On their new album Goddamnvanity, Machinekit built these ten tracks around a recurring dream of a woman’s voice chanting, “Come home, Honeycomb,” fueling themes of self-confrontation and the precarious line between self-love and narcissism. Each track aims to be a brutal force, exploring personal vanity by staring straight into the eyes of fear. The resulting confrontation promises empowerment and growth, yet it can mutate into destructive ego.
Frontman and producer John Rojas recorded Goddamnvanity at his own MachineHouse Audio, blending a pop-structure format with “weirdo” electronic components, noisy instrumentation, heavy arches, and eerie lows.
He calls it an “accessible, yet cinematic record,” a statement reinforced by guest vocalist MC de Martino, who introduces the album in the first track, “She’s Comin.” According to the band, Goddamnvanity is “for the loud listeners that like abrasively overbearing music that destroys speakers.”
Machinekit channeled two years of industry and personal turmoil into these songs, using each “shitty moment” as a motivator to push the sound in newer, healthier directions. Pain and banality guided them toward a self-gratifying mission they summarize in a single word: vanity.
View this post on Instagram
Rojas, known for his work in La Bella, Brainfreeze, and Badmouth, founded Machinekit in 2018. When drummer Ryan Janke joined in 2019, he helped shape the second LP, I Am Jack’s Lonely Heart Club Band (2022).
Another lineup shuffle followed, and the band eventually toured with Shut Eye—guitarist Alexander Gillen and bassist Jeremey Trujeque played in that project, and after the tour, they stuck around. Multi-instrumentalist Aj Fructuoso joined more recently, forming a five-piece with a new dynamic, style, and chaos.
View this post on Instagram
The album artwork is designed by Wiremark Studio, and photography is by Katie Viola.
Goddamnvanity marks another shift in Machinekit’s identity—raw, aggressive, and unflinching in its approach. They still identify as L.A. techno-punks, but they are also, as they put it, “a different energy, a different style, and a different animal.”
MACHINEKIT is set to hit the stage at the iconic Che Café on January 31st, joined by Lust, Sincerely Yours, and Winnoa CW for a night of raw performances. The event goes beyond music, as Winnoa CW will host a donation bin to collect essentials like non-perishable food, PPE, water, and clothes for those impacted by the devastating LA fires. It’s a chance to come together, support the community, and soak in some incredible live energy. Don’t miss it!
View this post on Instagram