Marquette’s vibrant music scene has given rise to countless creative acts, but few are as refreshingly distinct as BIMBO, the art-rock duo formed by siblings Gretchen and Dawson McKenzie. Together, they bring their unique brand of experimental rock and improvisation to the forefront with their debut EP, BIMBOLOGY. In an interview with Kurt Hauswirth, the McKenzies revealed the story behind their duo and their inventive musical journey.
BIMBO's formation was born out of necessity as much as inspiration. "It was kind of a mutual decision," Gretchen explained. "We were having a really hard time finding anyone to play with us. Normally, I play bass, and he plays drums—pretty tough to have a band with just that." Faced with this challenge, Gretchen picked up the guitar, and the duo began crafting songs together. Dawson added, "We had a lot of pent-up creative energy that we just couldn’t release until we started working as just the two of us."
The McKenzies' diverse musical experiences and love for multiple genres have led them to embrace art rock’s freedom and fluidity. "It’s a little experimental, pretty progressive rock, a little mathy at times," Gretchen described. "With just the two of us, we have very few musical rules. There are no wrong notes, so we’re very free."
Their creative spontaneity shines through their live performances, which often include moments of improvisation. "We play a lot of jazz too," Dawson noted. "I wouldn’t say we’re professionals at winging it, but we’re better than some. So, we just try whatever we want in the moment."
Yet, BIMBO’s newfound focus extends beyond improvisation. The duo has recently completed their debut EP, BIMBOLOGY, which was recorded with local producer Ryan Staples at Dead River Sound. Reflecting on their recording experience, Gretchen shared, "We may have booked the session a little early in our time as a band. We were still hashing out songs the day of, but Ryan helped us find a cohesive sound." Dawson agreed, emphasizing that Staples’ producer-like input pushed them artistically and shaped the EP’s unique character.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Gretchen and Dawson in Studio A:
BIMBOLOGY is a six-track EP that Gretchen described as "short and sweet." The lyricism leans on abstract, poetic narratives. "A lot of it’s more of a poetic sort of expression," she said. "It covers topics such as love letters, roadkill, lobotomies—just classic bimbo things." One track, "My Sofa Holds Two," is inspired by a vintage calling card with a coupling invitation—a quirky nod to the duo’s penchant for unusual subject matter.
The album’s influences range widely, including the expansive drum sounds of Canadian math-rock bands and the rhythmic complexity of acts like Nowhere. "We were trying to get really big drum sounds," Gretchen explained. Dawson elaborated, "We wanted something where the drums are super wide, super upfront, and in your face."
BIMBO is set to debut BIMBOLOGY on November 16th at Superior Culture in Marquette, sharing the stage with Time Creep from Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti and Same Eyes from Detroit. "It’s going to be all-ages, which is great," Gretchen enthused. "Both of these acts are different but super cool. Even if we weren’t playing, I’d say you should come see the show!"
The duo has also poured their creativity into one-of-a-kind merch items, including wooden train whistles and temporary tattoos. "I’ve been trying to do the train whistle idea for years," Gretchen laughed. Their playful approach extends to live audience participation, with one track, "B.I.M.B.O.," lending itself to spirited train whistle accompaniment.
BIMBO’s art-rock experiment offers listeners a journey defined by creative liberation and quirky storytelling. As certified "bimbologists," Gretchen and Dawson McKenzie continue to push boundaries, finding joy in every unpredictable turn of their musical path. BIMBOLOGY is just the beginning of their exploration into the wild, wonderful, and whimsically weird world they’ve built together.
BIMBOLOGY will be released the day of their album release show at Superior Culture, on November 16th. Find out more at bimboband.com.
The preceding interview was part of a broadcast of The Shuffle on November 9th, 2024.
