Speaking to triple j on Good Nights with Linda Marigliano, frontwoman to Norway’s Sløtface Haley Shea confirmed details of the band’s anticipated debut album ‘Try Not To Freak Out‘ due September 15, with triple j premiering the thrilling first taste of the record “Magazine“ before being added to full rotation this morning. triple j also revealed details of a debut Australian tour to coincide with the album’s September release.
Haley’s forceful, firework-spitting punk slices through you with an immediacy and confidence of someone several records in. Whether it’s a love song from an unexpected perspective or a critique on power and ego, the foursome’s message and undeniably catchy riffs have inspired critics and fans across the globe.
Straight out of the gate, “Magazine” has garnered widespread attention and acclaim the world over, sitting currently as the 4th most blogged artist on Hype Machine and receiving praise from the likes of DIY, CLASH, NME, The Line of Best Fit and FADER, among many others.
On new single ‘Magazine‘, Sløtface challenge absurd body image standards: “Thoughts that aren’t mine keep running through my head… Thunder thighs keeps reaching for the measuring tape,” Haley sings, and perfectly distills the dissonance between knowing intellectually that these images are bullshit, but still feeling drawn to live up to them.
Haley explained: “I really wanted to write a killer breakup song, but I’ve never really had any experience with heartbreaking, devastating, aggressive breakups, so I thought I would write a breakup song about breaking up with bad body image and unrealistic representations of human bodies in media. It’s fuelled by the back and forth of knowing that society creates unrealistic expectations regarding what people “should” look like, and still feeling uncomfortable in your own skin because you don’t live up to those images.”
Speaking of the blustering, spirited punk anthem in the making, the band said: “We were essentially trying to make what would be the perfect soundtrack to an early 2000s high school rom-com — like American Pie or something…and thought we would try to write the perfect opening credits song.”
The band’s debut album, Try Not To Freak Out is nothing short of a massive rock record – one that weds the pop nous of Robyn and Blondie to the exuberant, freewheeling attack of bands like Joyce Manor and Little Big League. Guitars gleam, choruses soar, and Halvard’s racing drums exude pure adrenaline. It’s a record made for the height of summer, for punching a pillow, or for drowning out the rest of the world. And it’s all the better for Sløtface’s unique lyrical perspective; Haley’s lyrics aren’t explicitly gendered, but she transcends indie rock bravado and self-pity, and instead dismantles the patriarchal structures that hurt everyone.
Led by Shea alongside guitarist Tor-Arne Vikingstad, bassist Lasse Lokøy and Halvard Skeie Wiencke on drums, Sløtface have live-wire energy and introspection beyond their years. With every move they make, they look to spin conventions on their head, with their debut album set to follow suit.
2016 was a sensational year for Sløtface, between the two EP’s released, they recieved full playlist adds on triple j for “Take Me Out Dancing“, “Empire Records” and “Sponge State“. To date, Sløtface have clocked up more than 6000 plays across international radio, including weekly spins from Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. Away from radio, the band are celebrated by the likes of The Guardian, Billboard, NME, Noisey, DIY Magazine, Kerrang! (where Shea was dubbed one of the “50 Greatest Rockstars In The World Right Now“), Rocksound, The Line Of Best Fit, Dork, CLRVYNT, Upset, CLASH, Consequence of Sound, alongside many others.
Before flying to Australia for headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne, the band will be heading out on tour in the UK as main support to Los Campesinos! at the end of April, followed by another UK tour in May with The Cribs. Alongside that the band will play a whole host of European festivals over the summer.
