“Matching the helter-skelter intricacy of American Football’s emo-rooted songwriting to the glitz of The 1975, the band’s pop appeal is rooted in something cerebral. Lyrically, Strawberry Blonde wear their hearts on their sleeve, and it leads to something direct, a song that packs an emotional punch.”
-Clash Magazine
Strawberry Blonde formed in 2015 at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. The foundational music education of Martine Mauro-Wade (drums/percussion), Sean Power (bass), Carey Ozmun (vocals/trumpet/keys), Sam Barna (guitar), and Liam Connors (vocals/guitar) set the scene for the band’s genre-bending sound. A combination of pulsating R&B-informed rhythms, dreamy guitars, intricate horn arrangements, and powerfully introspective pop vocals drew comparisons to the likes of Foxing and Bon Iver.
The track “Another Dream” off Strawberry Blonde’s debut 2016 EP Better Still was included in the film All Those Friendly People alongside the likes of Basement and Joyce Manor. In 2019, they released their sophomore EP Calling. Strawberry Blonde premiered a pair of double singles—"Stay / SPF 3000" and "Always / Please (Somebody Hold Me)"—to kick off a long-awaited return to the scene. An EP titled Somebody Hold Me saw release in 2023, followed by the departure of original bassist Sean Power.
The band released a new single, "Enemy," which began with a lo-fi demo recorded by singer Liam Connors in 2023. The band reconvened in the summer of 2024 and recorded the majority of their forthcoming debut album in one week at Hilda Music Co. with co-producer and mixing engineer Joe Rom. The album was mastered by Billy Mannino at Two Worlds Recording Studio. The record would also be the last to feature co-founding member Sam Barna. "Enemy" arrived on October 31, 2025, along with an accompanying video by Sixth Cents.
The band's new album, No Past to Live In, is out October 16 via Lonely Ghost Records and We're Trying Records. With this release, Strawberry Blonde leans further into experimentation while recentering the deft songwriting and full arrangements characteristic of the group. Singles like "Human Condition" and the most recent, "Drown 2," showcase diverse shifts from confessional emo to dreamy, shoegaze-inspired tracks and indie pop hits.
