Spend as much time as I have surveying the ins and outs of the local scene and not much will surprise you. Dramatic implosions, creative and commercial breakthroughs, or, as in this case, out-of-the-blue collaborations—they’re all part of what makes the Atlanta music community so compelling. But even I was taken aback by the recent debut of Scattrbrain, a new group led by rapper Grip and featuring, among others, Grouplove members Daniel Gleason on bass and Ben Homola on drums, co-producer/engineer TJ Elias, and Josh Smith (a.k.a. Mallbangs) on guitar. Not only did the announcement come out of seemingly nowhere but the music—a scintillating mix of earnest alt-rock, emo, and melodic punk—defied whatever preconceptions their partnership conjured in my mind.

Thinking on it some more, however, and I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise. In music, versatility is one of those qualities that almost implies an asterisk. Sure, it’s a nice enough trait to possess, but on its own adaptability does not always equal excellence. But Grip has always been different. Truly malleable. A bar for every style and mood. Versatility was more than just a signature trait, it was his means of molding varying sounds, ideologies, and personas into a conceptual whole.

So, yeah, to hear Grip rap, growl, and croon so effortlessly over Scattrbrain’s first two offerings—a pair of live outtakes recorded at Gleason and Elias’ Big Trouble studio—has been more satisfying than surprising. Satisfying because he sounds so comfortable and at ease, casually chewing up the band’s slinky rhythms and boisterous riffs and spitting out a barrage of melodic hooks. And while Grip’s skills as a wordsmith were never in question, there’s an intimacy and vulnerability to these songs that feels purposeful. Rather than indulging in extended metaphors or clever wordplay, his approach is confidential and direct.

Take the band’s debut single, “Bombs Away.” Against a jittery, noise-inflected groove, Grip traces the anxieties and inner turmoils that are causing his life to unravel. He does so with a mix of self-condescension and nervy desperation, each line exposing the widening fissures in his psyche. On the one hand it feels confessional, like an addict copping to all the pain and chaos they’ve caused. On the other, it’s intentionally ominous. “If I were you I’d run away / Take cover before I self destruct,” he sings bluntly on the chorus, a line that doubles both as a warning and an acknowledgment that a collapse is imminent.

“My thought when making the song was to speak on a situation in which you are fully aware that you are on a self-destructive path and choose to embrace it instead of resolving the issue,” Grip explains over email. “Doubling down on self sabotage. Fuck it…Bombs Away!”

Produced, directed, and edited by Gabrielle Barton, the video accentuates the song’s frantic energy with chaotic visuals that center on Grip as a prisoner of his own making. Wearing an orange jumper with “Imposter” scrawled across the back, he finds himself surrounded by devils and demons, trapped in a frenzied haze of drugs and booze. When he does try to break out and find some form of sanctuary, there’s always a new calamity or vice waiting to drag him back in. It’s a savage cycle, but mind you, the full name of the project is Scattrbrain and the Unwavering Self Doubt, so unpacking existential crises looks to be the group’s default state—at least for now.

“I wanted the [upcoming] record to be a culmination of my thoughts, feelings and views over the past year or two of my life,” Grips says. “Self doubt, foolish pride, substance abuse, self sabotage are some of the themes that are touched on in the album because it’s what I felt.”

Watch/listen above.

While details on Scattrbrain’s debut LP are still forthcoming, the band’s second single is scheduled to be released Nov 14. You can also catch the group for their live debut when they open the Stuffing XV on Nov 21.

Scattrbrain will perform at the Stuffing XV on Fri., Nov 21 at the Eastern alongside Manchester Orchestra, Microwave, and Honey Knife. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $76. All ages.

More Info
Instagram: @scattrbrain
Twitter/X: @scattrbrainband
YouTube: @ScattrbrainBand