One of the many exciting homegrown bands to catch our attention this year, The Strips have burst out of Brisbane with a string of impressive pop-rock singles. After forming in 2018 from a ‘collection of reject shop rejects’, the band has worked hard to develop a brilliant and wonderfully unique sound that fuses melodic hissing and tight drums with fierce guitar tracks and some old fashion pop-rock energy.
Recently, the band have performed an impressive roster of shows, including one at the iconic Brightside in Brisbane, and have gained some mainstream favour off the back of their new single ‘Dim Your Headlights’. To celebrate the release, we thought it was time to sit down with the band and find out a little more about them.
Great to chat with you guys, thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions. Let’s start right at the beginning, how did you first get together as The Strips?
“It all began at university when I heard Abel play guitar Like Neil Young then I heard Simon bash away at the kit like Keith Moon and both of them thought I was a pretty good songwriter. So we started rehearsing relentlessly for three years then I thought we are ready to gig.”
There have been whispers that you’re helping usher in a new age of pop-rock, but how would you describe your sound?
“Melodic Hissing, sour milk guitars, non sequitur drums, hairy bass and to glue it all together, old fashion pop-rock songwriting.”
You’ve had a few singles simmer away, but it’s ‘Dim Your Headlights’ that has really taken off. Can you tell us a bit more about that track?
“’Dim Your Headlights’ is about my experience clubbing around Brisbane. as a textbook introvert those kinds of places aren't my thing but I do go out just for the chance that it inspires a new lyric or melody.”
Did you have a process for bringing the song to life? How does it all work for you and a band?
“Strum an unplugged guitar at 2 am hoping a song falls out of the sky then quickly scribbling our names on it.”
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song, is it that sense of spontaneity or something more cohesive?
“That everything fits like a puzzle and that there are no lead elements. The band is to be listened to as one.”
What influences most define your music?
“Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies, The Beatles and Motorhead.”
What’s next for the band?
“We are hoping to start touring around the country and record and EP or Album by the end of the year.”
A few last questions before you go, whathas been your greatest moment as an artist so far?
“Playing the iconic Brisbane venue The Brightside, all of us have dreamed of playing that venue and to finally play our original music there was close to a religious experience.”
Finally, is there anything you would like to say to our audience?
“Thank you for reading this article about us and I hope we piqued your interest enough to check out our music and if you’re in the Brisbane area, to check out our shows. much appreciated.”
A band on the rise, The Strips have been kicking up the dust since 2018 when they dropped their debut single, and since then, they’ve continued to impress. With a number of raucous shows to their name and an almost-constant stream of new singles emerging on their Spotify page, they’ve earmarked themselves as one of the bands to watch in 2023.
For more from the band, make sure you check out their pages below.
Connect with The Strips,
