Biography
Major Murphy crafts a relaxed strain of indie rock abundant in vocal harmonies, colored by psychedelic leanings and an affection for AM pop. Their opening full-length, No. 1, appeared in 2018; Access followed in 2021 and absorbed stronger cues from guitar-forward classic rock. Fallout, issued in 2024, assembled a comparable patchwork that incorporated vintage folk-rock and power pop.
The group formed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2015 around the songwriting of singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Bullard, with Jacki Warren covering synth, bass, and vocals and Brian Voortman on drums. Winspear released their home-recorded debut EP, Future Release, later that year, after which the trio began consistent live work and early tours. The label issued the next EP, On & Off Again, in July 2017. That November the band introduced a brighter tone through “Mary,” the opening track of their first album. Captured largely live with producer and mixer Mike Bridavsky, No. 1 reached stores via Winspear in March 2018.
Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield endorsed the second album, Access, by writing its liner notes. Expanded to a quartet with the addition of Chad Houseman on guitar, keys, and percussion, the band tracked the record at Bridavsky’s studio in Bloomington, Indiana, from late 2018 into early 2020; it appeared in April 2021. Jacob Bullard, Jacki Warren—now Warren-Bullard—and Chad Houseman returned to Russian Recording in Bloomington in mid-2023 to cut the next album. Fallout, released by Winspear in July 2024, drew on familiar 1970s markers including soft rock, more assertive classic rock, and psychedelic and power pop.
The group formed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2015 around the songwriting of singer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Bullard, with Jacki Warren covering synth, bass, and vocals and Brian Voortman on drums. Winspear released their home-recorded debut EP, Future Release, later that year, after which the trio began consistent live work and early tours. The label issued the next EP, On & Off Again, in July 2017. That November the band introduced a brighter tone through “Mary,” the opening track of their first album. Captured largely live with producer and mixer Mike Bridavsky, No. 1 reached stores via Winspear in March 2018.
Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield endorsed the second album, Access, by writing its liner notes. Expanded to a quartet with the addition of Chad Houseman on guitar, keys, and percussion, the band tracked the record at Bridavsky’s studio in Bloomington, Indiana, from late 2018 into early 2020; it appeared in April 2021. Jacob Bullard, Jacki Warren—now Warren-Bullard—and Chad Houseman returned to Russian Recording in Bloomington in mid-2023 to cut the next album. Fallout, released by Winspear in July 2024, drew on familiar 1970s markers including soft rock, more assertive classic rock, and psychedelic and power pop.
Albums
Fallout
2024
Access Point
2022
Access
2021
Lafayette EP
2019
No. 1
2018
On & Off Again
2017
Future Release
2015
Singles
