LIGHT LEAK COLLECTIVE
Hippo Campus Navigates Young Adulthood in LP3
BY DELANEY HARDEKOPF
Almost four years since the release of their sophomore album, Bambi, indie gem Hippo Campus is back with the release of their third record, LP3. Exploring the meandering struggles of young adulthood, long distance relationships, and the pressures of fame, the band has entered a new era of beautifully evolved self-reflection.
LP3 is a perfect example of how Hippo Campus knows how to keep it interesting. With the incredibly self-defining title, this album lets everyone know that the band means business. After a tumultuous few years of struggles within the music industry during the Pandemic, the band works through these periods of self-doubt with brilliant lyricism. Luppen explained this mental low point as a major struggle while creating new music, having remarked “is music even worthwhile at this point?”
For those who have followed Hippo Campus from their earliest works to now, it’s undeniable that their spark from the early days is still alive. Even with the incredibly diverse stylistic choices of LP3, there is a bit of wistful nostalgia attached to each song that makes Hippo Campus so eternal.
The band manages to approach these turbulent life struggles with a tender ease. In Bang Bang, Luppen deals with a strained long-distance relationship defined by physical attraction and the difficult but necessary decision to end it. The layered tenderness of Semi Pro makes it a stand-out track of the record, following the existential doubts and self-reflections of young adulthood that crescendos into a cinematic revelation of optimism. The song encompasses a similar layer of existentialism that they touch on in Suicide Saturday, an earlier track from 2015 about “[regaining] composure with being who you are and maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself.”
Photo by Sanna Apolskis
Within the time between album releases, the band had explored more experimental ventures – both solo and together. Luppen released a full-length album in 2020 under his solo act Lupin, showcasing an impressive stylistic exploration, as well as joining forces with producer Caleb Hinz and Hippo Campus vocalist/guitarist Nathan Stocker in their side project Baby Boys. With the release of Baby Boys’ album Threesome in 2021, you can clearly follow their transition into a more experimental, invigorating sound.
The refreshing nature of LP3 is a true reflection of Hippo Campus’ matured yet elevated space within the indie world. In what seems like their artistic peak, it’s evident that Hippo Campus is constantly evolving without losing that special spark that makes their music so timeless.
Listen to LP3 here.