“‘JUMPING BEAN’ is about the inner strength and belief in oneself needed so that we can stand up to anyone who tries to limit, diminish or categorize us,” says indie rock maven TRACY BONHAM about her new single. “This is written from a woman’s perspective but can be applied to anyone who feels marginalized.” Taken from her upcoming album SKY TOO WIDE which will be self-released on June 6, 2025 via A Woody Hollow, “Jumping Bean” is a reimagining of a guitar track that she released in 2000 off of her album Down Here.
This struggle against patriarchal thinking is nothing new, of course, but for Tracy, she felt it firsthand in the music business. “This was a growing awareness I had, as my world expanded from being a young woman treated as a subordinate and dealing with sexist bosses, to sitting in boardrooms and business dinners with ‘powerful’ men in the music business who thought nothing of telling me what to wear, how to pose, and how to step out of the way,” she describes. While it may have the same lyrics, it is now coming from a place of liberation rather than a feeling of helplessness… Releasing the spunky energy from the original, the 2025 version of the song trades in the vigorous abandon for a much more confident and deliberate control, displaying a healthy dose of female agency and power.
The accompanying video was filmed with the Eugene Ballet, featuring choreography from the acclaimed choreographer Suzaane Haag. “This live performance exemplifies what it is to dissent as a female artist working in a traditionally misogynist art form; classical ballet,” Tracy says. “For a big part of it, Suzaane used literal choreography from some of the oldest, most classic ballets (La Bayadère, Paquita, Swan Lake, and Giselle).
Tracy’s embrace of ballet reflects the artistic path she is currently blazing. While primarily known for her initial indie rock entrance into the mainstream, she has evolved her music by embracing the classical structure she was trained in, as well as adding in elements of jazz rhythms. Part of this transformation is due to her current band, Rene Hart on bass and Alvester Garnett on drums, both of whom are experienced and respected jazz musicians. “I had been playing ‘Jumping Bean’ solo – just guitar and vocals – with a PJ Harvey-esque bluesy vibe for many years,” she explains. “When my rhythm section joined me, they added a rhythmic element that transformed the choruses into a rock-blues anthem that is incredibly unique and powerful.”
Coupling the release of Sky Too Wide with a record release show at New York City’s Joe’s Pub on June 10th, Tracy will be joined by a good friend who just happens to be comedian, actor and musician, Fred Armisen. “Fred and I met 23 years ago when U2 came over the Manhattan Bridge on the bed of a flatbed truck to ultimately play on a stage set up in Fulton Park in DUMBO. Fred came up to me and the first thing he said was ‘you’re great,’” Tracy recounts. “It was 2002 so I had to wait until I got home to look him up on the computer… Since then Fred has always been gracious and kind and he helped me make a video for a crowdfunding campaign back in 2017… All he needed was the main idea and he took it from there. It was impossible not to laugh when filming with Fred.“
Tracy’s breakthrough debut album The Burdens of Being Upright (1996, Island Records) spawned the massive #1 alternative chart-topping single “Mother Mother.” A classically trained violinist and pianist, and twice GRAMMY™ nominated, Tracy spent the following 27 years evolving as an artist through her albums and live performances. That debut album catapulted Tracy into the spotlight with MTV fame, major radio play, and more, continuing relevancy until even recently, when “Mother Mother” was featured in Showtime’s Yellow Jackets (Season 1 Episode 2). Tracy continues to meld her 90’s songs with her outlook as a self-actualized person and artist today, and her wide breadth of work continues to resonate.
