Girl and Girl: 2024

This  FUV Live session is also available as a podcast, "FUV Live Sessions." We're elevating WFUV's long history of live sessions and interviews via a podcast that you can find on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday.

Australian four-piece Girl and Girl, led by endearing frontman Kai James, is a ton of fun. With their debut album, Call a Doctor, these four friends are turning out some of the most upbeat, dance-oriented indie rock music around these days.

Of course their lyrical subject matter isn't always as bright and festive as their melodies. James sings about some tough subjects —  mental health struggles, runaway egos, and existential dread —  but there's a lot of humor and a cathartic, well-balanced run of emotions.

Although Girl and Girl is mostly made up of guys — "A way of expressing feminine energy onstage," explains Kai — there is one person who can claim "girl" status: drummer Melissa James, Kai's aunt, who yes, goes by "Auntie Liss," and helps keep the rhythm of the band going in the right direction, musically and spiritually. Longtime friends Jayden Williams, on guitar, and bassist Fraser Bell round out the sound and family feel of this band.

It was an absolute pleasure to host them in Studio A as they talked about Call a Doctor and their long road to this marvelous Sub Pop debut, from jamming in a garage in Kai's old home to dealing with success — and stress.

[Recorded: 5/1/24; Engineered by Jim O'Hara with Erin Merriman, Zack Tomassi and Nadia Garriga; produced by Meghan Offtermatt; videographers: Adithi Vimalanathan, Therese Burgo, Bella Lipayon, Alena Godas, and Lilja Cormack.]