Photo by Eric @arcanitestudios

Answered by Milli (they/them) - vocalist

1. Your new album is called This Ain’t Gonna End Well… What's the story behind that title?

The title of the album we based off the first track of the same name. The song itself is about people in our communities that we see digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole through their actions and lack of accountability. We've all been there with people, seeing them mess up in big ways and then upon us trying to lend them a helping hand, are met with denial and excuses. As an album title we feel it takes on a larger meaning. Content wise the album touches on alot of aspects of our current world and climate that are getting worse and worse. Seemingly as time goes on, things really havent been ending well... And those ends become new beginnings for bigger and often worse circumstances.

2. The album has a really raw, powerful sound. What was the most important thing you wanted to capture in the studio this time around?

We've always been a live band so to speak. We love to use those communal and inclusive spaces to create an energy that breeds release, catharsis and expression for people . With this album we really tried to create something that sounds like our live show feels, and we feel liekw e accomplished that well with the help of recording engineers Jesse Gander and Mariessa Mcleod at Rain City Recorders.

3. Your songs often tackle big issues. Which track on the new album means the most to you personally, and why?

For myself I feel like there's two tracks that cut really deep for me.

One: A damn Hard Day. That song I wrote after the partner of one of my closest friends took his life. I wrote that song from what I imagined her perspective to be and wanted to give it to her as a gift and something that she could keep forever to remember him by.  It was one of those songs where the lyrics poured out of me and felt like knives slicing open places that had been unharmed, but also felt healing and like at the same time those wounds were getting stitched back together. I had never really experienced grief in the way I have over the last 5 years and to write a song as an ode to grief and loved ones lost felt like a perfect testament to its power.

Two: executive dysfunction. I have lived my entire life with sometimes debilitating ADHD Aswell as tourettes syndrome. Through punk rock I have connected with so many other folks whose neurodiversity rules their lives and I really wanted to write a song that shares my experience as a piece of solidarity for all the other folks who suffer on the daily from a spicy brain. Plus it's just a fun song!

4. You've had some great guests on this record. What was it like working with other artists from the punk scene?

Getting to collaborate with some of our favorite local artists was such a treat! Some of those folks are dear friends of ours, some are also people we've looked up to for years, and a the entire gang vocal group were some of our closest pals and family members ( including my 67 years old mother). We've always been a really communally minded band so having that come to life through features on the record was something that was a major priority for us.

5. How to you prepare for a performance when you play live? Any tips for new artists?

Lots of water, making sure all our gear is in order, and most importantly taking the time to do a group hug before we play to get us all connected.

6. The Vancouver music scene has so many great bands. What makes it a special place to be a punk band right now?

Vancouver feels like it's in its highest form thus far in terms of punk rock community. It's become a beacon of acceptance for queer folks and other marginalized groups of people, it has an ever growing group of youth who are starting bands and performing, and it's filled with kind hearted people who all want the world to be a better place. We feel eternally grateful to have been so accepted by all the beautiful people in the van punk community and love getting to play there.

7. If someone is hearing Mean Bikini for the first time, what's the one thing you want them to take away from your music?

We always hope that they can find something that feels like it was specially written just for them. And if you do find something you connect with, reach out to chat as we love to talk to people who have found things they resonate in what we've created!