Scrambled or Fried? An Introduction to Egg Punk

No, we’re not serving up breakfast, we’re back with another obscure microgenre. Egg punk is a specific style of punk that was born on the internet and grew into a whole host of bands that have perfected this method of making music. Here’s the rundown on egg punk, plus three artists you should check out.

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What is Egg Punk?

Egg punk is a microgenre that stems from punk but has more DIY elements blended in. It emerged in the 2010s primarily on the internet through the Midwest DIY scene and through memes, but it has grown into a method of characterization as well as a particular style. Egg punk is often satirical, and features lo-fi recordings as opposed to highly-produced, polished vocals and instrumentals. It has elements of bedroom pop as well—minimal production value and not overly fussy in keeping with the spirit of DIY.

Silicone Prairie

Silicone Prairie’s album Vol. II can be categorized as egg punk, but also as an art piece. It uses different techniques to create a unique experience rooted in the egg punk style. There’s a sense of whimsy in the use of wailing guitar, feedback, and sound effects that complement the distorted vocals. Silicone Prairie is artist Ian Teeple from Kansas City, Missouri, who singlehandedly creates the project’s interesting sound. Vol. II manages to be both all over the place and cohesive, which is a rare feat.

Goblin Daycare

Goblin Daycare uses distortion to their advantage on their new album AGITPROP HOTLINE!!. The foundation of this band is firmly rooted in standard punk, but it has an extremely DIY sound. It’s rough and distorted, noisy and fast-paced, which creates a sense of excitement on the album. Overall, Goblin Daycare is egg punk at its finest, using the whimsy and satire of internet culture and blending it with grungy punk to create a cohesive sound.

Dummy

Dummy is similar to Goblin Daycare in their vocals—low-production, high-distortion. However, the instrumentation is a little bit cleaner, although it’s still egg punk. There’s a looseness to Dummy despite the tighter guitar phrasing. A bit contradictory you’d think, but it works. This band is loose and easy, slipping through their melodies like Slinkies, but not letting anything get away from them.

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