Bad Bangs:
Embracing authenticity with the single and video premiere for punk-laced anthem, ‘Contest'.
We're thrilled to announce the premiere of Bad Bangs' latest single and video for 'Contest’. We had the chance to sit down with Shelby and Sophia to discuss the song's inception. Not only did they share insights into their creative process, but they also nominated 'Mod Con' and 'Body Type' among others legends for the 'Ride With The Witches' playlist.
Firstly, we are so stoked to be premiering your new video! Can you share a bit about your collaboration with Melbourne-It-Thing directorial duo Lincoln Healey + Evie Vlah, as well as the creative process behind this chaotic carnivalesque music video for 'Contest'?
Thank you! We were so excited to pair up with Evie and Lincoln on this one - they’re such a powerhouse duo!! Apart from sharing the track and some loose notes at the beginning of the process, they were very much at the conceptual helm of this one and formulated a very clear vision for this clip - think Blondie, meets 80’s slasher film meets carnival chíc. It was special to work with Evie and Lincoln in a directorial sense but also as musicians who have had their own experiences and interpretation of what Contest explores.
Both Evie and Lincoln are total glam icons in their own right and it felt special to be given this treatment and presented through their lens. While parts of the clip are super stylized, glam and in your face, it unfolds into a dizzying, dreamlike sequence - these contrasts explore the humour and agency within taking control of the contest and finding empowerment in this.
'Contest' delves into questioning the industry's focus on image and conformity. Can you provide insight into the production, writing, and the underlying meaning of the track? How did the theme of challenging industry norms influence the creative decisions behind the song?
Thematically Contest has come to fruition over many collective years and experiences of creating and sharing music. While the two acts of creating and sharing music have become more and more intertwined, these very separate stages can also feel somewhat contradictory. Questions of what we wear to a show, how we photograph, figuring out how to do makeup for stage lighting all seem like pointless endeavours in the larger act of making good/authentic songs, but they’ve somehow become vital criteria to share our music with the world. How are we perceived and how does that feel?
It’s a punk-laced track that questions the fabric of an industry hell bent on image and conformity. Each time we play Contest live it drives faster and faster. While the track is meant to teeter on the point of derailment it’s also assertive and in control - owning and humouring the game that we’ve inadvertently subscribed to.
Legendary Paul Maybury engineered and coproduced this track. He works out of a spacious warehouse studio that’s full of incredible vintage gear. We were able to track everything live as a band to harness the drive of Contest while also playing around with amazing old amps and pedals.
Photo: Bad Bangs by Tom Lewis, 2024
Photo: Bad Bangs by Tom Lewis, 2024
With a killer new rhythm section, what can fans expect at your live shows? Any specific elements or surprises? Also, could you share some upcoming touring dates and locations for fans eager to catch Bad Bangs in action?
Fans can expect to be taken on a musical journey through genre-defying soundscapes. A bit of classic garage rock, a dash of country twang, a splash of punk and a slice of psych rock. We've been working really hard on our live show, making it really energetic and dynamic with a few more jams and wacky sounds, but still sticking with the traditional Bad Bangs energy. We're throwing a big old single launch party for 'Contest' on the 17th of February at The Curtin Hotel (Carlton) with some killer support from Naarm underground rockers Focus Group and Muma Ganoush. Keep your eyes peeled for more touring dates once the album is announced, we may just be packing the van and cruising up the Hume for a few shows!
As we wrap up this exclusive look into Bad Bangs and their latest creation, 'Contest,' we can't help but be captivated by its punk message questioning the industry's obsession with image and conformity. In a world hell-bent on jumping into the mold, Bad Bangs stands as an outlier, packing rooms up the east coast and inspiring us all. While they may challenge the norm, their energy continues to resonate, proving that, in the end, it's authenticity that truly matters.
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