This past fall, Fibbing released their debut album Paper Mache. Fibbing is a Baltimore-based piano rock band closely connected with Goucher. Emma Chase ’26, has remained the consistent member of Fibbing since its conception, with many other Goucher students fluctuating in and out throughout the band’s life. I spoke with Emma about the band, the album, and music at Goucher.
Currently, the band plays and records as a three-piece of Emma Chase (piano, vocals, songwriting), Miles Devlin (bass), and Brendan Crawford (drums). However, if you’ve been lucky enough to see Fibbing at Goucher’s Independent Music Club Shows, you may notice a few other musicians supporting the group. At their album release show, Fibbing became a nonet. Additions included a guitarist, supporting vocals, two trumpets, a banjo, and the bongos.
Photo by Hailey Coulbourne ‘29
Sam Rose ’26, played guitar and sang backing vocals. Sam shared that “it’s been so awesome getting work with Emma and all the other talented musicians for the album debut show. I’ve been going to IMC [Independent Music Club] shows all semester, and it’s extremely satisfying to see it all come together in this way. Emma and I play together in Goucher’s jazz ensemble and what is special is being able to see multiple sides to her as a musician.” This improvisational, collaborative, robust style is present on Paper Mache.
The album is a well-rounded debut that showcases jazz, noise, and rock influences. Emma mentioned Elliott Smith, Quasi, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, and Steely Dan as major artistic inspirations. As for Emma’s songwriting, each song holds a different, often morose narrative or image. For instance, “Go and cut myself off/From everybody I know/ I become a hornet that overgrows” (Strangled by Hair) or “In elevators in other countries/why am I thinking about what I said?” (Elevators). As Emma said during our conversation “My songs kind of tend towards the sad and angry stuff.” Despite a wide array of influences, the album remains cohesive with Chase’s songwriting. “In Color” strays from the often melancholy album as a sweet, platonic ballad. “I saw sunlight softly spread through strands of hair/Stretched across the quilt, I/Wanna read over your shoulder.” “In Color” is so strong not only for its songwriting, but for its novelty on the album.
The record begins with a sample of the Athenaeum vending machines on “Elevators,” continues with Chase’s embodied playing on tracks like “Leave Your Body”, balances out on “In Color,” reaches the penultimate opus “Watch The Telescope Melt” and ends with the distorted lullaby of “Fast-Moving People.” “Watch The Telescope Melt” comes in at an impressive 10:33 run time that goes by rather quickly. Despite its length it is enthralling. It’s dramatic, noisy, sulking, shouting, restrained, and big. Emma told me it was the only song that had its place on the album before it was recorded. “This is going to be the closer. This is a big, crazy one.” She is right. “Watch the Telescope Melt” coalesces the narrative writing, full band, noisy composition, and array of influences the rest of the album set up.
Emma began Fibbing in high school, bringing the project to Goucher’s music department and Independent Music Club (IMC). She told me studying in the music department has been “a great experience. The [music] minors and the teachers are really invested and they’re all just really kind and supportive. It’s always been a really stress free environment, which is, you know, nice because school is stressful.”
While the arts at Goucher may feel at risk, the music department and music scene on campus is full of devoted musicians. Goucher’s acapella group, the Gophertones, recently debuted the revived group. The Goucher Radio has made a major comeback with Rowdy Radio and hopes to go live in Spring 2026. With the imminent opening of the Gopher Hole, IMC plans to host even more shows with off campus bands and open mics. Attending music department events, on campus and off campus shows is an easy and fun way to support the arts.
Fibbing has a few shows lined up for the year, which you can keep up with by following their Instagram. In the future, Emma wants to keep making albums. We spoke about the inspiration she draws from film, and the loose possibility of a film score cover EP. “I like a lot of Spaghetti Western themes. And now that we have a mini horn section…”
You can listen to the full interview with Emma in full in the December 1st episode of Rowdy Radio. Stream Paper Mache, out everywhere!
Photos by Hailey Coulbourne ‘29
By Quinn Bolster ‘28
