Machine Girl

Last updated

Machine Girl
MachineGirlShow.jpg
Background information
Origin Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2012–present
Labels
Members
  • Matt Stephenson
  • Sean Kelly
  • Lucy Caputi
Website machin3gir1.com

Machine Girl (sometimes stylized as machin3gir1) is an American electronic music project created in 2012 [1] by Matt Stephenson (also known as DJ Chaotic Ugly) on Long Island, New York. [2] [3] [4] In 2015, the project became a duo, with Stephenson recruiting percussionist Sean Kelly to play live drums. [5] [6] Lucy Caputi joined in 2024 as a live guitarist and official member of the band. [7]

Contents

In 2022, Machine Girl composed the original soundtrack for the video game Neon White , coming in two parts—"The Wicked Heart" and "The Burn That Cures"—in link with the scenario of the game.

Style and themes

In an interview with Revolver magazine, Stephenson defined Machine Girl as "fucked-up electronic punk" and stated that they did not like the "industrial" tag for being "very goth, and very black and white" considering the project "a lot more colorful". [8] Kerrang! listed them as one of the "bands expanding the definition of hardcore", and described the project as "a particularly punky and ferocious breed of the electronic sub-genre breakcore that could easily pass for hardcore when they rip it live". [9] Pitchfork defined their style as "relentlessly smashing together bits of punk, grindcore, rave, industrial, and more" and "unpredictable and dangerous, full of animalistic rage and uncontrollable energy". [10]

The project is named after the 2008 Japanese film The Machine Girl, [8] which they occasionally sampled on their 2014 album WLFGRL.

Other projects

Stephenson is also a member of the electronic duo Prolaps with Bonnie Baxter from Kill Alters. Originally collaborating together on the track "Vomit" from ...Because I'm Young Arrogant and Hate Everything You Stand For, they began releasing music in 2020. [11]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum details
WLFGRL
Gemini
  • Released: July 3, 2015
  • Label: Orange Milk
  • Format: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
...Because I'm Young Arrogant and Hate Everything You Stand For
  • Released: September 22, 2017
  • Label: Orange Milk
  • Format: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
The Ugly Art
  • Released: October 12, 2018
  • Label: Kitty on Fire
  • Format: Cassette, digital download, streaming
U-Void Synthesizer
  • Released: February 26, 2020
  • Label: Self-released, Orange Milk (2023 vinyl release)
  • Format: LP, cassette, digital download, streaming
MG Ultra
  • Released: October 18, 2024
  • Label: Future Classic
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X
  • Released: October 24, 2025
  • Label: Future Classic
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

TitleEP details
Electronic Gimp Music
  • Released: March 21, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
13th Hour
  • Released: August 19, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
GRLPWR EP
  • Released: November 28, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Machine Girl vs Machine Girl
  • Released: November 29, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
RePorpoised Phantasies
  • Released: July 3, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Super FREQ EP
  • Released: April 15, 2024
  • Label: FREQ
  • Format: 12" EP, digital download, streaming

Compilations

TitleAlbum details
Jet Set Radio Remixes 1
  • Released: March 6, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
WLFGRL Remixes A
  • Released: April 3, 2014
  • Label: Dred Collective
  • Format: Digital download
WLFGRL Remixes B
  • Released: April 3, 2014
  • Label: Dred Collective
  • Format: Digital download
Phantom Tracks
  • Released: February 21, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Phantasy Trax™
  • Released: April 11, 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
WLFGRL+
  • Released: December 27, 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
MG Demo Disc
  • Released: February 9, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Stretch Collection
  • Released: October 12, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
MG Ultra (Remixes)
  • Released: March 7, 2025
  • Label: Future Classic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Gravity Diva"2012Non-album singles
"Emerald Juke / Krystle (Glitch Mix)"2014
"Killing of the Bird / Lifeforce"2015
"Costume / Fuqthatlil"2016
"Minnesota / Explode"
"Bitten Twice"2017...Because I'm Young Arrogant and Hate Everything You Stand For
"Sad Claps"
"Concerning Peace (Machine Girl Remix)"
(with Special Interest)
2023Endured (Remixed)
"Until I Die"2024MG Ultra
"Motherfather"
"Psychic Attack"
"Ass2Mars (Squarepusher Remix)"2025MG Ultra (Remixes)
Ass2Mars (LSDXOXO Remix)"
"Come On Baby, Scrape My Data"PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X
"Rabbit Season"
"Dread Architect"
(with Drumcorps)

Splits and collaborative releases

TitleAlbum details
Darren Keen + Machine Girl
(with Darren Keen)
  • Released: September 30, 2014
  • Label: Them Flavors
  • Format: Digital download
Machine Girl / Five Star Hotel
(with Five Star Hotel)
  • Released: October 31, 2016
  • Label: Visual Disturbances
  • Format: Cassette, digital download, streaming
QUARANTINETAPES_vol3
(with Shade)
  • Released: June 29, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Cassete

Mix compilations

TitleAlbum details
MRK90 Mix Vol. 1
  • Released: December 16, 2017
  • Label: Self-released, Future Classic (2025 CD release)
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download

Soundtracks

TitleAlbum details
Neon White Soundtrack Part 1 "The Wicked Heart"
  • Released: June 16, 2022
  • Label: Self-released, iam8bit (2024 vinyl release)
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
Neon White Soundtrack Part 2 "The Burn That Cures"
  • Released: June 16, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Music videos

In 2013, Machine Girl began releasing self-directed videos to their YouTube channel. This began with the unfinished song "~*•°•.[g0o∂]_[∫3º¥].•°•*~", the video for which was released on December 20, 2013. [13] Their next upload was on February 7, 2014, when they uploaded a video for the song "Ginger Claps", 9 days before their debut album WLFGRL was released. [14]

On November 4, 2014, Machine Girl posted a video titled "___________DJPH11252014". [15] This video acted as an advertisement for a DJ performance at a venue titled "DJ PHANTASY CLUB", featuring sets by ABSRDST, Doss, DV-i, Ducky, Machine Girl, Ligaments, Legion, and The Magick Report. Notably, the beginning of the video contains a snippet of an early mix of the song "Loop Version", which would eventually be released on their 2018 album The Ugly Art.

On July 31, 2015, Machine Girl published two videos titled "HEAVEN MIX" [16] and "HELL MIX", [17] respectively. These two videos contained visuals by Videopunks, and included snippets of each side of their sophomore album Gemini.

The next official music video to be uploaded to the channel was for their song "Bitten Twice", released May 16, 2017. It was followed by a video for the song "Sad Claps", released on June 12, 2017. [18]

While continuing to upload visualisers for various projects (including ...Because I'm Young Arrogant and Hate Everything You Stand For (September 24, 2017), [19] MRK90 MIX VOL 1 (December 17, 2017) [20] and The Ugly Art (October 14, 2018) [21] ), the next music video to be published premiered on August 28, 2020 for the song "Fully In It", featuring a stop motion animation by Ellie Thatcher. [22]

On November 15, 2020, Machine Girl posted a video titled "GLOBAL FANDEMIC [MACHINE GIRL SET @ A2B2 NIGHT OF FIRE]", [23] a live performance as part of a 24 hour virtual music festival hosted by Andy Morin of a2b2. [24] The video consisted of Matt performing over fan-submitted visualisers, and contained almost entirely unreleased songs as well as a shortened version of their song "Athoth A Go!! Go!!" with a different bassline. The video also contained an early demo of their song "Just Because You Can", which would eventually be released on their 2024 album MG Ultra.

A visualiser for the album Guilted Hexitation by Prolaps (a project containing Matthew Stephenson of Machine Girl and Bonnie Baxter of Kill Alters) was posted to the Machine Girl channel on January 3, 2021, titled "PROLAPS 2021 GUILTED HEXITATION". [25] The video was shot by Nicos Kennedy and edited by Lana Evoli. This was followed by a visualiser for their album Ultra Cycle Pt. 1: Vernal Birth, which premiered March 21, 2021, featuring visuals by Lucid Interval. A video for their album Ultra Cycle Pt. 2: Estival Growth followed on June 22, 2021, featuring visuals by N3T4.

On August 28, 2024, Machine Girl released an official music video for their single, "Until I Die", from the album, MG Ultra. The video was directed by Bryan M. Ferguson. [26] Another official music video from the same album followed a week later, this one being for the song "Motherfather". [27] Despite bearing similarity to AI generated art, this video was confirmed to not have any AI generated assets in it, as stated by its director, John Lee. On October 4, 2024, they released a music video for the song "Psychic Attack", [28] the final track of the album MG Ultra. Two months later, on December 13, 2024, Machine Girl released another music video for "Ass2Mars", another MG Ultra song, which was directed by Sandy Loaf. [29] A video for the track "Grindhouse", another track from MG Ultra, premiered on January 1, 2025. [30] The video was directed, filmed and edited by Sydney Villacortabuer, and features scenes of a fight taking place at a supernatural party.

References

  1. "Gravity Diva | Machine Girl". February 28, 2015. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. Simpson, Paul. "Machine Girl". AllMusic . Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  3. Adame, Oscar (January 13, 2020). "Machine Girl, the future of digital hardcore". Warp. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  4. Smith, Nathan (September 14, 2020). "A Guide to the Relentless Hardcore of Machine Girl". Bandcamp . Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  5. Pettis, Josh (May 29, 2019). "Lobsterfest 2019 Q&A: Machine Girl". ACRN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  6. "Machine Girl". Discogs . Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. Needle (November 23, 2024). Machine Girl - (Live In Amityville) (Full Set) (10/29/24) (FLASHING LIGHTS WARNING) . Retrieved June 27, 2025 via YouTube.
  8. 1 2 Enis, Eli (May 11, 2020). "Machine Girl: "Alien music" duo on spitting blood, mashing genres, transcending self". Revolver. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  9. Enis, Eli (May 24, 2019). "5 bands expanding the definition of hardcore". Kerrang! . Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  10. Joyce, Colin (March 10, 2020). "Machine Girl: U-Void Synthesizer". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  11. "Prolaps - Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. https://www.handsometours.com/tours/machine-girl/
  13. Machine Girl (December 19, 2013). Machine Girl - ~*•°•.[g0o∂]_[∫3º¥].•°•*~ . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  14. Machine Girl (February 6, 2014). Machine Girl - Ginger Claps . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  15. Machine Girl (November 3, 2014). ___________DJPH11252014 . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  16. Machine Girl (July 30, 2015). HEAVEN MIX . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  17. Machine Girl (July 30, 2015). HELL MIX . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  18. Machine Girl (June 11, 2017). SAD CLAPS . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  19. Machine Girl (September 24, 2017). ...BECAUSE I'M YOUNG ARROGANT AND HATE EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  20. Machine Girl (December 16, 2017). MRK90 MIX VOL 1 . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  21. Machine Girl (October 13, 2018). The Ugly Art (ALBUM STREAM) . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  22. Machine Girl (August 27, 2020). MACHINE GIRL - FULLY IN IT . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  23. Machine Girl (November 14, 2020). GLOBAL FANDEMIC [MACHINE GIRL SET @ A2B2 NIGHT OF FIRE] . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  24. A2B2 NIGHT OF FIRE . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via www.youtube.com.
  25. Machine Girl (January 2, 2021). PROLAPS 2021 GUILTED HEXITATION . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.
  26. Machine Girl (August 27, 2024). Machine Girl - Until I Die (Official Video) . Retrieved September 3, 2024 via YouTube.
  27. Machine Girl (September 5, 2024). Machine Girl - Motherfather (Official Video) . Retrieved September 22, 2024 via YouTube.
  28. Machine Girl (October 4, 2024). Machine Girl - Psychic Attack (Official Video) . Retrieved October 9, 2024 via YouTube.
  29. Machine Girl (December 13, 2024). Machine Girl - Ass2Mars (Official Video) . Retrieved December 14, 2024 via YouTube.
  30. Machine Girl (December 31, 2024). Machine Girl - Grindhouse (Official Video) . Retrieved January 20, 2025 via YouTube.