A spotlight interview with Emi Ew of Problem Green, ahead of their appearance at LOUD WOMEN Fest Gadigal/Sydney on 7 December.
How did you choose your band name?
Problem Green just kind of fell out one day and stuck, we enjoy all of the different ways it has been interpreted.
Who’s in the band, and what do you all play?
Emi Ew: lead vocalist, Sweet B: guitar + BV, James: Bass + BV and Nash on drums.
Where do you call home?
We call Sydney’s inner west home, which is on Gadigal Wangal Land
Describe your sound in three words.
Melodic Garage Punk
Tell us about your music.
Our latest single ‘Basic!’ Is a face off against the influx of wealthy out-of-towners who treat our neighbourhood as their own personal weekend playground. It comes from our experience as local hospo workers who too often have to deal with drunk, privileged punters who have no respect for the space they occupy. Our town is a safe haven for diverse and queer folk to live openly without fear – if you have a basic and self important attitude best to go somewhere else and leave us alone!
In our song ‘Wipeout’ the bridge repeats “if you knew me then, then you don’t know me now” and that tends to resonate with a lot of our neurodivergent and trans fans who share the same experience of shedding their old self to make room for a more authentic expression of who they are and who they wish to become.
Our song ‘Clutter’ comes from an old ditty we would sing while tidying up and clearing out the house, it was a jokey song at first but then we realised it actually might work as a Problem Green song.
What’s your local scene like — and how do you fit in, or stir it up?
Our local scene is full to the brim with bands and punters. The Sydney punk scene has been in an egg punk chokehold for a while now so we have an advantage being a bit of a palette cleanser to that sound. Now that sentiments are changing, there is so much fertile ground for a new punk sound; garagey, gritty and predominantly queer and women lead punk seems to be taking over, and rightly so.
If you could rip up the rulebook of the music industry, what’s the first thing you’d rewrite?
Holding booking agents to a higher standard of transparency, communication and work ethic. There are too many dodgy bookers who seek personal gain and profit from bands. If you are not in it for the love of it, you have no right to be there – quit scalping from musicians.
What’s a dream gig or collaboration you must make happen before you die?
We absolutely must support Amyl and the Sniffers in Sydney.
Dream lineup: you + three other acts (alive, dead, or imaginary). Who’s on the bill?
Us + Amyl and the Sniffers, The Breeders and Kim Deal era Pixies
What’s next for you?
On Jan 10 we will be releasing our second EP, ‘Sorry I Don’t Matter’. We also will be dropping a demo cassette around Easter time with a few of our most popular unreleased tracks.
