A spotlight interview with El Checketts, the vocalist/guitarist of Aotearoa/New Zealand punk band Vagina Dry, ahead of their appearance at LOUD WOMEN Fest Naarm/Melbourne on 14 December.
Tell us about your band name.
Our band name is Vagina Dry and we chose it because of the saying “that’s so vagina slay” we were trying to think of an opposite saying that would mean something bad. So Caleb (Drummer) said “that’s so Vagina Dry” and immediately we were like yes. That is the one.
Where do you call home (geographically and musically)?
A little city down in the south island of Aotearoa called Ōtepoti. Musically my (El) home is Bikini Kill’s first two records.
Describe your sound in three words.
Political, rage, heavy.
Tell us about your music.
Our latest release is our song ‘Privileged Man’ and you should turn it up loud because it is a little bop about feeling the weight of the effects of patriarchy more and more as you grow older and seeing the unfairness of how you are treated compared to the men around you.
‘Liar’ is written about the experience of having your nudes shared in High School non consensually. It is a tough topic to talk about but it happens to a lot of young people. There’s little education about what to do in that situation and it can feel like you are trapped and completely alone. The song is heavy and expresses feelings of betrayal.
What’s your local scene like — and how do you fit in, or stir it up?
When we first became a band in Ōtepoti, punk bands or heavier bands were rare. Hardly anyone was being outspoken about political subjects and the all-ages scene was thinning out. But I think the birth of Vagina Dry sparked some inspiration for younger bands to start their own riot grrrl or politically charged bands and for them to speak up on things that mattered to them during their sets.
If you could rip up the rulebook of the music industry, what’s the first thing you’d rewrite?
The exclusion of artists who don’t fit your typical pop star look. Whether that be age, race, disability; music is art and should be accessible to everyone.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened at one of your gigs?
A man from one of the bands on the bill came up to me before my performance and then asked me if my band was called Vagina Dry because my boyfriend was bad at sex and then I called him out on stage and he GTFO of that place so his buddy had to apologise for him.
What’s a dream gig or collaboration you must make happen before you die?
Opening for Bikini Kill – my goats!! Or Babe Haven and Lambrini Girls. Upchuck for sure. There’s too damn many good bands.
What’s next for you?
Our album is currently being mixed!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Free Congo, Sudan, Palestine. We are apart of a Bandcamp fundraiser compilation called Punks for Palestine that our song Free Palestine is on and all money from that goes as a donation to help bring food and water to Gaza.