Loose Lips: "We Didn't Want To Do Anything That Was Strictly Punk or Power Pop and Maybe in Doing So Focus on Creating Our Own Sound"

Melbourne's latest rock 'n' roll supergroup Loose Lips deliver earworm hooks, tough male-female vocals, and anthemic guitar riffs that make you crave more. Featuring members guitarist-vocalist Josh Hardy (The Chats, The Unknowns), drummer-vocalist Nadine Muller (The Prize), and bassist Ethan Stahl (Chubby & The Gang), the trio released their self-titled debut EP back in June and they were kind enough to chat with us all about it, how a simple conversation about their musical heroes sparked the origin of their band, and the anticipation of a full-length album.

Photo by Tom Butler

Hey all! First tell me what you've been up to lately? What have you been listening to, reading, watching, or spending a lot of time doing?

Josh Hardy: I've been listening to heaps of Chris Spedding, Blondie and The Professionals. I tried to read this book called Mystery.. something. I read one chapter and lost interest [laughs]. I just finished recording the new Unknowns album and Loose Lips have been working on some new tunes too.

Nadine Muller: I've been listening to a really good playlist that Indi from Pleasants and Ghoulies introduced me to called Heroes of the Night which is a compilation of '80s punk, pop and new wave bands. Besides that just working on The Prize album and jamming with Loose Lips.

Ethan Stahl: I have been listening to a band called The Count Bishops and a Johnny Paycheck album called Bars Booze and Blondes. Just finished the Ronnie Wood autobiography, I'd definitely recommend reading it. Also new Street Sweeper record is done, so look out for it in the near future!

Tell our readers about the origins of Loose Lips. How long has the idea of forming a band together been around? Did it stem from The Prize / The Unknowns split earlier this year?

Muller: Josh and I started working on "One More Chance" together about a year ago with the intention of putting it on The Unknowns/Prize split as a one off collaboration but we didn't get the chance to get in the same room to record it before the tracks were due to go to press so it sat on the shelf. Josh moved to Melbourne from Brisbane a few months ago and we decided to have a jam and it all started from there. We were drinking at a pub one night and Ethan was at the bar and we asked him if he'd be keen to play bass and within a month or two we'd written an EP and played our first show.

What was something you three wanted to do differently with Loose Lips compared to your other bands? 

Hardy: Well we all love the '60s girl groups like The Shangri-Las and Martha and the Vandellas and also how bands like The New York Dolls took a similar influence and put a punk spin on it. We didn't want to do anything that was strictly punk or power pop and maybe in doing so focus on creating our own sound.

What's the story behind the band name? Also, what were other names floating around?

Hardy: I thought the saying "loose lips sink ships" was a cool line and the name sounded fitting to the style of music we were writing. 

Let's dive into the four tracks on your self-titled tape. How did the opener "One More Chance" come about?

Hardy: I came up with the riff with the intention of doing it for the Split 7" with the Prize and I sent it to Nadine and she came up with a melody and the Chorus and then when we finally got together we decided to share the vocal duties and wrote a verse each. 

Muller: A classic lovers quarrel theme. When we first started talking about doing it we were referencing the Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin's album Copy Cats.

Josh, what's the story behind "Hungry Heart"?

Hardy: Smokin' darts and breakin' hearts.

What were the inspirations behind "Told You So"? It's got a stompin' glammy Hollywood Brats feel. 

Hardy: It's a bit of an ode to the teenager dreamer inside us all. Having youth on your side and no responsibility.

What can you say about the closing cut "Here She Comes"?

Muller: It's about a girl with a bad reputation but I think she's just a little misunderstood...

Is this tape leading to a larger release? If so, when can fans expect that to come?

Muller: We're releasing the EP on a Spanish label FOLK which will be coming out in the next month or two and will be available for anyone in Europe/UK. We are currently working on new tunes and there is definitely a plan to do an LP which we will have out next year!

What have you enjoyed most about the live shows you've been playing together? 

Stahl: Both the shows so far have been super fun and exciting, keen to see what the future brings.

What else is on the horizon for Loose Lips?

Muller: We have a few shows in Melbourne and Sydney over the coming months. Other than that we'll be knuckling down and working on the album. There is a possibility of a show in London in December but we will see...

Thank you for taking your time. Any advice or last words you'd like to share with our readers? 

All: Hail Satin!!!