Fast, fun, and loud, that’s how girlfriends describe the feeling behind their music. The duo behind the group, Travis Mills and Nick Gross, feel unstoppable, and their song “shut up & kiss me” has a vibrant energy and infectious sound that just makes you want more. The band has been building up a following, releasing emotionally charged, captivating singles and putting an emphasis on their dynamic live performance and touring. They know that connection with the audience is the priority.
Their music serves as a space for self expression and all of the complex emotions that come with it, all while keeping that thread of excitement in the mix. In an era of wannabes, girlfriends prove artists don’t need to chase trends. Ahead of their supporting arena run on alt queen Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour, Ladygunn spoke with girlfriends about their brand of pop-punk, what it means to share the stage with a legend, and what’s next for the band.
In short, what is the story of girlfriends?
Nick and I have both played in different projects since we were kids. The band was born out of a desire to play live since we both missed touring so much and make music that was centered around what we grew up loving and the things that inspired us currently. Doing it the way we always wanted to, and for me, it really feels like a second chance.
Tell me about “shut up & kiss me” and its significance – how did it come together?
The song is so fun and has this childlike innocence about it. It came together with Andrew Gomez as we were just joking back and forth and I just said “Shut up and kiss me” and thought that could be an awesome hook. It has a lot of energy and it’s even better live.
The music video is so fun! Can you tell me about your vision for it?
When you have a song like “shut up & kiss me” you need to have a lot of people making out. It was one of the most awkward and hilarious days of filming while we’re trying to play instruments and people are just swapping spit in every direction.
What’s the message you want your fans to take away from your music?
That life doesn’t have to be inherently negative all the time. We live in a time where all the bad in the world is sometimes glorified and it can get really dark and depressing if that’s on a constant loop. It does get better, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, you just gotta keep going.
What would you say to people who think pop punk is a trend?
I think music is cyclical, and everything eventually comes back around. The thing about the scene as a whole is that it never went away. it just got even stronger and now there’s people who never grew up going to shows or listening to certain bands that get to experience it for the first time.
What is the biggest challenge musicians face in the current landscape?
For me it’s learning how to stay patient. There’s an emphasis on how much content you can pump out at an insane pace, but it might not be sustainable. If you have a vision and a perspective to come from, it’s important to see it through fully before settling on just putting stuff out so you feel like people won’t forget about you
How do you stay motivated as a band?
We have a vision that extends beyond what’s right in front of us and sees the potential of our long-term goals. We both love playing music and give each other space creatively to lean into our strengths and rely on each other when we need it. If you’re not playing the long game, it’s easy to get discouraged too early.
How excited are you to tour with Avril Lavigne? How are you prepping for the tour?
We toured Europe with her last year, and the whole time, we were talking about what it would be like to do that in the US. We feel like we get to relive it all over again, but on home turf. We’ve also never played in Canada as a band, so the fact our first time is with Canada’s princess is one that we will never forget.
What comes next for girlfriends in 2024?
One of the biggest tours of our lives and writing new music to put a big smile on your face in 2025
WORDS // EMILY TREADGOLD
PHOTOS // MALLORY TURNER
STYLING // ALI MULLIN
GROOMING // BRITTANY PAIGE LAMBERT
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