The Eighth Note is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians. A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music.
Cool L.A based all female group Girl Friday have just released their debut album Androgynous Mary. They include as one of their members Wgtn musician Vera Ellen, who has previously released material under her own name and with the band Maple Syrup. We caught up with Vera and the rest of the band for a chat about their music.
[Band photo: Kylie Shaffer]
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
Sierra: I am very personally confused by what our music sounds like! It’s oddly difficult to figure that out when you’ve played the songs in so many forms over the years. My favorite comparison to date has gotta be Tenacious D though.
Libby: We’re Girl Friday and we like power.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
Libby: Many tracks brewing in the pot… some shitty synthy stuff…
Vera: Finding that the spaces between actually sitting down and writing the music is where the best ideas come.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
Libby: You can follow me online but you can’t follow me around!
Virginia: Bandcamp and Spotify are our main domains but we occasionally pretend we know how to social media. [Facebook, Instagram, Twitter]
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
Sierra: The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, The Other Side by Tonight Alive, and (deep cut, I know) Rubber Soul by the Beatles.
Libby: Sea Change by Beck, Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.
Virginia: Actor by St. Vincent, In Rainbows by Radiohead, and Brand New Eyes by Paramore.
Vera: Grace by Jeff Buckley, Blue by Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman.
In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
Libby: it’s like cooking a meal in a tiny kitchen. sometimes you gotta throw in tons of cayenne and other times you bump your funny bone on the kitchen counter.
When/where was the new album recorded? Were you going for a different sound/approach on this album compared to the earlier EP?
Sierra: We recorded Androgynous Mary with Norm Block at Happy Ending Studios in Echo Park, LA. We wanted the album to capture our live sound as much as possible, so we made sure to do exactly what we do onstage: play loud, mess up a lot, and take frequent snack breaks.
Are there any overall themes within the songs/album?
Vera: I think certainly though I wasn’t intentional. Themes that connected all of our lives. We shall let you dig to discover what those are.
Where/when is your next gig?
Virginia: Catch you on the moon in 2025!