Hurtling around the world, ripping up the rulebook with every inclusive, incendiary show, DREAM WIFE spent their debut cementing themselves as a punkspirited force to be reckoned with. Now, on ‘So When You Gonna...’, the trio are taking a step back and finding inspiration in their softer side.Words: Lisa Wright. Photos: Jender Anomie.
TRY A LITTLE I f you’d have caught Dream Wife before any one of the more-than-150 shows that the trio racked up across 2018 in support of their self-titled debut, you’d have stumbled upon a scene more like a focused locker room than a hotbed of celebratory, punk-rock excess. “If you see us half hour before a show, you’ll see us all stretching together, just making sure we’re physically fit to be able to do whatever we wanna do on that stage,” begins singer Rakel Mjöll. “You have to treat yourself like you’re an athlete not a pop star,” picks up guitarist Alice Go. “It’s a team sport, and there’s a camaraderie in our physicality live, so we wanna be at our best because we’re so grateful for everyone that stands with us when we’re saying these messages that obviously mean so much.” “I’m hoping by the time we start touring again I’ll be able to slide straight down into the splits while playing bass,” informs Bella Podpadec with a chuckle.
“It almost felt like this punk, rebellious thing to lean into a pop sensibility.” Alice Go 42
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Though, on stage, the band are a riot of energy, fire and fun, behind the scenes, life as a Wife is a much more wholesome affair - a conscious prioritisation of community and self-care that, you sense, is partially responsible for their rapid rise from art-school-project beginnings to one of the last few years’ most necessary breakthrough bands. Dream Wife want you to give a shit because they really give a shit. They’re not in it for the sex, drugs and - well, you can allow them the rock’n’roll. Instead, they’re a band who consistently walk the walk, putting active effort into elevating their peers, supporting other womxn creators and turning every show into a safe, welcoming space. As Rakel notes, “You get to a venue and there’s all these different people that have put that show together, and all of these people that have bought tickets and this whole community that’s come together for that one night to embrace the show. So the idea of arriving to that place hungover and taking it for granted just doesn’t work.” From the pre-gig talks that they would regularly set up with artists and fans to
