Hello Mary – the New York-based indie rock band of Helena Straight, Stella Wave and Mikaela Oppenheimer – released a couple on months ago the first single of their new album ‘Emita Ox’ called “0%.” Roaring with spun-out guitars, heavyweight bass, and thundering punk drums, the track arrives as the band’s most daring statement yet, as they push their ‘90s-inspired sound into new heavy and distorted depths. It’s a full-throated evolution from the unravelling, grungy stylings they unveiled on last year’s sophomore self-titled LP, which brought praise from Rolling Stone (“one of 2023’s sharpest, noisiest debuts”) and brought them to open for the likes of American Football and Silversun Pickups.

“0% is one of our favourites to play live,” Hello Mary says. “Our inspirations in the last year have broadened, and we feel like this song reflects that.”

True to form, “0%” emerged naturally as the trio were jamming in their practice space. After becoming a crowd favourite live, it really came to life in the studio, It was the first time drummer/vocalist Wave had ever screamed on a song. Yet when she hopped in the recording booth, she was emboldened to draw out the shout vocals the band had originally planned, turning them into longer screams. As she yells in frustration, “I don’t know!” the song pushes towards a cathartic storm of blissed-out noise, before suddenly dropping into a raucous breakdown of vibraphone and triangle that gives it Hello Mary’s signature playfulness. This Is Pop? today’s song of the day is here for you.