SWEET SUBSTANCE

In the last 10 years, the all-female rock ‘n’ roll world has exploded — in terms of sheer numbers, scope of talent, and stylistic variety. Still, it isn’t easy to match sugar-sweet harmonies, frenetic instrumental chops, and a livewire performance style with lyrics that peel the scab off societal assumptions — which is what makes Peach Kelli Pop such a crucial band in today’s overflowing garage pantheon.

Take the Los Angeles five-piece’s most recent release, the 7-inch Halloween Mask. If you heard the title track or follow-up single “Hundred Dollar Bill” out of context, you’d probably hum right along to the catchy, easygoing melodies. Dig into the lyrics, though, and a bigger picture emerges — PKP founder and frontwoman Allie Hanlon sings about the pressure women feel to achieve idealistic external beauty and the interplay among sexuality, power, and money that goes on every minute of every day in strip clubs around the world.

Folio Weekly Magazine chatted with Hanlon about marathon tours, surviving the Los Angeles grind, and the importance of female friendship and collaboration.

Folio Weekly Magazine: On this new tour, Peach Kelli Pop plays 29 shows in 33 days. Is that intentional?
Allie Hanlon: The marathon format is intentional. I like keeping momentum on tour. Days off can make the adrenaline wear off, and you end up more tired and out of the groove. Since we don’t travel with a tour manager, I need to focus and stay organized when I’m not on stage, eating well and staying healthy. I can’t really party or live a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. Also, I don’t like touring for more than four weeks. You get cranky and homesick after that. I have a flexible job, but it would be a problem for the other girls if we were out longer than that. Everyone’s time is precious, so we try to cram in as many cities we can in a short amount of time.

Is the current lineup relatively new?
It’s by far the best we’ve had. Mindee Jorgensen [drums] has played with us since 2015. I met her and Alex Edgeworth [guitar] through a mutual friend. Alex helped find Gina Negrini [bass] and Sophie [keyboards] is Gina’s sister. But we all have similar backgrounds in punk, DIY, and rock ’n’ roll.

Were those the things that motivated you to start Peach Kelli Pop back in Ottawa?
I loved music — the music coming out of Oakland and San Francisco that was catchy and amazing but technically simple with low production values. It was a great example of less is more, which didn’t exist in Ottawa at the time. It was inspiring when I started to write music for the first time.

What brought on your move to Los Angeles?
I needed a change. I had friends and a support system in Los Angeles, and touring extensively made it clear that was the place I wanted to be. I love living here because it’s normal to work in creative fields. There just aren’t the same opportunities in other cities, Ottawa included. But the Hollywood bullshit exists. The music industry isn’t fair. People who haven’t worked hard, supported others, or contributed to their community can still be wildly successful in the blink of an eye. It can make you feel jaded and want to give up.

Peach Kelli Pop’s music doesn’t make anybody want to give up. In fact, empowerment and inclusivity are huge hallmarks. Have they always been the central themes?
I’ve always been obsessed with bands that consist of all women. I saw barely any women in music growing up, so it always blew my mind when I saw another girl playing powerful, loud instruments. Representation of women in music is important, along with female friendship and collaboration. Having only women in the band is intentional because I like working and traveling with women — but they’re also better at performing the songs. Especially the vocal lines.

Do you think female representation and respect is where it needs to be in the rock realm?
Being a woman in the little bubble in which I currently exist is great because it’s a non-issue. I never feel uncomfortable, or like I don’t have the same opportunities. But then you see festival lineups that have almost no women and realize it’s still a problem. Hopefully the balance and equality keeps spreading to other pockets of the music world that desperately need it.

Peach Kelli Pop tours through Florida nearly every year. Why Florida?
I think people in Florida like rock ’n’ roll. There’s a good nightlife and sense of community in the cities we’ve played, which really helps make a show fun. We love partying with Wet Nurse in Orlando, and Nick Commoditie puts on amazing shows in St. Augustine. On this tour, we’re really excited to play Jacksonville and Gainesville for the first time.