Interview: Self-Love and Musical Expansion Guide The Aquadolls

Two years after we last interviewed them, Afterglow had the chance to speak with the mermaid punk rockers at The Far Out Lounge before their empowering SXSW set on March 19.

Written by Katie Karp and Elizah Funke

Photo courtesy of Enci Records

Afterglow first spoke with the Aquadolls after their 2019 ACL set, only a year after lead vocalist Melissa Brooks, bassist Keila Nina, and drummer Jackie Proctor joined forces. The SoCal girl group enchanted Austinites with its perfect mix of punk punches and surf rock groove just weeks before the city shut down due to COVID-19. Now, over two years later, The Aquadolls returned to Austin for three days of SXSW performances, showcasing new songs and musical skills, effortless switching instruments and lead vocals with seamless transitions. Dressed in their signature pleated skirts, killer jackets, pom-poms and heart-shaped glasses, The Aquadolls took the stage at the Far Out Lounge on Friday, March 18. Afterglow sat down with the 'dolls before their set to talk fashion, inspiration, and what they've been up to since the pandemic.

Afterglow: It's been two years since we last spoke. Can you tell me how these past few years have gone for you guys amidst the pandemic?

Melissa: It was a whirlwind, honestly. It went from going on tour with White River and then crickets. Then all of a sudden we were opening for Jimmy Eat World, and we put out two songs. Now we’re on a U.S. tour and then we're going to be opening for Incubus and Sublime this summer. It’s really a complete 180, it’s nuts. Two years ago, I was just sitting in my bedroom every day, twiddling my thumbs, (wondering when) I could play again because I truly didn’t know if I would be able to play again, but I’m really just glad we’re able to perform live again.

I feel like a lot of musicians have experienced sort of the same thing, being stuck then blowing up.

Keilah: Exactly! Like everyone has all this momentum that we haven’t seen in a long time, it’s awesome. Not the pandemic itself, obviously. So many lives were lost, but in a way it did make us stronger even though the strength came in a really f-cked up way. It’s really insane how things happened, but I'm just really grateful to be healthy, alive, here, and playing music because so many people aren’t able to. We’re doing it for them, I guess.

What message do you try to convey to fans with your music?

Keilah: You can do anything literally anything, if you put your mind to it. Really, if you love it, you can do it. As long as you're not hurting anyone and it's not affecting you negatively, don't let anyone tell you that you can't. We just want people to be happy and to feel empowered, no matter who they are: women, men, people who don’t conform to gender norms. We just want everyone to feel empowered, badass, and ready to take on the day or the night. Feeling good in yourself is one of the best feelings ever, so we hope that our music makes people feel the way that it makes us feel and when we play it. It's like one of the most insane highs ever and I think that's what I just want them to feel like.

Melissa: Honestly, Keilah said everything that needed to be said! We want to make everyone realize their badass potential.

Can you tell us a little about your fashion style?

Keilah: It's a little harder because of my size, so finding inexpensive clothes that match my style and fit me is something I can almost never find, so I usually thrift a lot of things. They have some brands that are my style and maybe cost a little more, but that’s because they’re more eco-friendly or plus-size-friendly. You can kind of get away with taking things that you might not think you would wear and get to upcycle them without losing out on the money that you might store. So yeah, I usually thrift — eBay, Depop, my jacket’s from Mercari and my shirt’s my sister's from American Apparel. If you can do it, you might as well thrift.

Melissa: I live to thrift too. I thrifted my shirt, my skirt. You just never really know what you’re going to find and it keeps things interesting, for sure!

You inspire a lot of your fans. What do you do to inspire yourselves on the day-to-day?

Melissa: Honestly, I wake up, curl into a ball and watch TikTok. I feel like that's not very inspiring, I guess some videos are.

Keilah: I feel like it's a bit harder to get a routine down with world tour stuff, but at home it’s definitely a lot easier. I have a job, so if I have to wake up really early and open up my work, I play fun music I like and try to pump myself up. I’m going to be my biggest fan no matter what, like we are our biggest fans, so be affirmational and put yourself out there. Looking at yourself in the mirror and being like, everything’s okay. It’s a short shift today, so everything's fine. Seeing other people who are like me and doing big things and being successful is so inspirational because if they can do it then I can for sure do it too —  unless they’re a nepotism baby.

Melissa: Yeah, just be your own biggest supporter. There's no point in comparing yourself to other people when you don't compare. No one compares to you either because you're so individual and unique and gorgeous.

Keilah: It’s harmful to look at someone and wish you were like them. If you are happy in yourself, you don't need to be like anyone else. You might as well learn to love yourself or at least be neutral with yourself. You are stuck with you forever. No matter what you do to yourself, your conscience is always going to be there forever, so before you try and make any weird societal pressure happy be sure to make yourself happy.

This interview has been minimally edited for clarity and length.