Michael Ivins and Jules Kean began playing music together soon after they fell in love in 2021. They wrote a song about how they met and Jules wanted to turn it into a 45 they could spin on their record player. Michael had bigger ideas. With Michael’s background of playing with the Flaming Lips for 38 years and assistant engineering to Dave Fridmann, he began to share with Jules what he had learned about music in this lifetime. In 2021, Ivins and Kean began recording in the 2nd bedroom of their small condo in Santa Monica, CA (including blanketed closets and bathrooms for DIY vocal booths). To create a fuller sound, they each played multiple instruments and added fun effects and distortion with the help of Pro Tools and Ivins’s expertise.
Ivins and Kean released 6 singles in 2023 as “The Lolly Bombs” which can be described as “edgy dream pop rock with a twang” which you can find on most streaming services including Bandcamp and Deezer with an upcoming debut album to be released in 2024. Jules writes a blog about her unexpected musical journey on their website and dreams up fun melodies while Michael hones in on musical arrangements so they can share their love of life as the songwriting team of Ivins/Kean. The Lolly Bombs sound encompasses a wide range of musical influence blended and refracted through their own unique vision to make movies through sound- a lolly pop for your soul.
Michael and Jules were joined by David Jablonski (Marmoset) guitars/vocals and Nathan Roberts (The Flaming Lips 1988-91) drums to inaugurate the formation of the current line up of the The Lolly Bombs. In 2023, The Lolly Bombs were honored to play their first live shows at The Sidepony Express Music Festival in Bisbee, Arizona. Even though the band members are based in multiple states across America (California, Oklahoma, and Indiana), nothing will stop The Lolly Bombs from sharing their “fuzzy sunshine music” and their mission of uniting the world in peace and love.
Julia Kean
Julia was raised by a musical and artistic family. She was born from a rock n roll mother and an “old school” bluegrass lovin, saxaphone playin iron worker. Jules sings and dances her way through life. From piano lessons to teaching herself guitar with a Mel Bay book, hippy dancing at drum circles, singing in a Schola church group with her grandmother and family sing-a-longs are a past time fave! Julia moved to LA chasin dreams! Her BIG dream came true when she met and fell in love with Michael, the love of her life. Together, they form The Lolly Bombs!
Michael Ivins
Michael is the former bass player and a founding member of The Flaming Lips (1983-2021). Soon after his departure, he began a new musical adventure with his partner Julia.
trippy pop
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LOLLY Bombed: getting hit by an unexpected love explosion in your heart
💛
Edgy dream pop rock with a twang
❤️
Dream it
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A lollipop for your soul
🍭
Lolly Pop
🕶️
trippy pop 🧡 LOLLY Bombed: getting hit by an unexpected love explosion in your heart 💛 Edgy dream pop rock with a twang ❤️ Dream it 🐬 A lollipop for your soul 🍭 Lolly Pop 🕶️
“The Lolly Bombsのキャッチーで人懐っこくて愛に溢れた音作りがとても好きです。
思わず口ずさみたくなる素晴らしいメロディの”Betwixt Fear And High Key”や、50’s～60’sR&Bの匂いと一緒にキラキラした日差しが窓から入り込んで来るような”Cherry POP!”、ファルセットのリフレインとガールズバンドを思わせるパンキッシュなボーカルがとってもクールな”Lolly Pop Gurrl”、そして、ドリーミーポップなアレンジを施した”Maybe Here”は感動的な名曲です。”
“The former bassist for The Flaming Lips makes fuzzy, sunshine music with his wife.”
Photo Credit:Brett Ridler
Photo Credit:Brett Ridler
“I love the Lolly Bombs’ catchy, friendly, and loving sound.
The beautiful melody of “Betwixt Fear And High Key” makes me want to sing along.
”Cherry POP!” feels like sparkling sunlight coming in through the window, with the tastes like 50’s and 60’s R&B.
”Lolly Pop Gurrl” is really cool with its falsetto refrain also punkish vocals reminds me of a girl’s band, and “Maybe Here” with a dressed up dreamy pop arrangement is definitely a masterpiece.”
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