With gritty lyrics and searing synths, Newcastle four-piece Butterknife is turning the term "girlband" on its head.
At a time when female voices need to be listened to more than ever, Butterknife is creating that space. Made of members Gracie May, Lilli Sullivan, Athena Christensen and Bree Redman, the girl group is creating a sound that transports you into a feminine hellscape, as the name of their new album Lilith suggests.
Mixed with pop vocals, their heavy basslines and distorted guitar create a listening experience that invites you to dive into the reality that is female rage.
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It’s safe to say that Butterknife has broken through the barrier of local fame. Their debut single Misty, released in 2019, catapulted them into the limelight. The song’s minimal instruments and heartfelt lyrics worked together to create a heartbreaking anthem.
The song was a hit, accumulating over a million streams on Spotify. Off the back of its success, the group supported Aussie legends such as Teenage Dads, Dune Rats and Slowly Slowly. The group didn’t stop there, performing at rolling sets last year and being hand-picked to play at Groovin in the Moo.
After making a name for themselves in the Newcastle music scene, Butterknife created something special with the release of their album Lilith. When discussing the tone of the new release, the alt-pop group said. “Our latest EP focuses a lot on our darker, innermost thoughts that we’re oftentimes too scared to express.”
Their first few songs leaned towards indie-pop and rock, but with the latest EP, they tried something new. “We were able to explore more alt-pop, grunge, shoegaze and heavy sounds. Lilith drew a lot of inspiration from a variety of genres and artists. Some inspirations for our work included Aziya, Zzzahara, Paris Texas, Provoker, Artemas and spill tab,” says the band.
A standout from the EP has to be GOD COMPLEX. The band’s reference to ’90s riot grrl in this track perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of the album. As the closing track, its heavy drums and faster pace mix with the harsh vocals, create an ending that shows where the band is heading next.
“Our sound is ever-evolving,” they say. Listening through Butterknife’s discography, it’s true that Lilith is pulling the band in a new direction. Their initial style took inspiration from the harbour town they grew up in, which is known for its surf rock indie sound. But listening to their most recent musical endeavour it’s clear that vibe is gone. “With age and time, we felt more comfortable exploring genres outside the typical Newy scene,” they say.
While Butterknife continues to push forward, they’ve struggled with the boundaries the scene has put on them. When asked about the reality of being a girl band in a male-dominated industry, the band searches for words.
“This is a hard one,” they say. “While we’ve been presented with some very impactful opportunities, it can feel that we are, a lot of the time, the token ‘girl band’ on a lineup. It’s a very conflicting feeling – not knowing whether to feel grateful for these opportunities or spiteful.”
Even in the year 2024, judgment towards female artists is still eminent, especially those who speak out on female-dominated issues. “We’ve been told countless times, ‘You’re pretty good for a girl band’. It’s an off-putting thing, being judged based on your gender rather than just as people in a band.”
Lilith tackles issues like this and speaks about girlhood on a level that some would find confronting, but disguising the darker emotional lyrics are pop beats that linger into a shoegaze sound.
Listening to Lilith feels as if you’re reading an entry from their diary. Lines such as “at your happiest when you’re hurting me” and “body gold, won’t fit your mould, you’d hate to see me when I’m uncontrolled” show just how vulnerable Butterknife is in this EP.
“Our songs are often very lyric-heavy, and if anyone has the time to read them, they’ll know that we’re trying to convey very raw, complex and powerful messages through our songwriting,” they say.
For Butterknife, these themes are important for this generation of women. “In the songs that we’ve released, it’s pretty evident that we do lean towards themes involving relationships. It’s an easy theme to write about but with so much to explore– insecurities, cause and effect, sex life, sexuality, break-ups.”
With Lilith garnering massive praise since its release, the band reflect on how these last few years have been. “It’s been pretty cool, being able to grow to a point where people that we looked up to in the industry have become somewhat friends of ours. Getting to hear genuine feedback or compliments from these people has been a very rewarding feeling.”
looking forward Butterknife is ready for whatever comes their way. “We want our music to be able to reach and connect with people. Travelling anywhere internationally, knowing that our songs have resonated with others all across the world would be our ultimate goal as a band.”
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