Australia’s most electrifying punk band WAAX are heading to Geelong

Brisbane five-piece WAAX are one band to watch. Having just come off the back of a massive 18 months, they’ve toured with the likes of Fall Out Boy, Violent Soho, Dune Rats, and Ecca Vandal, as well as playing their own shows and festival slots around the country. With two independently-released EP’s Holy Sick (2015) and Wild & Weak (2017), as well as barnstorming singles like ‘Same Same’, ‘Wild & Weak’, ‘I For An Eye’, and recent single ‘Labrador’, this band is hot on our radar. Now, they’re kicking off on a massive 12 date tour throughout May and June. We chat to vocalist and powerhouse Marie DeVita ahead of the shows.
Hey, thanks for chatting to Forte! How are you and what have you been up to recently?
Hey! Thanks for having us! Well, we kicked off our Labrador Tour on the Gold Coast over the weekend and it was a bloody excellent show- can’t wait til the next one! Before that, we were on tour with Biffy Clyro and had wonderful time. I guess we’ve been jumping around Australia pretty much every week.
You recently released the fresh track ‘Labrador’, which deals with some heavy emotions and issues surrounding depression and body image. Was it difficult to approach these topics?
It always is – especially leading up to release day. I had never previously shared these things about my life so it was nerve-racking – but now it’s out, I feel total relief both internally and externally.
With two independent releases already behind you (Holy Sick and Wild & Weak), how are you guys approaching the upcoming album? Any different process, attitudes etc.
I guess each time it has been different – working with new people is always refreshing. I think we’re all getting faster and more efficient at writing. Wild & Weak was lot more conceptual as a whole, now the new stuff feels more like a stream of consciousness, exploring everything including my past which was uncharted territory before ‘Labrador’.
In the past 18 months, you have performed more than 60 shows (slots with Violent Soho, Dune Rats, and Fall Out Boy, festivals, headline shows etc), what’s been the highlight?
Yeah, that’s a tough question. I had such different and enriching experiences at all those shows in different ways. Playing Qudos Bank Arena with FOB – literally 12,000 people was absolutely nuts and terrifying but unforgettable. And getting a tattoo backstage on the Dune Rats tour was a good one, I also got lost on a boat with Chris (guitar) and James from Soho at the Dunies afterparty – but that’s a whole other story… good times.
With all that experience on stage, there’s an obvious love for it. What’s most important to you when hitting the live stage?
No. 1 rule: you gotta have fun. That’s what keeps you going. We’ve spent half a decade doing this and it never gets old because we have fun. And it’s where I feel most myself – I can be as wild as I want and scream as much as I want. I love going on journeys with the audience; it’s so emotional and beautiful.
Everyone is very looking forward to seeing you in Geelong as part of the ‘Labrador’ single tour. What can audiences expect from your show?
Expect to be a part of every moment. Expect to be sweaty and singing with me.
Thank you guys so much for answering some questions! Any last words?
Thank you!! Last words… we won’t tolerate shit behaviour at our shows, we expect it to be a safe and happy environment for everyone. Look after your mates and be respectful, cheers! See you at The Barwon Club yew!
When & Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong – June 13.
Photo by Ian Laidlaw