Lilly Rouge

Heavy rock outfit, Lilly Rouge are currently touring nationally, supporting their new EP Switchblade which has the title track nominated for Best Rock Song in the MusicOz Awards being held in Sydney this month.
The four-piece band form the Gold Coast put dark lyrics with powerful female vocals and memorable riffs creating songs that ooze attitude.
It's no wonder they are making noise in the local music scene! Having played alongside some of the best acts in the world which include Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers and Dead Letter Circus, and supported the likes of Everclear and The Presidents of the United States of America, Lilly Rouge are showing no sogns of slowing down.
We go to speak with songwriter and front-lady Lilly while she and the band waited for their flight to board en-route to their current national tour.
In true artist form Lilly has been singing since early childhood and hasn't even contemplated another career, "I've always sung and properly started when I was nine" she told us "I started playing guitar and writing songs from 11."
We asked how she came to write her first song and how she knew she could do it, especially at such a young age, and she laughed as she says "I didn't know really. I don't think it's something you know how to do. I used to write poetry and read heaps and I was just playing these chords that I liked together one day. Then I started humming a melody and putting it all together." Telling us how her Mum and Grandmother are her biggest supporters she says, "I played a song for my Grandma and she got little tears. I was 13 and I knew I had it. I "think" that was the first time I knew I'd written a song" she smiled. Of course Lilly has progressed since that first song and is now writing, recording, managing, booking and touring in her quest to "conquer the world".
"I've got a different and interesting way of writing these days" she explains, "I write the music and when putting the melody together I sing it with pretend lyrics, like 'the cat sat on the mat" she laughs. "I record it, listen to it and write the lyrics from there. I like to play around with chord patterns and melodies. I'm making things more complicated but more interesting to listen to every time."

Adding to the excitement of launching the new EP 'Switchblade' which was launched on September 14th at The Tempo in Brisbane, the band's biggest love is touring. We asked where their favourite place to play in Australia was and were surprised to hear the answer, "We love going to Melbourne and we love playing in Canberra!" She explained, "Surprisingly, the venue is awesome. It's called the Basemen. When we first went to Canberra it was -4 degrees and we complained all day saying how we'd never come back." she laughed, "And when we got to the gig it was just fantastic! There's a really great scene down there and the people are really supportive. They want to get out and see live music. " This week will see Lilly Rouge play Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Wagga Wagga followed by Bendigo, Melbourne and back to Sydney for the MusicOz Awards before going onto Perth.

"Switchblade" was recorded at Analogue Heart Studios in Everton Park and Lilly wrote and recorded the EP herself with producer Stuart Stuart/
The savvy artist also manages herself and books all the band's gigs. "We did a tour earlier in the year through a booking agency and only did nine dates. I learnt a lot through that and took it into my own hands this time. We made a lot of connections and this way it's cheaper. Literally two weeks after finishing the last tour I started working on this one!"

The band's line-up is firmly in place and Lilly explains how the songs have been rearranged for stage. "The band has really made the songs their own, it's great!"

With plans on another EP early 2014 and a full 12 track album by the end of 2014, Lilly tells us how she would like to see the band being picked up by a management company or even a label. "We want to tour!" she states, "We're always writing new material to ensure we've always got something new to tour with. We want to get into the big festivals and tour internationally especially."

A 'mostly' full time musician who is also studying Masters in Jazz Voice at QLD Conservatorium, Southbank Campus, Lilly says, "It's never been anything else. I've always worked toward music and this is my number one priority." - The Bizz Gold Coast (Printed + Online Street Press)

Last week, the who’s who of Australian independent artists gathered at Sydney’s state of the art Star City function centre to celebrate the annual Australian Independent Music Awards, more commonly known as MusicOz.

Gold Coast four piece, Lilly Rouge were amongst over 150 finalists up for best song in the rock category with their recently released single Switchblade. They’ve been promoting the hell out of Switchblade during their recent Australian tour.

Much to the delight of front woman and songwriter Lilly, the group placed in the Top 5 on the night, giving her and the rest of the band something to celebrate well into the wee hours of the morning.

“We are just so excited and humbled by the result!” Lilly said.

“There were so many amazing artists nominated for this award and to be in the top 5 in Australia is something we never expected!”

The band were also finalists in the singer/songwriter category for their as yet unreleased track, Exposed.

MusicOz tops off a stellar year for Lilly Rouge who have managed to squeeze releasing two EPs in alongside appearances at Big Day Out and Dead of Winter Festivals, a support slot for USA rockers Presidents of the United States of America as well as two tours of the East coast and Australia.

The band has their sights set on an even larger 2014 with hints of a full length release in the works. And we at Blank cannot wait. - Blank GC

After playing at Big Day Out and Dead of Winter Festival earlier this year, Lilly Rouge will be embarking on a nationwide tour this October in promotion of their current EP, Switchblade.
Known for their spunky rock anthems touched with fierce sensitivity, Lilly Rouge has been garnering attention worldwide with their current EP and title track Switchblade — a blistering pop-rock number laden with toxic percussion and energetic guitar.
- See more at: http://www.beat.com.au/music/lilly-rouge-announce-switchblade-tour-0#sthash.1gsb210Z.vIqwuz0f.dpuf

Check em @ Cherry Bar 27 October - Beat Magazine

Three Gold Coast bands are currently battling it out on Facebook in an attempt to earn themselves the support slot for Cradle of Filth’s Brisbane show in May.

Two female-fronted bands are amongst the trio, with locals Galactic Acid and Lilly Rouge competing against one another for the opportunity. Also in the running are a slew of Brisbane acts.

Technical death metallers, Shifting the Paradigm, at present leads the Gold Coast bands in the mix.

They also sit forth overall, behind Awaken Solace, DARKC3LL and Chronolyth.

Voting closes 21 April.

Cradle of Filth play at the Brisbane Hi-Fi on 9 May.

- Murder the Dance

2013 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Gold Coast rock ‘n’ rollers, Lilly Rouge.

Not only did the female-fronted quintet play Australia’s largest music festival, The Big Day Out, in January, but they also released their second EP, ‘Black Blood’. And balancing equal parts hard rock distortion and “fuck the world, let’s party” attitude, ‘Black Blood’ oozes all the right ingredients for a modern rock ‘n’ roll classic.

“Just imagine really heavy rock ‘n roll mixed with some sexy-ass female vocals,” singer-songwriter Leah Elizabeth Martin-Brown explains. “Add a little speed, Jack Daniels and someone who’s really pissed off; maybe throw in a gothic monster or two and then you might get an idea of what’s going on.

“It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s a little bit unusual, but it’s definitely got something special that I feel hasn’t been in the market for a long time.”

And according to Martin-Brown, the reception to ‘Black Blood’ has been overwhelmingly positive – enough so to swing the door wide open for the Lilly Rouge to dive into the US.

“We’ve had a lot more interest than we had before from the USA, [and] there’s one station in particular over there that’s picked it up and put it on high rotation,” she says. “I think it’s the fifth track off the EP, which has been popular everywhere, but its kinda been overshadowed by ‘Spit on Your Grave’ and ‘Armageddon’. But in America it’s just going off.”

While it’s not exactly touring the US, Lilly Rouge supported The Presidents of the United States of America earlier this month. And considering the band also shared the stage with Everclear last year, Lilly Rouge seems to be the kings and queens of scoring ’90s rocker support slots.

“Surprisingly enough they really enjoyed [us]; we had a really big crowd to start off with, and … a few people came up to me after and said, ‘we brought tickets to this ’cause we knew you guys were playing’. I was like, ‘that’s strange, but rad’!

“We actually had quite a large pit going people were dancing, and they really, really liked it. But The Presidents are such a fun band, and I think the crowd would’ve been receptive to most music because they were there to have a good time. It was nice; they were friendly.”

dy and waiting to go. When I get back I’m gonna sit down and listen to them all … and I’m gonna pick out the ones I already have that I think will fit well together, then head into the studio and record five to 10 more.”

By the sounds of things, I’m a little unsure of how much writing will actually get done while the band’s in the US. But whether or not they wind up conjuring a platinum selling record, a day in the life of Lilly Rouge on tour sure as hell makes my life seem dull.

“Lilly Rouge herself will be very, very hung over and very cranky; everyone will be tired; we’ll go and get a greasy breakfast; we’ll be travelling somewhere, cracking jokes the whole way; someone will probably get a prank pulled on them, like we might stop off at a service station and drive off without them; there’s always a show involved … and then we’ll party really, really hard after it … We’re children.” - Murder the Dance- Not Another Indie Rock Site!

Despite their debauched subject matter and hard rocking tendencies, every track on this Gold Coast five piece's second EP is sleek and immediate. The voice of lead woman Lilly Rouge is mixed high atop distorted riffs and military beats- each sweetly melodised chorus emphasised with her vocals double tracked.
Their sound harks back to the radio friendly hard-rock of the 1980s, though updated to include the influence of quasi-alternative rockers such as Evanescence. Opening track 'Spit on Your Grave' is an excellent introduction to their sound but the peak of the EP comes two songs later with the darkly entertaining title track. - InPress Magazine (VIC)

Despite their debauched subject matter and hard rocking tendencies, every track on this Gold Coast five piece's second EP is sleek and immediate. The voice of lead woman Lilly Rouge is mixed high atop distorted riffs and military beats- each sweetly melodised chorus emphasised with her vocals double tracked.
Their sound harks back to the radio friendly hard-rock of the 1980s, though updated to include the influence of quasi-alternative rockers such as Evanescence. Opening track 'Spit on Your Grave' is an excellent introduction to their sound but the peak of the EP comes two songs later with the darkly entertaining title track. - InPress Magazine (VIC)

With the frustrating abundance of shows in Brisbane on Friday, Time Off heads south to catch the ‘90s most unlikely success story, The Presidents Of The United States Of America revisit their somewhat-seminal debut album. Upon walking into the venue, we’re greeted with the guitar crunch of Gold Coast rockers Lilly Rouge. With the home ground advantage, the band quickly have the crowd whipped into a weird hybrid of club style dancing and moshing before Brisbane’s Hey Geronimo take over. - Tom Hersey

With the frustrating abundance of shows in Brisbane on Friday, Time Off heads south to catch the ‘90s most unlikely success story, The Presidents Of The United States Of America revisit their somewhat-seminal debut album. Upon walking into the venue, we’re greeted with the guitar crunch of Gold Coast rockers Lilly Rouge. With the home ground advantage, the band quickly have the crowd whipped into a weird hybrid of club style dancing and moshing before Brisbane’s Hey Geronimo take over. - Tom Hersey

Gold Coast rockers Lilly Rouge have set their eyes on world domination in 2013. After performing at the Big Day Out, front woman of the same name, Lilly Rouge took some time out and talked with Sound Your Music before preparing herself for their upcoming show with The Presidents of the United States of America.

Lilly gave us an introduction of how the band started, “It was a persona I created in my bedroom when I was sixteen years old. I realised I needed the help of a band to get my music out and about in the live music scene. Over several months I finally managed to find the perfect combination of musicians and finally in June 2012, we were ready to launch my debut Severed Souls EP to the general public and really hit the local live scene.”

Her latest Black Blood EP has received rave reviews. Lilly explained, “It was interesting to write. I headed into the studio for two weeks in April and then ten days in June last year, and just wrote about all the stuff in my head at the time: booze, boys, politics and homicidal demon vampires … which is totally normal for a twenty year old girl to be thinking about (laughs). We ended up with all these amazing tracks that I had to narrow down to six for release. The title track Black Blood, only made it on the album at the last minute because I was so in love with the vocal line in the pre-chorus, I could not bear not to have it out there for everyone to hear!”

Explaining how it compares to Severed Souls, she went on to say “I feel like Severed Souls was an introductory release – heavy, riffy and melodically interesting but playing it relatively safe so as not to scare away too many people too quickly. I think Black Blood is a step up because it is a little offensive with songs like Spit On Your Grave and King of Cruel. The EP also has some heavier musical ideas and darker themes but it still contains the essence of what our music represents: That it is okay to be a little freaky, it is okay to get angry and it is definitely alright to want to party and be totally carefree.”

At this very moment the band’s latest release is being played on the airwaves throughout Australia. On what the feeling is like, Lilly explained, “To be honest the boys and I were really surprised! To have so many reputable and respected stations playing our tracks and having people requesting to hear them just blows us away. We are totally humbled and it really drives us to keep working harder so we can get our asses on a tour bus and go and personally thank them all!”

Lilly has some very exciting tours planned in the near future. With sights set on world domination, she explained how it was going, “It is obviously a lengthy process, especially considering that I cannot find myself any cheap death rays. However, we are making some progress with contacts in the USA. We have linked up with a booking agent who is in the process of booking us a national tour due to kick off in mid-June this year through to July / August. We have also been picked up by some stations in the UK … baby steps, you know.”

Kicking off with a show in Melbourne on May 16, Lilly could not contain her excitement for the band’s upcoming tours that are fast approaching: “We are really looking forward to connecting with some of our fans in the southern states and growing our Australian following before we head off to the USA. We are still pinching ourselves about the USA tour; it will be totally crazy!”

Black Blood EP is out now.

Lilly Rouge supporting The Presidents of the United States of America
Saturday 9th March – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast


For more details visit Lilly Rouge on Facebook. - Sound Your Music (Online)

Congratulations to A-Venue bands Sneeky Picnic, Skinwalkers, Lilly Rouge, Dave's Pawn Shop and The Vernons who have been added to the Gold Coast Big Day Out line-up on Sunday 20 January. Catch the bands on the RED stage from 11am. They will be joining other Queensland bands The Medics, Dead Letter Circus, I Heart Hiroshima, Paul Mac, The Cairos, Bob Log III, Hey Geronimo, WE ALL WANT TO, Evil Edie and triple j Unearthed winners Jakarta Criers. - QMusic

The Big Day Out will be heavy on Gold Coast flavour this year with two local acts counting down the day until they hit the stage with the massive touring festival. Local rockers, Lilly Rouge landed a set on the Big Day Out line-up at Parklands Showgrounds on Sunday ahead of their EP launch. Lead singer, Leah Martin-Brown said she and her band mates were surprised to get the phone call to play at one of Australia's favourite music festivals. "We're not really sure how we landed it to be honest." Ms Martin-Brown said. "Our publicist put us forward and the organisers got back to us in September and said we were on!" "We're stoked and can't wait for the day, we keep pinching ourselves out of disbelief!" Last year was massive for the local five piece- with gig commitments, planning an international tour and writing an EP which will be released on February 8th at the Hard Rock Cafe. Lilly Rouge scored a 30 minute set on the Red Stage at 12.30pm which will host Dead Letter Circus, Skinwalkers and The Cairos. - Gold Coast Bulletin

"Opening for Everclear was amazing". Says Rouge, in response to the obvious ice breaker. "The crowd, the venue operators and the guys from the band made us feel so welcome! And we got to watch them rock out after our set- 'Heroin girl' is my favourite. We had an after-show meet and greet with Art Alexakis and the rest of the crew and he and I actually got into quite a heated discussion comparing benefits of death by burning or being eaten by a bear... he had some pretty valid points. The whole, "it keeps you alive while it eats your insides" thing. Needless to say, I'd now rather burn to death."
Dramatically changing tack, Time Off asks Rouge a little bit about the upcoming EP due for release early in 2013.
"Definitely! We're super excited about this release; Black Blood. It's shaping up to be a six-track EP that's a lot darker than the last one, heavier riffs, angrier lyrics (which is always a good thing!). We've got the official single, 'Armageddon' that's being released alongside the film clip and then we also have a follow up called 'Spit on Your Grave'. So pretty exciting stuff on the way!"
And the US tour? It seems there's one place in particular Rouge is looking forward to visiting and it has more to do with neon lights than music.
"We're heading to the US in early March. It kicks off in Los Angeles on 22 March. We're doing around 42 shows coast to coast with USA bands Phoenix/Nebulin and Rotation, which should be a lot of fun! I'm most excited about hitting Vegas though- that place is crazy!"

- TimeOff Magazine

Gold Coast rockers, Lilly Rouge have announced two final shows ahead of their EP release and a tour of the US.
Fresh from their support slot for 'Everclear' and amidst preparations being made for their upcoming tour in March, the band is ready for their last local show of the year.
Lilly Rouge is named after their lead singer, who describes herself as the "lovechild of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett". She says supporting Everclear has been one of the band's greatest career highlights. "Opening for Everclear was such an amazing experience," she says. "I've been listening to them for years,- so to be able to share a stage with the guys- plus meet them- was phenomenal.
Definitely our biggest career highlight to date."
Lilly Rouge will light up Griffith University with their hard hitting punk sounds and riff driven rock songs on Monday November 19, in support of Men's charity month- Movember.
Lead singer Lilly says men should bring their sexiest moustaches and women make sure they appreciate the extra facial hair. "This is such a great cause and we were stoked to be asked to be part of this event, raising awareness and money for men's cancer." she said.
"The boys in the band are trying to grow mo's in time for it!"
Support bands on the bill are Thin White Lines and Interim.
Lilly Rouge are putting the finishing touches on their new EP which is due for release February 2013.
"Our new sound is something we are really proud of, it's heavier and more solidified" said Lilly,
"It shows more of what we sound like as a band than 'Severed Souls', which is currently for sale." she said. "It's totally something worth rocking out to!"
The band will play their final show for the year at Miami Shark Bar, 14th December 2012 alongside other bands, Flannelette, Galactic Acid and Closure. - Gold Coast Sun "Scene"

Gold Coast rockers, Lilly Rouge have announced two final shows ahead of their EP release and a tour of the US.
Fresh from their support slot for 'Everclear' and amidst preparations being made for their upcoming tour in March, the band is ready for their last local show of the year.
Lilly Rouge is named after their lead singer, who describes herself as the "lovechild of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett". She says supporting Everclear has been one of the band's greatest career highlights. "Opening for Everclear was such an amazing experience," she says. "I've been listening to them for years,- so to be able to share a stage with the guys- plus meet them- was phenomenal.
Definitely our biggest career highlight to date."
Lilly Rouge will light up Griffith University with their hard hitting punk sounds and riff driven rock songs on Monday November 19, in support of Men's charity month- Movember.
Lead singer Lilly says men should bring their sexiest moustaches and women make sure they appreciate the extra facial hair. "This is such a great cause and we were stoked to be asked to be part of this event, raising awareness and money for men's cancer." she said.
"The boys in the band are trying to grow mo's in time for it!"
Support bands on the bill are Thin White Lines and Interim.
Lilly Rouge are putting the finishing touches on their new EP which is due for release February 2013.
"Our new sound is something we are really proud of, it's heavier and more solidified" said Lilly,
"It shows more of what we sound like as a band than 'Severed Souls', which is currently for sale." she said. "It's totally something worth rocking out to!"
The band will play their final show for the year at Miami Shark Bar, 14th December 2012 alongside other bands, Flannelette, Galactic Acid and Closure. - Gold Coast Sun "Scene"

JULIAN PEARCE chats to LILLY ROUGE about her band’s EP Launch on Saturday, her Mother’s Day gifts for Joan Jett and a rock revolution.

JULIAN PEARCE: Lilly Rouge started off a solo act; can you tell us what inspired you to transform into a full band?

LILLY ROUGE: I realised that if I was going to be able to write and perform the music I loved I was going to have to branch out a little.

JP: You have said that you plan to spearhead the rock revolution, what do you think needs changing?

LR: Music needs to stop being viewed as a way to make cash and instead be seen as a way to relate to others and express different opinions.

JP: You claim to be the lovechild of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett – which one of the two do you think would make the best mum? What would you have gotten them for Mother’s Day?

LR: Tough choice! I think I’d go with Joan on this one and for her Mother’s Day present I’d get her an awesome pair of leather pants a nice bunch of flowers with a teddy bear saying “You Rock Mum!”

JP: Who do you think your music speaks to? Through listening to your EP, I get the feeling the song All You Freaks is an anthem of sorts.

LR: I’d like to think that my music speaks to whoever is listening but I particularly aim it at those who feel like they don’t belong anywhere.

JP: How do you think you fit in to the Gold Coast and Burleigh Heads music scene?

LR: I don’t think we fit in in the conventional sense, but we have received a lot of support from the regulars in the scene so hopefully we’re beginning to carve our own little niche in the market.

JP: Severed Souls will be launched at Billy’s Beach House on Saturday Jun 2 after years of build-up. Can you tell us a bit about the recording process and why its gestation was such an extended one?

LR: It’s taken this long to come up with the right mix of sounds and ideas to create a debut EP I feel is of a high enough calibre to compete in the international music market. I guess we’ll see if it was worth the wait.

LILLY ROUGE launch their EP, SEVERED SOULS, at Billy’s Beach House on Saturday Jun 2. For more info, head to www.facebook.com/thelillyrougeband. - Rave Magazine Street Press