Rising Stars: NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND
Melancholia-induced transfixions and soundscapes that warp like unbounded hallucinations – this band is one to watch.
Portland-based band NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND defines themselves as “sad indie pop punk. An opera of feelings. A medicinal sound scape. Music to unfold your gender. Music for nuance. Music to feel.” It’s a description that is quite apt and incredibly fitting, but still only scratches the surface of this palpably addictive ensemble.
Anaïs, the captain of this sonic ship, is the ultimate force that has brought the conceptual foundations of the band to life. After the dissolution of their previous band Cry Babe, the inception of NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND interestingly spawned out of an attempt to impress acting stars Alison Brie and her husband Dave Franco. The connection arose on the set of Somebody I Used to Know, a feature which Brie co-wrote and starred in and featured characters directly inspired by the members of Cry Babe. After Brie alluded to an interest in checking out an upcoming show of Anaïs’, a panic ensued to get together a band to actually put on said show. And so was born NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND. While Brie may not have ended up being at any shows, that crucible-like pressure formed a musical gem of indescribable value.
Alongside Anaïs, who is the band’s vocalist, guitarist, and Omnichord virtuoso, is guitarist Oak Alger, drummer Eric Ambrosius, and bassist Sei Harris. Together, the artists have quickly aligned on a sound that is simply incredible. Ripping apart the sounds of bands such as The Cure and The Smiths like magazine inserts and reorganizing them into a magnificent collage, the band brings that atmosphere into the modern era. Harsher elements of noise and grunge are organically woven into the amalgamatory expression of emotion, resulting in soundscapes that are moody, fresh, and just the right amount of rough around the edges. The most impressive and memorable ingredient in this development, however, is confidently the vocals of Anaïs themself. They boast a grandiose range and monumental shrieks that have a soulfully delectable patina that’s simultaneously Siouxsie Sioux and a whisper of Fiona Apple.
They certainly capture the spirit of their predecessors in style but feel exceptionally apt for the modern-day tribulations of gender ambiguity and the constant battle for expression of self in the face of oppressive systems all around. Heavy and direct messaging has always been a part of Anaïs music, and NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND is no different. Tracks across their debut release, BIG AND KIND, are streaked with the pains of oppression and violence of humanity, especially against AFAB individuals. Identifying as non-binary themself, Anaïs describes the music they create to express their own internal-self most accurately, but also achieves the objective of opening more discussion around gender identity in society. “It empowers people to be able to address it more in their inner circles, where it’s most insidious and the most hard to call out sometimes”, they state.
The band’s name itself is an immediate declaration of refusal to simply be put in any box when it comes to expression of gender. Anaïs recounts the suffocating feeling of needing to “pigeonhole [themself] into this idea of what nonbinary people are”. In discussion with Williamette Week on how a more fluid expression of gender identity is much more authentic existence for them, they said: “I do still sometimes identify with the term ‘girlfriend’—but never ‘woman’ and never ‘girl,’ ew, don’t like those—because I have been socialized in my life with people assuming my gender as female. I am still a part of the female struggle in this way. I’m not allowed to opt out of because of the way that I look.” These constant struggles against the crushing societal assumptions and desires to firmly label everyone and everything forms a core conflict which the music itself rages against, doing so in immaculate style.
Through listening to their fantastic first release, it’s blatantly apparent that they have no desire to beat around the bush. There is no time for metaphor or allegory, instead opting for an approach that encourages unfiltered artistry to exhume the storms that rage within their souls. One of the most impressive cuts of the record and the most powerful example of this approach comes on “Body”. It is a masterful arrangement that brings together Neil Young-esque guitars that cry out with brash and harsh strikes, deeply contrasting the texture of the siren-like wails that consume the soundspace before driving the track to a sudden stop.
The following space allows the track to rebuild at a creeping pace, bringing so much motion and depth to a painful and deeply encroaching experience as its core. Scars of past trauma are ripped bare and bled across the track that is extremely heavy and communicates intensely with the soul of listeners as the pain becomes palpable. Tracks such as “Body” are exceptional pieces of art resonating at such deep frequencies that it becomes impossible not to feel every motion. Anaïs references experiences like performing track when speaking on what audiences can expect at their shows: “expect to feel pain and sadness. expect to maybe even cry. and always expect to come out more powerful and more loved and more healed than when you went in.”
Needless to reiterate (but I’ll do so anyways), NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND is one of the most riveting bands currently on the rise. Their ability to tackle and evocate complex conflicts and painful emotions of the complex human existence in today’s world in such an authentic and connective way is a work of true artistry. The blossoming band’s tincture of distorted noise elements with grungy drum patterns and post-punk lead guitar lines is a composition that, just simply, works immaculately and complimentary to the messaging at play. It’ll be incredibly exciting to see where the band will go next after such an impressive debut that’s already snagged them a “Best New Portland Artist” award and a session on Seattle’s KEXP radio. Keep your eyes wide and hearts open - because they’re just getting started.