SheWolF are a fresh, all-female band from Melbourne, Australia, who play their original material in a modern hard rock style featuring vocal harmonies, melodic guitar solos and powerful drumming. Comprised of triplet sisters, the band’s unique bond provides a fresh new take on old classic rock and roll with a modern twist.
Interview conducted on September 24, 2020
By Dan Locke
All girl rock band founded in Melbourne, AUS Cassandra: Guitar/Vocals Serena: Vocals Nikki: Drums/Vocals
You are an all-female band from Melbourne Australia. Tell me a bit about yourselves?
We are 23-year-old triplet sisters. We’ve been playing music together since we were around 12 years old, however we didn’t take it too seriously and start gigging til we were about 16.
Cassandra (the eldest by 30 seconds) plays guitar and sings backing vocals, Nikki (the middle child) plays drums and also sings backing vocals, and Serena (born last only 1 minute after Nikki) is our lead singer.
Our current live line up also includes our 2 supporting musicians, our second guitarist Alex Richmond, and Bass player Nadia Ricciotti.
You are triplets, what was your upbringing?
We were born into a big fat European family. Our Dad is Greek and our Mum is Maltese – plenty of culture to Ricotta dive into on both sides. As far as we would be aware, our upbringing was as normal as anyone else’s. We wouldn’t know any different! The only real difference we could possibly discern was that as we progressed through the different levels of school, we always had each other around to compare homework with and to spend time with at lunch breaks.
How did you discover music?
We discovered music thanks to our parents. They’ve always been music enthusiast, in particular the melodic and 80s style rock that we enjoy playing.
Our dad decided one day that he was finally going learn to play the guitar, after wanting to do it for many years. He asked if any of us wanted to learn with him, and Cassandra said yes.
Not long before that, we were asked to store a drum kit for one of our mum’s friends while they were renovating their house. Once it was set up, Nikki did not leave it alone.
Serena has always loved to sing, and both Cassandra and Serena had been doing dancing and singing lessons for a number of years.
One day in year 6 (2009), our primary school held a talent competition. We decided to learn a single song, Status Quo’s “Rockin’ All Over The World.” We played that song in front of our entire school and won the year 6 division.
How did you start to write music?
Really, we just decided to give it a go one day.
In our super early years where we hadn’t even considered learning any instruments yet, we would always muck around and rewrite lyrics to existing songs.
In early high school, we were put forward to be a part of a music recording project that was being run by the local youth group, and for this they asked if we had any of our own songs to record, which we didn’t. So, we decided to try and write one. It actually turned out pretty good considering we were only 14 years old at the time.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My dad gave me my first guitar, a black Line 6 Variax with a mother of pearl pick guard. Yes, I do still have it, however it doesn’t work anymore. It is stored away in the attic at the family home.
What was your first performance at like?
Our first official performance as Shewolf occurred in 2013 at the St Kilda Bowls club when we were 16 years old. A good friend of our mum’s played in a cover band that had a gig there, and they were kind enough to let us play as their opening act. A lot of our family and friends came, in fact, I am pretty sure they made up the majority of the audience. It was a fun night.
What makes a good songwriter?
Of course, everyone will have a different opinion on this topic.
Every song needs a good hook, and a good song writer also knows when to use the whole “less is more” approach.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Our first ever original song was called Individuality, which was the song we recorded when we were 14 through the recording project I mentioned earlier.
But our first original song as Shewolf was either called Chances or Poison Mist. They were written within days of each other and I can’t remember which one came first.
Both are recorded on our first EP.
How did you start the band?
We started a band really only to play that one song for that year 6 talent show.
However, Shewolf came about when we added a close friend of ours to the lineup as our bass player in 2013. From that point on, we started calling the band by its current name, and all we wanted to do was write more songs and play at gigs.
How the band did get its name?
We were thinking of names, and nothing had come up that we liked for a long time.
We wanted something short and punchy, but that would also highlight the fact that we were an all-girl band.
We had always had Arctic breed dogs, or “wolf dogs” in our family as pets, having had a Malamute, and then a Samoyed. (We now have a 4-year-old Husky x Malamute, an 8-month-old Husky, and a 10-week-old Husky between us.)
Out of nowhere, I just spat out “how about Shewolf?”. And it stuck.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
Playing live gigs should definitely be considered a work out in itself!
Back in the day we would go do a McDonalds run after every single gig, but not anymore.
In our everyday lives, we love walking the dogs, and we all enjoy cooking for ourselves, although we do get the occasional take out meal or have pizza delivered.
How often do you do acoustic shows?
We do acoustic shows whenever we can get them. We love doing them so much and performing all the stripped-back renditions of our favourite covers, and our own originals.
It’s been a while since we had the opportunity to do an acoustic show, but we can’t wait to get back into it.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Streaming music has its pros and cons. It has been a massive topic of discussion recently, especially recently in Australia.
On one had the ability to have your music streamed and accessed on the bigger platforms does open up the opportunity to gain more exposure – but exposure doesn’t pay the fees associated with recording the tracks in the first place either, never mind the rest of the expenses associated with being in an active band.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Personally, I am a vinyl enthusiast – you can’t beat the experience of placing the vinyl onto the turntable and placing the needle down and then listening to an album in its entirety.
How was International Women’s Day for you? You opened up for The Superjesus. And then the virus hit. You knew about the virus before the show. Did you think it would affect the music business the way it did?
International Women’s Day is always a great day to celebrate. It’s also super widely recognized here in Australia and in Melbourne.
The Superjesus gig was a heap of fun, and we did have the feeling it would be the last one for a while.
I don’t think anyone expected the music scene in Melbourne to be hit this hard. Melbourne’s lockdown has been a tough break on everyone who lives in and around the city, and every single musician we know could not be more ready to get back on stage and start gigs up again.
Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?
If it’s safe enough, why not!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I have a playlist of almost 300 songs that I cycle through in the car or while I am working – pretty much in every situation where music can be playing, it is. Many songs hold plenty of meaning for me, and are usually attached to fond memories. I can be very sentimental!
You were schedule to open for Iron Maiden, and then the show got moved. Do you think it will happen?
The show has currently been moved twice, and it’s now set for April next year. Who knows what the state of the world will be by then thanks to the pandemic, but we can only hope!
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
We’ve all been doing different things – Cooking, cleaning, working out, binge-watching Netflix, learning new skills, picking up new hobbies, going on walks…. pretty much anything you can think of to prevent the iso-boredom!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I love arts and crafts so I have been getting back into a few things in that realm of creativity.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
My favourite streaming channels are Netflix and Disney+.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. What are you planning to do?
We’ve been fairly quiet on our social media over the pandemic – we’ve discussed doing some acoustic set live streams just for some fun and to liven up everyone’s lockdown nights at home.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home? Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Anything is possible! Just gotta keep trying it out and tweaking the process til it works how you want it to.
It is a super exciting concept.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
We’’ve been there and done that. It’s going to be hard for everyone in the local scenes of any genre to get back into venues and have the live gig culture return to its full glory. A lot of the local venues may not survive this lockdown and the restrictions on their business that the pandemic has forced the imposition of. It’ll be very sad to see what we’ve lost along the way.
Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?
We really hope not. But who knows at this point? I think it’ll affect everywhere in the world different. For Melbourne, it could be a while.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sounds like something out of Star Trek!
Nothing will beat a live concert mosh pit though!
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
We’d love to be playing still!
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Thanks very much for getting in touch with us! We can’t wait for live music to resume in Melbourne and hopefully have the chance to play in many other parts of the world once international travel is active once again!
Thanks,
Cassandra – Guitarist, Shewolf
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