The Spotlight Is on The Aquadolls as They Release New Album & Conclude Their Spring Tour
Photo by Tallulah Totten
Interview by Tallulah Totten with Words by Eli Nava
The Los Angeles-based indie-punk band, The Aquadolls, has a little bit for everyone with their intoxicating sound. Formed by Melissa Brooks (guitar, vocals) in 2012 and joined by bassist Keilah Nina, and drummer Jaqueline Proctor, the band has evolved over the years to create a distinct style of femme-punk that can’t be missed. With the release of their third studio album, Charmed, the band has put out a soundtrack perfect for jumping around and imagining yourself in an early 2000s rom-com montage. All three members contributed to the creation of the new album, and each delivers their own sense of style and flair that makes Charmed the perfect summer album to have on repeat. 1127 had the opportunity to catch up with The Aquadolls and talk about the new album, creative process, and current music favorites.
1127: Congrats on the new album first of all! It’s basically out.
The Aquadolls: Thank you! One more hour!
1127: And the music video!
Both: One more hour!
1127: So how has the experience of tour been for you guys? Are there any memorable moments or stories that you can share?
Melissa: It’s crazy. There’s definitely ups and downs. Low point was me bumping my head in Austin and bleeding from the head. Some high points were playing Shaky Knees and that was the biggest crowd that we’ve ever played to in our whole career I think. We had a really good time—we basically opened for FIDLAR and we’re really big fans of them so that was really awesome.
Jackie: Yeah, I agree!
1127: What has the process of creating your guys’ new album Charmed been like? And what inspired Charmed?
Keilah: I’m going to say it was definitely a speedy process because we had two weeks to record it and when we got in the studio, I want to say we only had two or three demos out of everything. So a lot of it was done on the fly—which I think was good because it didn’t allow us to second guess anything. We were able to just do it and not have time to sit and go “I don’t know,” which I think helped us in the end because I’m pretty happy with the finished product. I also think the person that we worked with, Chris, was really good about being like “don’t overthink it! Just do it! You know what you’re doing, just do it!” So that was a ealy cool thing because it added some pressure but I also think it was necessary for growth.
1127: What song off the newest album are you guys most proud of?
Melissa: I love “Spotlight”—that one is one of my favorites. It’s kind of like the first song that we put out that's a sapphic, love song. So it’s very It also kind of has the old school elements of early Aquadolls vibes, but with new twists and everyone’s flavor in it. So I really like that one.
Jackie: I like that one too. I like a lot of them. I like playing “Sneaky” and “Burn Baby Burn” because they're fun. I don’t know, I like all of them!
Keilah: I think “Any Place but Here” is going to be a fun one to play live eventually. It’s not one of the singles but it’s on the album and I think it just sounds really chanty and hearing that one live is going to be exciting (for the crowd interaction). Any “wa-oh wa-oh,” I feel like people eat that up. So I’m excited to see how people react to that one.
1127: What do you guys hope that listeners take away from the new album?
Melissa: I hope they find a little peace with themselves within one of the songs or all of the songs. They’re all very personal but all kind of silly. And that’s what the whole theme of Charmed is is different kinds of love—whether it’s self-love, platonic love, romantic love. Kind of just finding a little piece of yourself within it. So I hope people relate where they can.
1127: Who would your guys’ dream collaboration be?
Keilah: Right now, it would probably be MUNA or boygenius. Any sort of insane group—like group on group stuff. Boygenius or MUNA I feel like would be really cool.
1127: What was the inspiration behind your guys’ latest music video “Far Far Away”? We’re there any films or visuals that inspired it?
Jackie: The Truman Show was one of the inspo’s.
Keilah: They call it something—I think Uncanny Valley? Where everything is the same and you’re stuck in it.
Jackie: It’s like the Matrix really. Like a simulation.
1127: What song of yours has the best memories attached to it? Whether that has to do with what it’s about or if the process of making it was just enjoyable.
Melissa: Sneaky has really good memories. Just because we’ve been playing that one live for so long and we toured it for quite a while. We started playing it I want to say March of last year when we did our tour with Sitting on Stacy and then we did on our Incubus tour as well. So it’s really grown with me. It’s really near and dear to my heart.
Jackie: Yeah samesies.
Keilah: I think for me it’s “Beachy” because we shot the video so quickly but the day we shot the video was also the day we got the album cover art.
Jackie: It was kind of the beginning of it all, so it felt really tangible.
Keilah: It was summertime, right before the Incubus tour…
Jackie: It was a mood. It was a MOOD. I can feel it
Keilah: It was the perfect, sunny day. Jackie’s backyard, the beach, we went to LA, we drove around a convertible.
Jackie: It was child-like, but not...
Keilah: Yeah. It just felt…
Jackie: Nostalgic.
Keilah: Yeah, really nostalgic. I think the day that we shot the “Beachy” video was a really, really great day.
1127: How has your music style changed over the years? Is there a particular direction that you see the band heading in?
Jackie: A little more maturity. Just being more serious and mature. But it doesn’t have to take away the fun and the nostalgia, and that aspect of it. We still have our roots, our little, surfy girl roots or whatever you want to call it. But then we’re adding a little bit of a punch, like here we are. And it’s a new era, people grow. I think a little more rock and roll but also still keeping the pop and beachy elements intertwined in there.
1127: Have there been any particular song or songs that have been on repeat for you recently?
Jackie: Yeah! Mine is “Little Bird” by Annie Lennox, such a good song. I love her. And “Bassline Junkie.” That one’s been on repeat.
Keilah: Oh yeah. That one’s been on repeat.
Melissa: My on-repeat is “I’ve Been Young” by George Clanton. I’ve listened to it every single day on tour. Multiple times a day. It’s just a vibe. Very good vibes.
Keilah: The entire album Atlanta Millionaires Club by Faye Webster. I have listened to that album multiple times a day, every single day…I fall asleep to it. My number one songs are “Flowers” and “Kingston. The whole thing is downloaded because I listen to it every single day.
Melissa: A lot of Ice Spice too.
1127: Everyone’s been on that Ice Spice grind.
Keilah: Absolutely haha.
1127: Are there any upcoming plans for the band that you guys are excited about that you can share? Aside from your new album and music video!
Jackie: Shows!
Melissa: Yeah we’re going to be playing Ohana Fest on October 1st. And then we're playing Riot Fest in September, the first day.
Jackie: We’re really excited.
Melissa: September will be festival month. And we’re going to have some new visualizers too coming up for the album.
Keilah: And we have some shows that haven’t been announced but you should follow us to see when we announce those.
1127: What long-term goals or dreams do you have for the band?
Keilah: Money!
Jackie: Yeah, money. Sellout haha! We’re going to get it. We’re going to get the hit and tour…
Melissa: World tour. Reach as many people as we can. Creating space for everyone.
Keilah: I want to travel.
Jackie: I want to go to Italy.
Keilah: Yeah, Italy. I want to go to Japan, Australia, Greece, everywhere.
Jackie: Mamma Mia tour!
Keilah: Yeah, Mamma Mia tour!
Jackie: I want to see Måneskin on tour…tour with Måneskin.
Keilah: I want to play with some big dogs.
Listen to The Aquadolls’ new album here