Sydney’s Femme punk outfit, DOWNGIRL, have just released their explosive single ‘Manic’ and accompanying music video. Born out of the ashes of BOYSCLUB, DOWNGIRL have already been tearing it up since debuting earlier this year. Most recently, the band featured in Jessie333’s (The Veronicas) solo track ‘Seeing Stars’ and have been killing it at their live shows. With this new track out and with a handful of shows upcoming, we caught up with the band.

Can you tell us about the new track and what you want people to take away from it?

MANIC is everything that I’m feeling now. You know when you’ve created something and then end up living it past its creation? Mental health is a hard thing to face, especially when you are not aware of how your behaviour is effecting others. The biggest takeaway for me is that the themes in MANIC are constantly evolving and being reinterpreted. That there is no end point. We are all trying and growing to be accountable and more compassionate.

Who are some of your influences and why?

We share many influences together as a whole. I think we have a pretty diverse range from country to death metal. Personally, DH from Dead Kennedy’s and Mercedes from Kittie inspired my style completely. We share loves like Smashing Pumpkins, Black Sabbath, The Breeders, L7, Bowie to the Spice Girls.

What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?

Voice memo. Send. Email garageband file. Share screenshot of Notes lyrics.

Lockdowngirl.

Finally we got into the studio together and are now applying a more natural creative process. One of us will start with a beat or a riff and the rest will follow to our new favourite song or oblivion.

What do you think makes a great song?

When we all look at each other playing it and just smile at each other. I’ve never really ever had that with a band, except when I was 17 and drummed in a Newcastle band called Among the First. We absolutely sucked, it was just the freedom of making noise.

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

First and most guttural answer is Joan Jett. She gets the rawness. She produces the most reckoning yet dreamy tracks. If we could enter her sphere, we would be where we belong.

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?

Together as a whole, we pour coffee’s, clean houses, work in an office & home in the art industry. Lou & Skar love their footy & dog screensavers, Kristen & Alex love Bobby & Debbie their fury (and hairless) children and like a bit of a boogie now and again.

Who are some local bands we should check out?

Get a pen and paper (or just copy and paste this).

Johnny Hunter, Stain, Germ Donor, COFFIN, Brown snake, Euterpe, Grozny, Raising Ravens, Star Crazy, DIP, Velvet Trip, Good Pash, Dead Witch, Die! Die! Die!, Boudicca, Les Poetes Pop, Muscle Mary, Final Girls, Grub, Boycott, Lariska, The Shrugs, Marilyn Maria, Revenge Body, Fox Company, Battlesnake, FANGZ, Baby Shower, Daddy Issues, Bloods, Last Quokka, Trust, Powerdrill, Peni Parker, Astro Death, Charlotte and the Harlots, Dawn, Abbie May, Handsome …

Winter or summer and why?

Summer? I hardly know’er

What else do you have planned for the year?

Finishing up our first full release. Playing CHOPPED festival in Victoria.

Shows, shows and more interstate shows.

Shooting our next music video.

Interstellar domination.

Beam me up scottie (not Scomo).