GRXCE continues to swerve past all attempts to put them neatly in a box. Proving once again that the magic of the Eora-based trio lands in the intricate and raw lyricism, their next installation from their upcoming sophomore EP, ‘shirt song’ is a crackling, emotional overflow of fuzz and angst proving that GRXCE are well beyond the limits of ‘indie rock’ and land somewhere more in the landscape of shoegaze, alternative, borderline gothic pop rock (a fitting name for your Spotify daylist).
The track comes off the back of a whirlwind of recent successes with their latest release, ‘Spit It Out’ being named Track of the Day by triple j Unearthed, which led the band to land the coveted Unearthed support slot for Thelma Plum’s tour. GRXCE aren’t just riding the coattails of their contemporaries either; they sold out their Sydney headline show to a crowd of fans that could be heard singing the lyrics of songs past and present from the very ends of King Street. These wins are only the beginning as the band gears up to appear at this year’s SXSW Sydney in October and at the iconic King Street Crawl in July.
‘Shirt song’ is an ode to the complicated nature of casual relationships, especially the levels of intimacy (or lack thereof) involved; “It was a confusing feeling for me to come out of my first long-term relationship in a while and feel completely lost in the landscape of dating. I found myself feeling isolated and lonely, and not understanding why I couldn’t treat dating how I used to. I remember feeling physically ill at the thought of being intimate with someone again, and I had to watch my ex move back into casual relationships with this ease that I lacked. At first, I was angry and hurt, and then I just became judgmental towards myself and put myself down for not being ready to move on. Ultimately, from my experiences, I realised I had just changed priorities and my values and needs around intimacy, the ‘fun’ of dating without strings didn’t feel the same after being in love with someone, and I didn’t feel comfortable settling for less than that anymore. I think this song is an internal dialogue of trying to navigate dating and sex, almost like it’s the first time all over again, the questioning, the judgment, the anger, the hurt, the lack of understanding that someone could be so close to you physically but not have any emotional attachment. I just needed an outlet to say everything on my mind and for there to not be an answer, but more so a feeling that reflected where I was at the time” – Lead singer, Jamila Grace, on the writing of ‘shirt song’.
GRXCE have continued to work closely with their trusted creative team, employing Zofia Francka (Young Franco, Sesame Girl) and Nathan Rathsam (Dust, EGOISM) for this release’s visuals. There is something so clearly poignant about the working relationship between the pair and GRXCE’s creative lead, singer and manager, Jamila Grace, illustrating just how magical worldbuilding can be when everyone involved believes in the project and the vision. GRXCE are known for their boundary pushing when it comes to visuals, releasing a short film for their debut EP ‘Sorry For Being Sad’ which sold out Sydney’s iconic Ritz Cinema, and they continue to showcase just how mature their expression is for a band only in their infancy. ‘Shirt song’ is released alongside a dynamic video shot in the abandoned hospital in Callan Park, NSW, featuring the band playing amongst the desolate buildings and lush, overgrown greenery. Lead singer, Jamila, features in between the live band shots in a full-length black lace dress, stumbling through the empty roads on a ‘walk of shame’, struggling to find her way back home.
“I had this super clear vision for the music video ever since we first recorded the track. I always wanted to feel like you were watching someone come home from a party. I wanted it to feel desperate and eerie and intimate. We shot the video when it was like 8 degrees and it was a challenge to have to do the shots so underdressed for the weather but I think the cold made it even more impactful, you feel this intense empathy and pity for the protagonist, you want her to get home but you also wonder about the context that came before she ended up where she is” – Lead singer, Jamila Grace on the shooting of the music video.
‘Shirt Song’ continues to build upon a stunning repertoire from GRXCE and provides an insight into the future sounds that are being incorporated into the band’s self-production process. More fuzz, more guts, more heart. You can catch the enigmatic trio at their upcoming run of shows, including appearances at King Street Crawl and shows alongside Sonic Reducer and The Velvet Club.
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