Off the back of a whirlwind year that saw them embark on two national headline tours and light up festival stages at BIGSOUND and LOUD WOMEN Fest, Meanjin alt-rock quintet Worm Girlz are back with their most eerily intense release yet – Jackie.
Dripping with cult horror tension, Jackie is an unapologetic and fierce warning against oppressive power structures, particularly within the music industry. Wrapped in raw, brutal guitars and unrelenting tension, Jackie is a visceral expression of fear, frustration and protest.
“Jackie is all of us (except the billionaires, you are not invited) against those who have more power than us,” says guitarist/vocalist Jade. “It’s a dramatic reflection of the unsettling things we are seeing in the world right now and it’s scary out there. We wanted this song to be uncomfortable and tense, so bringing in the elements of cult horrors felt right.”
Adding to the song’s haunting theatrics, vocalist Lauren explains: “Jackie is a warning for emerging artists in the music industry, dressed up as a supernatural horror. We lean into the dramatics to fully conceptualise and translate the terror that we feel over predators taking advantage of vulnerable people in our industry through unbalanced power dynamics.”
Recorded and mixed with long-time collaborator Lucas Montgomery, Jackie sees Worm Girlz push their signature alt-garage force into a sinister, more dramatic realm with wailing vocals crescendoing into an epic, melodramatic solo courtesy of guitarist Bella. The accompanying music video amplifies the unease, following Lauren as they stumble through shadowy woods while their bandmates turn the landscape into a cult-like labyrinth.
With Jackie, Worm Girlz prove once again that their commitment to creating encapsulating art with a strong message is fearlessly unparalleled.
To celebrate the release, Worm Girlz will be touring across the country with UK anti-folk pioneers Crywank, bringing Jackie to life across venues in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne this month – TICKETS HERE.
With thanks to Habit Music
