Queensland garage-rock four-piece Girl and Girl have released their new single “It’s Dead”, accompanied by an action-heavy music video and a second track, “Hell”.
Released through Virgin Music Australia and Sub Pop, “It’s Dead” finds frontman Kai James addressing one of the band’s recurring subjects more directly than before.
“We’re always hinting at death in our music, talking about it in such roundabout ways, so I thought it was about time I just came out and said it,” James said.
The accompanying video was directed by Alexandros Kalas and follows the song with a gore-soaked, effects-heavy brawl.
“It’s Dead” was recorded with producer Jasper, from Bones and Jones, at his converted meat-fridge studio in Ocean Grove.
The band spent the weekend immersed in the recording process, with bass player Fraser and guitarist Seb sleeping in tents while James slept on the studio floor.
Between takes, the musicians swam in the sea and estuary, endured a summer storm and watched Seb complete an entire 1000-piece puzzle.
Pulling at the thread
James said the song began as something entirely different before repeated rewrites led him towards its final subject.
“It was originally a very different song, about something totally different, maybe even something joyful,” he said.
“But you can’t force these things and it just wasn’t working.
“I’d rewritten and restructured and it just didn’t sit right, but once I began to pull at the thread of death and destruction, it all just poured out.”
James said songwriting could feel similar to dreaming, with ideas emerging before he had fully processed them.
“Sometimes you’re really stickin’ it to ’em, sometimes it’s not much more than the sum of its parts, or sometimes you’re just exploring an idea that you couldn’t process in any other physical or emotional way,” he said.
“It’s Dead” and “Hell” follow the band’s 2024 debut album, “Call A Doctor”, which was released through Sub Pop.
The album was nominated for The Triffid’s Queensland Album of the Year award and received international support from NME, Rolling Stone, BBC 6 Music and KEXP.
Girl and Girl have since toured Europe and North America, appeared at SXSW and played Laneway Festival dates in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
East Coast tour
The band will bring the new songs to venues across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria throughout July and August.
The tour includes several local appearances on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, including two Junk Bar shows on July 25.
July 17 — Inner Relm Party, Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
July 18 — Beatnicks Records, Gold Coast, in-store
July 25 — Junk Bar, Brisbane, all ages
July 25 — Junk Bar, Brisbane, 18+
July 31 — Northies, Cronulla
August 1 — The Curtain, Melbourne
August 7 — Byron Arts Factory, Byron Bay
August 8 — Super Secret Block Party, Gold Coast
“It’s Dead” and “Hell” are out now.
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