Folk Bitch Trio – Cathode Ray
Australian trio Folk Bitch Trio have announced their debut album, “Now Would Be A Good Time,” which will be released on July 25th via Jagjaguwar. The album will be accompanied by their latest single, “Cathode Ray.”
Despite their playfully descriptive name, the Melbourne based group—comprising Gracie Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington, and Heide Peverelle—crafts a sound that transcends simple categorization. Having been friends since high school and musical collaborators for five years, the trio has honed a distinctive style with lush three-part harmonies and intricate guitar arrangements.
“Cathode Ray” opens cautiously with “big, looping sighs” of harmony before expanding into a vulnerable, slightly menacing territory. Gracie Sinclair describes the song’s visceral imagery: “It expresses a feeling of being trapped in myself and wanting to break out of that so violently that I’m literally talking about opening up a body viscerally. It’s about frustration and knowing there’s no cheap thrill that’s going to fix that.”
This release follows their previous single, “The Actor,” both of which will appear on their forthcoming album. The full-length was recorded in Auckland, New Zealand, with producer Tom Healy (known for his work with The Chills and Tiny Ruins). It aims to adopt a minimalistic approach while building complex, airy arrangements.
The band represents a fusion of distinct musical backgrounds and sensibilities. Pilkington brings formative experiences of musician parents and influences like Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams. Peverelle, who creates art and furniture in their spare time, contributes a tactile appreciation for classic and contemporary pop. Sinclair, self-described as the group’s “jester,” brings darker, more theatrical influences ranging from Patti Smith and Nirvana to opera, ballet, and Tchaikovsky.
Since releasing their debut single “Houselights” in 2020, Folk Bitch Trio has toured with notable acts including King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Alex G, and even backed M. Ward on his cover of “Cry” last year. They’re on tour in the UK, with appearances at St Pancras Old Church and The Great Escape festival, before heading to New York and Los Angeles in July to coincide with their album release.
