In early 2018, Melbourne act Fan Girl had finished touring with Catfish & The Bottlemen and Birds of Tokyo, had signed a record deal and were tipped as one of the most exciting new acts in Australian rock. Tragically, as they were celebrating the release of their debut album, founding member Jack Wood passed away, and understandably, the band went into an indefinite hiatus, taking some well earned time to regroup. Just recently, they’ve returned to music making in wonderful display with two impeccable new singles, alongside “a newfound appreciation of each other, life and obnoxious guitar-music”, as Fan Girl themselves put it.

On ‘Yellow, Blue & Grey’, their latest release, Fan Girl have proven that they remain as gritty and determined as ever, in the face of the turbulence of the last few years. Opening with a Santana-meets-Mars Volta groove, the band pave the way for vocalist Noah Harris to utilise his impressive vocal range and shift the dynamic of the song to something sinister and gripping. His vocals begin to soar through the track’s explosive, fuzz drenched chorus, his screaming turning to hushed murmurs that mirror the rhodes-driven verse. What is striking about ‘Yellow, Blue & Grey’ is how quickly the track swirls from mood to mood, at once both erratic and very, very fun. 

Fan Girl’s band bio reads: “…we love and miss you Jack, always tell your friends how much you love them.” It’s clear that they’ve returned in 2019 with a burning ambition to make really great rock music that their friends would love listening to - that’s a beautiful thing. We caught up with the band to find out what’s been inspiring their new music.


‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent Van Gogh

A lot of the narrative and imagery runs parallel with both tyhe turbulent friendship of Vincent Van Gogh & Paul Gaugin, and Van Gogh’s ’The Starry Night’. Much like how Van Gogh went about creating ‘The Starry Night’, the reality is exaggerated through the filter of experience and emotion.


Ovens St Bakery, Brunswick

Our studio is in Brunswick, and we are totally spoilt for choice food-wise, but we made more than a couple trips to Oven St Bakery while working on YBG. Try the paczki!


Merpire & Hannah Blackburn

We are super lucky to have really talented and really generous friends, and Rhiannon (Merpire) and Hannah not only brought some beautiful vocals to the table (and some Tyrells Salt & Vinegar Chips - sponsor us??), but they really helped us and inspired us to get the song done. Please don’t tell them, but we were having a really rough day in the studio, trying to finish the song in time, and they really lifted our spirits and reminded us to have fun and enjoy the process.


Sleep

We didn’t have time for any, and we really wanted some. It was definitely the light at the end of the tunnel. The cheese at the end of the maze. The denouement at the end of any mid-2000s rom-com.


Milton Nascimento - Clube Da Esquina

We have been listening to a tonne of 70’s Brazillian music over the last few years. This is just one of MANY amazing records that has been on constant rotation. Amazing percussion and rhythm work, timeless melodies and vocal lines. Totally obsessed.


Leonard Cohen

The perspective of the lyrics shifts pretty dramatically throughout the song - perhaps a touch jarring stylistically, but heavily influenced by Leonard Cohen. If this song was Google Maps, the first verse would be Satellite View, and the second verse would be Street View.


Jack

Jack co-wrote a lot of this song and was obsessed with the riff from day one – so it feels a bit weird to say he ‘influenced’ it. His way of thinking obviously still heavily influences our writing, and finishing this song and releasing it felt really important to us. WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT.