVA debut

by | Dec 10, 2016 | METAL, PUNK, THRASH & HARDCORE

We’re still a few weeks away from Christmas, but considering the radio has been going ham on holiday music since before we ate all the turkey leftovers, I suspect we could all use a change of musical scenery. If this is literally you, you should seriously consider heading to Strange Matter Sunday to catch Sad13, Vagabon, Emily Reo and Told Slant.

We’re still a few weeks away from Christmas, but considering the radio has been going ham on holiday music since before we ate all the turkey leftovers, I suspect we could all use a change of musical scenery. If this is literally you, you should seriously consider heading to Strange Matter Sunday to catch Sad13, Vagabon, Emily Reo and Told Slant.

Philly’s Sad13 is the solo project of Speedy Ortiz‘s Sadie Dupuis. Joining Dupuis on Sunday will be https://vagabon.bandcamp.com/Your text to link…, Emily Reo, and Told Slant, all of whom hail from New York City.

Dupuis took some time to chat about her love of Strange Matter and the joy of recording her own, funky-fresh new sound.

You may be familiar with Dupuis’ work with Speedy Ortiz, but Sad13 is a unicorn of a different color. “It’s based around guitar interplay,” she said of the Ortiz which has found themselves on RVA stages with great frequency over the last few years. “Sad13 is more of a synth project.”

For Dupuis, Sad13 is an opportunity to showcase hitherto unseen musical instincts.

“Almost all my free time for the past five years has been dedicated towards this rock band, and I love playing guitar, it’s my primary instrument,” she said. “But I play other instruments too, and I have always been a fan of recording myself at home.”

The ability to create and package her own sound is a decided plus when recording for Sad13.

“It wouldn’t make sense for me to engineer and mix Speedy records at this point, whereas if I’m working on a solo record, I’m allowed a chance to start over and be more lo-fi,” Dupuis said.

As if listening to Dupuis playing the music she loves isn’t enticing enough, she will playing at a venue she loves in a city she loves. “I love Richmond, I’ve always had a fun time playing there,” she said,.“I’ve just always had a bunch of cool friends in the Punk scene there, who are just sweet people[…]and the mac ‘n cheese at Strange Matter is great, and I’m really good at Marvel vs Capcom, so there’s that, too.”

Seriously, she’s, like, REALLY good at Marvel vs Capcom. “I will challenge anyone to Marvel vs Capcom 2 and I will win,” Dupuis said.

So for killer tunes, killer mac, and arcade action, come out to Strange Matter this Sunday, Dec. 11th at 8PM. Tickets and other information can be found here or the Facebook event page.

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner

Brad Kutner is the former editor of GayRVA and RVAMag from 2013 - 2017. He’s now the Richmond Bureau Chief for Radio IQ, a state-wide NPR outlet based in Roanoke. You can reach him at BradKutnerNPR@gmail.com




more in music

Salon de Résistance | Living Under Fire

Join us for Salon de Résistance on May 28 at Black Iris for an unfiltered conversation about surviving on the frontlines of global conflict in a world growing more violent, fragmented, and unable to protect civilians — with three of Virginia’s most seasoned experts in...

PHOTOS | Nysa Rips at The Camel

Philadelphia’s Nysa returned to Richmond on Friday night for a packed four-band bill at The Camel featuring local favorites Dayfiction, Artschool and Wrong Worshippers. The lineup brought together a cross-section of Richmond’s underground punk, garage, and post-punk...

OP-ED | Drake’s Issue with Identity, An Iceman’s Melting

The Drake we once knew is gone. What began as one of the most prophetic artists to hit the rap and hip-hop scene over the past two decades has again reached another breaking point with the release of three new albums on Friday, May 15th. Iceman, Drake’s mainline...

RVA Live Music This Weekend | Nysa, Sluice, Plunky & Oneness

We got some loud shows and some really soft shows this week. Lots of exciting releases just around the corner, come hear em live before it’s on your phone. Got a show coming up? New single? Simply want someone to talk music? Hit me up at griffin@rvamag.com....