Proving to be the new hotbed of musical talent coming out of the West Coast, Kitten Robot has signed celebrated punk band HAYLEY AND THE CRUSHERS to the label. Currently recording music remotely and in-person with producer Paul Roessler (T.S.O.L., Josie Cotton, Richie Ramone), the band are planning their follow-up to their third full-length, 2020’s Vintage Millennial and their recently released independent single “Church of Flag” (December 2020) which Punknews called “an extremely fun track… that praises old school guys who have stayed true to punk rock throughout all the trends.”
“You know how after a really good party, you have to scrape up all the stuff at the bottom of the pool? That’s us: Poolside glitter trash,” laughs vocalist/guitarist Hayley Crusher Cain.
Adding a logistical wrench to the standard recording process, COVID-19 restrictions have caused the band to record their music in different locations and not all together at the famed Kitten Robot Studios like was hoped. “Due to the pandemic, some of the recording for the upcoming Hayley and the Crushers songs have been remote,” explains Roessler, referring to the drums and bass being recorded elsewhere while overdubs by Cain and husband Dr. Cain, ESQ will be done in the studio. “They’ve sent me the tracks they recorded. They sound so good, it’s almost like they’re showing off. This is going to be easy.”
Owned and curated by infamous New Wave icon Josie Cotton, Kitten Robot Records welcomed Hayley and the Crushers to the label family which includes critically-acclaimed post-punk artist CrowJane, Darkwave electronic duo Dark Mark and Skeleton Joe (featuring Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan and The Icarus Line’s Joe Cardamone), psychedelic shoegaze legends Tombstones In Their Eyes and, of course, Josie Cotton herself who has been reissuing her back catalogue and releasing new singles over the last two years.
“Hayley and the Crushers is the naked embodiment of power pop punk which I’ve always loved,” says Cotton excitedly. “Hayley is a multi-talented force of nature with too much style for her own good, and naturally, we hit it off immediately. This is a hard-working band who knows who they are and where they need to go. And we’re excited to have them on Kitten Robot. Plus she’s the only other person I ever met besides myself who had written a song about Angelyne. That cemented our bond for all time.”
Rooted in San Luis Obispo, CA, Hayley and the Crushers have been offering up a tsunami of bold, bad girl fun over the last couple of years. Adding to their “Crusherverse” which includes their recently released EPs “Fun Sized” (2021, Rum Bar Records), “Jacaranda” (2020, Surfin Ki/Reta Records) and the full-length Vintage Millennial (2020, Eccentric Pop Records), their first single on Kitten Robot will be announced shortly.
“When it comes to playing up this dichotomy of sunshine and chaos, we couldn’t think of a better partner in crime than legendary LA punk Paul Roessler,” concludes Cain. “Working with such a dynamic producer, under the blessing of such an immense talent as Thee Underground Queen of 80s Pop, Josie Cotton… there is no other way to explain it…It’s a California fever dream!”
Hayley and the Crushers are Hayley Crusher Cain (vocals, guitar), Dr. Cain, ESQ (bass), and Action Ben Cabreana (drums). Their first release will arrive soon via Kitten Robot Records.
