LOOSE TOOTH RETURN WITH NEW AGE
Melbourne/Naarm based duo Loose Tooth released their latest record New Age via the wonderful Blossom Rot Records, an album full of sunflowery swaying songs. To me New Age carries this energy of a hopeful search for identity, that you’ll always be able to find your feet. With its upbeat and inspiring sonic sound that dives deep into the themes of motherhood, politics and discovering identity. I got the chance to chat with Nellie about the release of the album and all the behind the scenes work that goes into being in a female led band whilst Nellie is pregnant and Etta who just gave birth to her second child. It was such an inspiring chat and really shows how incredible women are! You can catch Loose Tooth live at their album launch on the 22nd of August at the Brunswick Ballroom or for a little intimate warm up gig this Saturday at Merri Creek Tavern!
WANDERER: It's been a little bit between big releases for Loose Tooth, what has been the motivation for you guys to come back together and release some new things?
NELLIE: Just before COVID, we actually had just put out a split with Chastity Belt who are a band from Seattle in America. We were about to go on tour with them, and I was about to move to LA–I had a house there and bags packed. I quit my job and the plan was to do this big US tour and maybe do a record over there or something. Then literally like three days later, COVID happened.
Geez!
I know. It was just such a spin out, because everything changed and interestingly enough, we were on a roll with the band stuff. I think the biggest thing about us has always been we only do it if it's fun or if we're feeling it. So we were in the zone and we just put out the record and we were going to do this tour and we'd just been to Europe, so we were in a really good flow. But then I think COVID obviously completely interrupted that flow and also just really dramatically changed our lives. We both went back to study; I did a paramedics degree and Etta is still doing a naturopathy degree, and she had two kids. We both got puppies and we both bought a house.
Oh, you became real life adults.
I know. Our whole lives changed and we took a huge break from music as well. Obviously we couldn't really do music, but I just think if COVID hadn't struck, maybe we would be on a better roll [musically] and things would've happened sooner. Etta and I have been playing together since we were 14 in bands, we're 37 now, and it was just like, fuck we need a break. So we took a few years off, and then it just felt like it was time [to come back]. We both missed it in a weird way. It's funny, we missed writing and making a record, and that used to be my least favourite part–I used to love touring. We missed spending time together intimately, it's just a different kind of time where there's not this planned activity where you’re going to lunch or something, you're writing songs, and creating.
I think everything became pretty non-creative in our lives and we just missed it. So we were like, okay, let's do it. During COVID we were streamed on this thing and got all this money for it, which was amazing. So with that we got to just take our time and make this record with no pressure. We recorded a whole record, scrapped it, and rewrote a whole new one–there's just so many factors on why it took so long.
When did you write New Age?
We've been recording it for over four years. I'd say the songs that are about to come out now are around two years old from when they were written. We had all these leftover songs from when we were playing more regularly, but the vibe was just different. We changed up our writing and our old bassist Luke is no longer in the band. We wanted to do something where Etta and I alone had written all the songs and played all the music.
That's exciting. And how does it feel being this close to release it after working on it for so long?
So weird. We’ve taken so long off and [now] coming back, the music scenes changed. Like social media–it was always present when we were putting out the last record, but I feel like it's definitely more pressure to do more posts, so it's really hard to be pulled back into that. I think that it's exciting. It's nerve wracking. It's a lot of work. It's really fun. It's all these different things, that it's always been when you're putting your music out.
We were talking the other day and Etta was like, do you think it's getting enough air time? And I'm just like, I actually just don't care. Like, you know, if it goes well, that's so great. And if it doesn't, like, we're still really proud of the record. I think our intention has changed with it all.
I know you are just about to release a new album, but is there stuff that you're already playing around with and working on already? Because you've got this whole, not new project, but like a new routine with what you're doing at the moment.
What we're doing at the moment is so fucked up. Etta just had a baby–I don't know if you saw our film clip for New Passion.
I did. I was gonna ask about that!
That literally was seven weeks ago. So we had just put a band together because we put lots and lots of different music and instruments on the new record. And because we've relaunched as a two piece, we were like, okay great, we'll put a band together to play the shows. So at the moment we're essentially teaching an entire new band, which is actually such a heavy process. So what's happening is I'm playing with this new band and Etta can't, she's [at home] breastfeeding, and can't come and sing, so we actually haven't played [as a band]. But we've got a show in four weeks.
Wow. It's incredible.
It's really heavy. It's so much.
Congrats for just going for it regardless. It's insane.
It's so insane. I'm pregnant too, so it's crazy. I think at the moment, we're so super focused on this band coming together, it’s been exciting. It's something different. I guess then the next chapter will be like, playing shows together that's gonna be cool too. So it's really exciting.
It's all happening. So your new album New Age is being released, and it captures growth and change for you both. How do you feel the album encapsulates these feelings sonically?
The record sounds very different to songs we've written before. I guess the way we've always written records being really mindful that we have to play these live. Previously Luke, the bass player, wrote a lot of songs and he was very much a part of the writing process. His bass playing was very unique as well, it's almost like his baselines were guitar riffs and that influenced how we wrote.The first record we were doing a sort of distorted spacey sound and the next record we had more polished pop songs. Then this record we just kind of went with anything, I think removing a key writer means you have to think differently about how you write. We really removed the pressure cause we were so time poor while writing it. So the idea of New Age encapsulates the whole process because there's kids now, we don't have a lot of time. Spending time together [now] is so precious and we value it so much more and the songs are such a reflection of that.Also Etta and I haven't written a whole record just us. It felt really nice to connect and create it together. We were so much more involved with the songs. It was just such a great experience, I think it's our best writing actually.
I was gonna say, I cried watching the latest music video. I was just like, oh my god. Like, I don't even know you guys, but I'm like watching this thing happen and I'm just like, holy shit. Like, that happens?
It's funny, all women have wept and all men are like, uhh, it's a bit confronting. And I'm like, well, it's not for you. So fuck off.
Honestly I would normally look away, but I'm like, no, I have to watch this cause this might happen to me one day.
Yeah, I know!
Then I watched when the baby came out, and saw the release and beautiful connection.
It's so special. I know, it's crazy.
It's beautiful. So how do you guys feel now being a part of the music scene, being pregnant and having kids around and it's not so independent, and you focused anymore.
We were at the tail end of the Keep Up record, when Etta was pregnant and when we recorded The Chastity Belt stuff. Etta's not a huge partier or drinker, she kind of just goes with the flow and goes home early, that's her vibe. So I think for her, it was less of a shift, but I think I'm really nervous about it–I haven't played a show before where I didn't party. And I know that sounds so dumb, but it was such a part of my social life. It's always been; play a show, go out afterwards, catch up with friends. Like this has always been my social life for so long. So I am a little bit nervous about it, but I'm sure it'll be great. But, it just also sucks cause it really sucks being pregnant. Like it's hard!
I bet!
It's so shit! It's the tiring part, but I think it's so important. It's such a good and strong message, that as an industry we've been pushing for more women in bands, but [now] we're the reality of down the track. We're in our mid to late thirties, we're the reality. So many male musicians have kids and there's no impact, they just keep going. So, I think we should just try and go as much as we can, or as much as we feel comfortable. But, look, it makes the back-end really tricky cause there's a lot more organising and time management, and it definitely sucks the fun out of the spontaneity of getting together to play. I think we really value the time together and it'll be interesting to play a show. Like, we haven't played a show yet, but we're both really proud of ourselves too.
Oh, totally. It's just insane that the reality for women charging and being in bands and doing all the things. And now it's like, we're doing the thing that we're made to do, which is make the baby, and then still manage to do all the other things. It's like 2 roles almost like coming together and you're managing both. It's wild.
Yeah, a hundred percent. I think the biggest punk thing you can do anyways is play pregnant, record pregnant, have babies and keep going. We've been playing in bands for so long and have always been in primarily female bands and we never thought anything of it or noticed it.. And then this big rise came, where lots of girls were being pushed to be in bands, which is awesome. I just think this is the next part where there's ageism in music as well. We always had this saying when we were young where we're like, if we're playing at 40, like kill us. And now we're really close to 40.
It's so great though. How do you go lugging your gear and driving around? It's just like the next level.
So crazy. Luckily my partner is drumming. Etta used to be the drummer, but because of all the babies and stuff, she's just gonna be singing, which is just logistically easier. So my partner just carries all my stuff.
Yeah, perfect.
Which that's why he's here. I'll carry life and you can carry my guitar.
I love that. How many people will be in the band?
So there's me and Etta and then there's three boys; my partner and another guy. They've kind of been playing local bands for a while. And the bass player from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is playing guitar, it’s been so awesome. Rolling Blackouts took a big break too, and a lot of them are having kids so when Loose Tooth started rolling, Blackout started, and we played lots together. We've played a lot together over the years, so it's just a really nice collaboration.
Yeah, for sure. So how are you feeling about it? I guess the dynamic has changed, and it’s been a while since you’ve played to an audience, like, does that make you nervous? Yeah, I think excited and nervous for sure. Nervous just to all the normal nervous stuff. Like, you know, hoping people come and I guess usually by the time you play your album, you've been gigging for a while and you're super tight, but this will be our second show together. Either way, I think our vibe has always been just, it's for fun. Like music is fun for us. It's not our career, and as soon as it stops being fun, we stop doing it. So I think we're a little nervous cause we have been outta the game so long, but I think it'll all come together.
Yeah. It'll be great.