The Bobby Lees return this June with ‘New Self‘, the New York trio’s latest full-length release and first album for Epitaph Records. Released June 12, the record arrives after a period of uncertainty for the band and documents a renewed commitment to songwriting and performance.
Produced by Dave Sardy and Alex Pasco in Los Angeles, New Self expands the band’s sonic palette while preserving the garage-punk foundation that has defined their work. The album also includes an interpretation of PJ Harvey’s “50 Ft,” further illustrating the influences that continue to shape the group’s evolving sound.
With New Self, The Bobby Lees document both endurance and reinvention. Rather than presenting a dramatic departure, the album captures a band reclaiming its footing and continuing forward on its own terms.
Comprised of vocalist and guitarist Sam Quartin, drummer Macky Bowman, and bassist Kendall Wind, The Bobby Lees have established themselves through relentless touring and a live presence rooted in punk rock’s directness and urgency. Their recordings have consistently balanced abrasion and melody, often pairing confrontational energy with moments of reflection.
The circumstances surrounding New Self differ from previous releases. Following years of near-constant activity, financial pressures and the demands of independent touring contributed to a hiatus in 2023. That period was later explored in the premiere episode of Jason Momoa’s HBO series On The Roam, offering insight into the realities faced by working musicians operating outside the major commercial framework.
The return to writing ultimately became the catalyst for the album. New Self addresses themes of addiction, exhaustion, self-examination, and personal growth without lingering solely on hardship. Instead, the songs trace the process of moving through periods of instability and emerging with a clearer sense of purpose.
Ahead of the album’s release, the band introduced listeners to “Red Hot,” the album’s closing track. Built around hypnotic bass lines and Sam Quartin’s conversational lyrical style, the song examines longing and destructive impulses while retaining the wit that has long been part of The Bobby Lees’ identity.
Since their formation, The Bobby Lees have earned admiration from artists including Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, Henry Rollins, and Jack Black. Those endorsements reflect a consistency that remains evident throughout New Self: a commitment to their own artistic instincts rather than prevailing trends.
