Full Bio

Michael Ivins and Jules Kean began making music together soon after falling in love in 2020. What started as a single song about how they met—originally intended to be pressed as a 45—quickly evolved into The Lolly Bombs, a psychedelic indie pop project rooted in collaboration, experimentation, and shared creative curiosity.

Working out of a small Santa Monica condo, Ivins and Kean built their early recordings using DIY vocal booths made from closets and bathrooms, layering instruments and textures to create a full, immersive sound. Drawing from Ivins’ nearly four decades with The Flaming Lips, along with his experience working alongside producer Dave Fridmann, the project blends seasoned studio knowledge with a playful, homegrown approach to songwriting and production.

At the core of The Lolly Bombs is a shared pull toward “fun melodies and curious sounds”—a creative magnetism that shapes both their process and their identity. Their music feels colorful, slightly surreal, and emotionally immediate—what they describe as “fuzzy sunshine music.”

In 2023, The Lolly Bombs released a series of singles—including Lolly Pop Gurrl, Maybe Here, Betwixt Fear and High Key, Cherry POP!, and Day Glo-Halo—introducing a sound that blends psychedelic pop, indie rock, and experimental recording into songs that feel both intimate and expansive, like small moments projected onto a widescreen.

The current live lineup features Michael Ivins on bass, Jules Kean on guitar and vocals, and Tareq Almulaifi on drums. The band made their live debut at the Sidepony Express Music Festival in Bisbee, Arizona, translating their layered studio work into a vibrant and collaborative live experience.

Now based in the high desert of Southern Arizona, The Lolly Bombs continue to write, record, and perform together, creating music that is playful, emotionally resonant, and rooted in connection—what they’ve described as “serious love explosions” meant to be shared far and wide. Their debut full-length album is forthcoming in 2026.