Poperratic is the genre-defying alternative rock band of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jammes Luckett—where emotionally honest songwriting meets fearless individuality, cinematic storytelling, and unforgettable hooks.

Poperratic is the genre-defying alternative rock band helmed by award-winning songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Jammes Luckett. Built on fearless individuality, rich storytelling, and emotionally honest songwriting, Poperratic blends punk and grunge urgency, classic pop melody, jazz phrasing, and cinematic depth. For its range, depth, and distinct fingerprint, deLuckett’s music has earned comparisons to the likes of McCartney, Siouxsie, Prince, Pixies, Cobain, Pharrell, Brian Wilson, and PJ Harvey—and has been featured in cult films, on international stages, and across major networks. Expect the unexpected—and songs that stay with you.

Poperratic is the genre-defying alternative rock band led by Jammes Luckett—an award-winning songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for emotionally raw lyrics, bold arrangements, and cinematic storytelling.

With roots in punk, grunge, classic pop, surf, jazz, and soul, Poperratic emerged from Luckett’s prolific solo project ATE 13 and evolved into a multilayered musical universe that’s earned deep respect among serious music lovers and critics appreciative of everything that tends to make the band an algorithmic outlier. With a nod to her range, depth, and distinct artistic fingerprint, Jammes' work has earned comparisons to the likes of Prince, McCartney, PJ Harvey, Pixies, Cobain, Siouxsie, Pharrell, and Brian Wilson.

Alongside Luckett’s scores, Poperratic’s music has been featured in cult films like May (Lionsgate), Masters of Horror (Showtime), Roman (Anchor Bay), and the upcoming animated feature The Weird Kidz (produced by Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland). A true DIY force, Luckett has often written, produced, engineered, and performed her own material—while also writing, recording, and performing for other artists, including a set at Glastonbury during a 2022 European tour. Her work has also earned sync placements on networks like Showtime, MTV, NFL Network, and Bravo and has been covered, sampled, and remixed by other indies.

The music is emotional, genre-bending, and intellectually rich—anchored by nuance and occasional satire. The stories frequently explore resilience, personal agency, and reinvention. These are a combination of lived and observed experiences and sometimes extensions of her work as a fiction writer. With new reissues, recordings, and performances on the horizon, Poperratic continues to redefine what independent rock can sound, look, and feel like. The “erratic” isn’t a threat; it’s a promise. Of evolution, of revolution, and of a sound that refuses to play by the rules.

Poperratic is a genre-defying alternative rock band built on fearless individuality, emotionally honest songwriting, and bold musical storytelling. And all of its range, power, and sweetness comes from one woman.

As a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and award-winning composer, Luckett has forged a singular path with original sounds that, while often overlooked in the algorithm stew, has earned enduring respect from serious music lovers and critics who appreciate the versatility and distinct artistic vision of her output. Her emotionally resonant work is inspired by rock, punk, pop, jazz, surf, soul, orchestral, and electronic styles—and its range, depth, and distinct fingerprint have drawn comparisons to legends like McCartney, Prince, Cobain, Pixies, Monk, Brian Wilson, Siouxsie, PJ Harvey, and even Pharrell. One admirer even publicly called on Mark Lanegan to collaborate with Luckett—a testament to her art's substance and staying power.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Luckett's musical journey began at just eight years old. Growing up as a Gen X latchkey kid in the Midwest, she turned secondhand instruments, toy keyboards, cassette decks, a Commodore 64, and her family's eclectic record collection into a DIY laboratory for music, animation, programming, and storytelling. Surrounded by comics, tech, radio, and film, she built complex, emotionally rich creative worlds from whatever she could find. This instinctive approach—fearless, curious, deeply expressive—laid the foundation for everything that followed.

After earning top honors in high school jazz, marching, and symphonic bands, she moved to Los Angeles to attend USC and launch her creative career, staying there for over 25 years before relocating to the NYC metro area.

Poperratic began as Alien Tempo Experiment 13 (ATE 13), founded in 1994 after Luckett grew frustrated with being boxed into passive roles in other bands. ATE 13 quickly became a prolific solo project, with handmade cassette albums passed from hand to hand in the L.A. underground. One of these recordings caught the attention of AJ Lambert (Bloodslide, Looker), who selected ATE 13 for a limited-edition 7" vinyl series on Glimmerfed Records. Co-produced by Lambert and Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Hole), Live! From the Roller Derby! (1998) earned full rotation on KXLU Los Angeles and Luckett’s first sync placement.

That same year, Luckett launched her own imprint, Go Little Records, as both a creative outlet and pitch hub—eventually evolving into Art Mechanix (ARMX), a full-spectrum studio and storytelling label. She performed at iconic L.A. venues including the Whisky a Go Go, Spaceland, and The Coconut Teaszer, and appeared at the International Pop Overthrow festival.

That creative foundation would take on new form when Poperratic emerged from ATE 13. The band expanded into a wider musical universe, eventually spawning four sibling bands: Sister Transistor, Regard Neuf, Thrillharmonik, and Merkcurie. Each explores a distinct emotional or genre-based territory, but all share the same fearless creative DNA. Think of them as genre-specific refractions of a common creative light—each a different prism of the Poperratic spectrum.

Poperratic’s sound draws from the urgency of punk and grunge, the melodic pull of classic pop, jazz phrasing, and sophisticated, soulful harmonies—all woven together with cinematic storytelling and sometimes intricate, unexpected arrangements. The music thrives on contrast: heavy yet sweet, sharp yet tender, raw yet polished. Chord changes often prioritize emotion over formula. Grooves shift, modes twist, and lyrics dig deep with satire, surrealism, and metaphor.

Storytelling is core to the Poperratic experience. With a background in filmmaking and fiction writing, Luckett's lyrics often feel like short films in their own right. Critics and fans alike have praised the band's emotional complexity and range—as seen in albums like Vagus the Wandering Nerve (2006) and Garagio (2018, since reissued under Sister Transistor), the latter described by Stereo Stickman as “a series of short films...so many intricacies and moments to look out for, that a single listen is far from enough.”

Luckett’s experience as a Black woman deeply informs her artistic lens. Poperratic songs are often nuanced and satirical while exploring common themes such as resilience, personal agency, and reinvention. These have been a combination of lived and observed experiences, as well as extensions of her work as a fiction writer. Many songs give voice to multiple points of view, both human and metaphorical, navigating conflict, clarity, or defiance.

The Poperratic ethos was never about rebellion for rebellion’s sake—it was about building something real and resilient in a space that didn’t always offer access. For Luckett, the DIY mindset wasn’t a trend but a necessity. She built Poperratic to be the band she couldn’t find: fearless, emotionally truthful, and self-defined. As a result, Poperratic remains one of the most distinct and emotionally truthful projects to emerge from the independent music world.

Luckett’s music has been licensed by Showtime, MTV, Bravo, FX, and the NFL Network. She’s collaborated as a touring and session musician, including a 2022 European tour with AJ Lambert and a set at Glastonbury. Her songs have been covered, remixed, and sampled by other artists. She has worked across the full audio production pipeline—from editing and sound design to licensing and rights management. And her publishing catalog, Pied Piper Lorre Musesick (ASCAP), has select works that are administered by Sony and Universal Music Publishing.

Poperratic’s presence has also expanded into film. Luckett composed the original score and songs for the cult classic May (Lionsgate), which earned international praise and a 20th anniversary soundtrack reissue on vinyl as an official Record Store Day title. Poperratic songs have also made key contributions to Masters of Horror (Showtime), The Woods (Sony/UA/MGM), Roman (Anchor Bay), First Date (Magnet Releasing), and the upcoming animated feature The Weird Kidz (produced by Justin Roiland of Rick and Morty).

Her animated music videos and short films—including Android in Love, Invitation, and Zero Hero—have earned multiple international awards. The latter is a video for the 20th anniversary of Poperratic’s metaphorical superhero origin story about self-empowerment and difference. It premiered in 2025 and has already won awards and nominations such as Best Music Video and Audience honors while continuing its global festival run.

What’s next: Jammes Luckett is reintroducing Poperratic through reissues, never-before-heard material, fresh studio recordings, a return to the stage, and updated releases from its sister bands. This new era includes:

• Digital and physical reissues of key Poperratic and ATE 13 work
• New studio recordings and unreleased tracks
• Rollout of updated sibling band catalogs (Sister Transistor, Regard Neuf, Thrillharmonik, Merkcurie)
• A return to live performance
• Continued international recognition for "Zero Hero"

Poperratic continues to redefine what independent rock can sound, look, and feel like. It’s for the listeners who crave sonic adventure, emotional honesty, depth, and sharp songwriting that stays with you. If you’re looking for your next favorite artist—one that reinvents and surprises—now’s the perfect time to dive in.

Because Poperratic isn’t just music. It’s movement, memory, and meaning—made to last. The “erratic” isn’t a threat; it’s a promise. Of evolution. Of revolution. Of a sound that refuses to play by the rules.

Meet Jammes Luckett—the creative powerhouse behind alternative rock band Poperratic. She's a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and award-winning composer whose impact, while sometimes obscured by algorithms, is truly measured in the genuine connection and lasting respect her heartfelt art earns. 

This is why Poperratic—and Luckett’s entire body of work—is worth a deep dive: it's independent music with a singular, uncompromising voice and a lot of catchy hooks. This distinct output that honors the craft behind timeless songs, while pushing the occasional boundary, has earned her a following among those who value genuine artistry. As such, her name has been mentioned in the same breath as McCartney, Cobain, Prince, the Pixies, Monk, Siouxsie, Brian Wilson, and PJ Harvey. One admirer even publicly called on the late, great Mark Lanegan to collaborate with Luckett—a testament to the substance and staying power of her work. 

Originally from Columbus, OH, Luckett’s musical journey began at age eight. She composed, played, and recorded by ear on secondhand and toy instruments, with her expansive record collection serving as her classroom across genres from Beatles harmonies and Motown grooves to punk grit, jazz phrasing, and orchestral textures. After earning awards as a soloist and ensemble player in high school, she relocated to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California and launched her career, remaining there for over 25 years. She is currently based in the NYC metro area.

The spark behind Poperratic came from necessity and a fierce drive for artistic freedom. Despite prolific output, Jammes was often relegated to bass or sidekick roles in other bands with limited creative input. With a mountain of strong, overlooked material, she launched her own platform to showcase her songwriting.

Founded in 1994 as Alien Tempo Experiment 13 (ATE 13), this solo band evolved into Poperratic and inspired a diverse family of sibling ventures: Regard Neuf, Sister Transistor, Thrillharmonik, and Merkcurie. These projects are Poperratic refracted through different genre lenses, allowing Luckett to explore distinct ideas while remaining tethered to the same core artistic vision. In lieu of permanent bandmates, each became a vehicle to fully realize her singular output.

After releasing dozens of lo-fi cassette albums and EPs, ATE 13 had its breakthrough with the 1998 7" vinyl debut EP, Live! From the Roller Derby! Co-produced by AJ Lambert (Nancy Sinatra, Bloodslide) and Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Hole) and released via Lambert’s Glimmerfed Records, it earned full rotation on KXLU Los Angeles and secured Luckett’s first sync placement. This period also sparked the creation of ate ball zine and Go Little Records, an early DIY imprint that paved the way for her current studio and label, Art Mechanix. Jammes went on to perform at legendary venues like the Whisky a Go Go, Spaceland, and the International Pop Overthrow festival. As a session player and touring performer with another artist, she also performed a set at Glastonbury in 2022.

Poperratic spans a wide emotional and stylistic range. Its core sound features infectious melodies, the emotional urgency of punk, the color and phrasing of jazz and soul, and experimental textures from indie, orchestral, and electronic music. Driving rhythm guitar and melodic, often danceable basslines support expressive vocals and inventive arrangements. The music thrives on contrast—past and future, heavy and sweet, simple and layered—with frequent shifts in mode, groove, and key. Listeners will hear emotionally raw delivery, sweet harmonies, walking bass lines, and chord progressions built around color and tension more than tidy resolution. There’s a recurring homage to rock’s jazz, blues, and gospel roots—a legacy Jammes embraces and strives to build upon.

Storytelling remains central to her work. With a background in filmmaking, animation, and fiction writing, her lyrics employ satire, metaphor, surrealism, double entendre, and other literary devices, often described as cinematic even before her first score.

Poperratic has consistently earned the respect of true music lovers. Jammes’ music has been praised by The Los Angeles Times, Variety, and fans globally. Her soundtrack contributions have been cited in critical essays and analyses, and her songs have been covered, sampled, and remixed by other artists. Luckett has also collaborated as a songwriter and session musician. Albums like Vagus the Wandering Nerve (2006) and Garagio (2018, reissued under Sister Transistor) have received praise for their smart songwriting and emotional range; Rebecca Cullen of Stereo Stickman described Garagio as "...this collection of songs feels like a series of short films... so many intricacies and moments to look out for, that a single listen is far from enough."

Luckett’s lived and observed experiences as a Black woman naturally inform the lens through which many of her stories are told. Recurring themes explore the complexities of the human condition, including resilience, personal agency, defiance, and self-determination. There is often nuance with human and inanimate characters experiencing multiple points of view while navigating internal or external conflicts.

The path of an independent artist, particularly for one like herself, can involve systemic barriers, limited resources, and an industry that sometimes struggles with true originality. Jammes has always viewed herself and her work as a direct extension of both jazz and punk traditions—where independence, nonconformity, and a powerful DIY ethos are not trends but an organic, fundamental method to circumvent gatekeeping, assert artistic right to exist, and pursue consistent and sustainable income. This self-permission fueled her output, resulting in a body of work that, while sometimes overlooked by algorithms, has enduringly connected with a number of true music fans.

As a composer, Luckett brought her unique voice to film and television, most notably with the original score and songs for the cult classic May (Lionsgate). After originating the title character in a student short at USC, Luckett was recruited to give the feature film its defining sound. Her writing became the film’s emotional signature, later earning international praise and a 20th-anniversary reissue as an official Record Store Day selection for the May OST. Her music was also featured in Masters of Horror (Showtime), First Date (Magnet Releasing), and she wrote and produced the theme song for the upcoming animated feature The Weird Kidz (produced by Justin Roiland of Rick and Morty). She has managed the full audio production pipeline, including music editing, sound design, voiceover, licensing, supervision, and rights management.

Beyond music, Jammes has created original work across multiple disciplines, including directing, animating, and scoring award-winning music videos and shorts such as Android in Love, Invitation, and Zero Hero. The latter, a metaphorical superhero origin story about self-empowerment, was completed in May 2025 and has already earned international film festival awards, including Best Music Video and an Audience Award from the Experimental Dance and Music Film Festival. It is currently a finalist for the Jury Prize in special competition at the 22nd International MetaKansk Video Festival.

What's Next for Poperratic: Jammes is now returning Poperratic to its roots with a fresh wave of reissues, unreleased studio work, and new recordings, paired with plans to return to live performance. This includes:

• Reissues of key Poperratic and ATE 13 material across digital and physical formats.
• Fresh studio recordings of unreleased and new songs.
• The rollout of updated catalogs for Sister Transistor, Regard Neuf, Thrillharmonik, and Merkcurie.
• A return to live performance.
• Continued film festival momentum for “Zero Hero.”

Poperratic is for listeners who crave sonic adventure, emotional honesty, and catchy timeless tunes. If you’re searching for your next favorite artist—and a bold, original voice your collection didn’t know it needed—now’s an especially good time to tune in.

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