Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?

Heather: With Jono’s background in really cool, technical, noisy guitar music and me, having more of a theatre background with a passion for pop music, the sound developed surprisingly organically! I gravitate towards big pop melodies which is a fun challenge when Jono brings in these really dissonant tracks. Developing the sound has always been about balancing pop with noise. Every track has different ratios of each side, but both elements will always be there in some form.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Jono: I think there’s a lot of creative tension in combining pop and post punk elements that is really interesting to work from - so taking influences from super pop artists like Lady Gaga and The 1975 and pitting that against the noisy bands like Future of the Left and Daughters provides a great spark from which a lot of our stuff comes from.

What can punters expect from a Cry Club live show?

Heather: MEL. O. DRA. MA. Honestly the live show is the reason we make music at all. It’s theatrical, over the top and bursting at the seams with energy and emotion. Performing is so cathartic, and our songs are all so personal, it’s impossible to not give it everything I’ve got!!!!! Don’t think you’re safe hiding at the back either. I love a good wander through the audience mid-song.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Jono: A big one that has guided our method, that unfortunately wasn’t given to us directly was Black Flag’s strategy of having the show be the focus and letting everything else around it be a flyer. So if something outside of the live show doesn’t land the way you want it to, all your eggs aren’t in that basket. They’re with the live show, so you don’t get stuck in things like comparing yourself to the success/progress of other artists.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Heather: 'Sun' by Moaning Lisa. Honestly, sometimes you feel fragile and need a boost, and this song gives you all the goodness of Vitamin D right through your headphones.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Jono: 'The Pull' by Eilish Gilligan.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Heather: 'stabs' by RAAVE TAPES. It’s soooo infectious and dancey. Honestly, I have this on REPEAT right now.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

Jono: It was a Monday Night Mass at the Northcote Social Club, with Lost Talk and Wax Chattels. Both incredibly good/aggressively cool bands. Love a free gig that always has interesting bands.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Wollongong (if you would like to talk about Melbourne, you can do so too) music community that inspire you.

Heather: Bec Sandridge! I loved her music before Cry Club was a thing, I’ve loved the way she carefully considers every aspect of her identity as an artist. Her aesthetics, stage outfits, and her songs absolutely bang so hard. It’s been amazing to have another openly lesbian artist to look up to as well. On the flip side, Totally Unicorn are the noisy inspo. They were the party guys for a long time, but it’s been wild to see the way it’s evolved into something darker. They’re also outrageoussssss to see live!!!

What are your plans for 2019?

Jono: Release more music, play more shows, get to 2020 and do it again.