Sydney punk-grunge band DOWNGIRL came to life during the pandemic, with the four-piece releasing two singles ('Beauty Queen', 'Manic') in 2022.
A politically charged group, their first new music of 2023 finds the quartet of Alex, Kristen, Lou and Skarlett turning their attention to politicians who have benefitted from the colonisation of Australia via '2006'."'Where The Bloody Hell Are You?' was a Tourism Australia slogan used in 2006," begins DOWNGIRL. "We are exploiting the use of this slogan to reinforce the importance of recognising what land we still stand on.
"'2006' takes aim at the politicians and people benefiting off the colonisation of Australia, including the injustices committed by the system that continues to negatively affect the lives of our Indigenous and First Nations people."
Based in Sydney's Inner West, DOWNGIRL came together through a shared love of "making loud noises and screaming".
The creative direction for the '2006' video clip was inspired by Scott Morrison's Hawaii holiday while bushfires ravaged the country.
"It is a parody of greatest proportions, a farcical comedy," Skar says, "injecting humour into the seriousness of the subject matter, which is not only representative of the 'Australian larrikin' character but a mirror being held up for all."
Who is DOWNGIRL... We are Alex, Kristen, Lou and Skarlett. We're best mates from the Inner West and love making loud noises and screaming. We created this organism nearly two years ago and are plotting for world domination. We encourage safe spaces for all and have a lot of pride in our inclusive community.
We sound like... L7, IDLES, Dead Kennedys, your mum.
Our first gig was... Newcastle Band-Aid Festival. Wild night! We love Newcastle. The crowds are always rowdy as hell.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... DOWNGIRL was decided upon after coming across the book 'Down Girl: The Logic Of Misogyny' by Kate Manne.
Manne's book describes misogyny as less of a general hatred for women by men but a public force that punishes women for deviating from traditional roles and challenging male dominance. We're deviant and feminist as hell, so it fit like a glove.
In the studio we usually... Drink and write a bunch of riffs in C or F#.
If we could tour with anyone... L7 in December. Get us on.
Social media is... Wild. Releasing music and promoting to fans over social media is such a high. TikTok we're still figuring out. We're millennials; give us a break.
My favourite app at the moment is... Jimmy Brings. He does what he says, and does it good.
To date, our most embarrassing moment was the time... Alex fell in a skip bin at the servo on the way home from Albury.
Life on the road can be... Stinky – when Alex farts in the car or stinks it up with her BO from falling in the bin. Other than that it's pretty bloody good. Skar is a great car DJ. I'm sure we'll be riding her Dodge Nitro up and down the Hume 'til it completely breaks down on us one day.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Jameson. And probably some more Jameson. Oh and paper and pens to write our set lists last minute.
The most scary scenario we've found ourselves in, was... Sleeping with a baseball bat in a tent in Albury.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Jennifer Coolidge.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Berlin. I wanna be all the weirdos and make art and music and drink beer.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Rachel Weisz, Aubrey Plaza and Cate Blanchett – but we'd skip dinner and go straight to bed.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I'm picturing a big pizza oven out the back and some Frank Sinatra playing. Everyone's shouting "eyyyy!" and drinking red wine while eating some gabagool.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? DOWNGIRL supports furries.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... fruity Lexia.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Gime. . . what's a gime?
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Helping our drummer carry her drums.
Do you have any phobias... Six strings (Lou).
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I've pitched my idea, The Real Bass Players Of Marrickville, to several networks but no takers so far.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? I don't have any friends.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Enmore Road. Oporto. Under the moonlight.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Alex & Kristen: Beavis and Butthead. Lou: Daria. Skar: Travis from 'Daria'.
DOWNGIRL support The Hard-Ons at Crowbar Sydney 1 July.
