June 16, 2025 • 29 mins
Sibling trio Womb takes us behind the scenes of their dreamy shoegaze sound and shared creative journey. From their childhood musical foundations to the evolution of their distinctive sound, this conversation reveals the beautiful simplicity of creating art with family.
Haz and Georgette (GiGi) share the remarkable story of their musical heritage, tracing back to a great-great-grandfather who holds a world record for distance-walking while playing the fiddle. This musical DNA flourished when the family relocated from Illinois to Wellington, New Zealand, immersing the teenage siblings in a vibrant DIY music scene that would shape their artistic sensibilities.
What began as Cello's solo project organically expanded to include her siblings, with visual artist Georgette courageously picking up drumsticks despite minimal experience. "I did always fantasize about being a musician when I was little," Georgette reveals, recalling childhood dreams of becoming "Alanis Morissette in leather." This natural progression highlights the intuitive understanding that makes their collaboration special—no formal discussions about musical direction needed, just a shared wavelength that produces their cohesive sound.
The band's creative process reveals beautiful insights into collaborative artmaking. Their innovative "self-imposed residencies" carve out dedicated space for creation away from day jobs and distractions, blending structured music-making with time to connect in nature. This approach has yielded three distinctive yet connected albums, including their latest release "One is Always Heading Somewhere."
Looking ahead, the band hints at exciting developments: Cello's upcoming residency in Spanish cave structures, potential string quartet collaborations, and film scoring projects. After completing what they consider a trilogy of albums, they stand at the threshold of a new artistic chapter, ready to explore fresh sonic territories while maintaining the sibling bond that gives their music its emotional depth.
Listen for an intimate glimpse into how family connections create artistic magic, and how three siblings from New Zealand crafted one of indie music's most distinctive voices.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
WOMB (00:02):
You make me think I could be anything I want, like when I
called you on the drive homefrom the house that you grew up
in On that visit.
We were walking on the pavement, I was talking down the hallway
(00:30):
calling your name, how the raincame in the middle of the Be
With Podcast.
colleyc (00:49):
Wow, am I reaching around the world?
We're actually headed to NewZealand today and we're going to
be talking with Wum and I haveHans here with us, who's going
to represent the band.
So thanks so much for hoppingon here, and I know it's early
morning for you.
Um, I hope it's not too early,uh, for you to wake up and and
(01:12):
have this chat no, no, it'sgreat.
WOMB (01:14):
I'm happy to be here.
colleyc (01:15):
So thanks, chris oh, it's been a pleasure.
I'm uh I was so into this newrecord you guys put out.
Um, so good, one is always aheading somewhere.
It came out just at the startof this year An amazing record.
This band is very DIY chamberpoppy, shoegazy, dream poppy.
(01:37):
It's got all these beautifultouches and it's a band of of
siblings, which is really cool.
Um, so, how's, maybe I'm goingto rewind a little bit and we'll
kind of like we'll, we'llcreate a little bit of a
foundation here on which we'lltalk.
So, growing up, you're a twinwith charlotte, who is the lead
(02:02):
vocalist in Womb.
How did you guys grow up aroundmusic?
Like, was there music in yourhome as you were growing up?
Like, I saw a picture of thetwo of you at a piano, the cute
little picture of the two of yousitting beside each other.
Was music always a part of yourhome when you were growing up?
WOMB (02:24):
Yeah, yeah, well, it definitely was.
Um, so mainly from our dad'sside, like his kind of lineage.
Um, he is a musician, he playslike a lot of bluegrass music,
so he played in australia quitea bit, um, just kind of like for
fun and but they put out somerecords and stuff like that.
But um, so he taught us guitarwhen we were a bit younger and
(02:45):
then he's got kind of his uh,grandparents and
great-grandparents there's musicon that kind of side of the
family.
They're from illinois, aroundthe midwest, and um, we actually
had our great great grandfatherwas he's in the book of world
(03:06):
records because he walked a longdistance playing the fiddle.
So, yeah, from that, yeah,music was definitely like
encouraged and yeah, so musicand yeah.
colleyc (03:28):
And were you guys a part of two like just shows,
like I like, did your dad bringyou to like live music events
and stuff like that?
Like did you kind of get asense of live music when you
guys were growing up, that thatwas something that that was
adventurous to?
WOMB (03:39):
you to you guys not not so much um, yeah, not so much live
music, like when we were kids.
We grew up in, uh, in champaign, illinois, and I guess we
didn't see heaps of like livemusic.
But I think when we came towellington in new zealand when
we were um, we're 12 and kind ofin our early teenage years,
(04:00):
there's like a really cool musicscene live music scene in
wellington and new zealand.
So we just got involved withthat.
There's heaps of diy showswhich are awesome and yeah, so
that kind of got us into it andis wellington like?
colleyc (04:15):
was it a well-established scene for music
, like, like?
Were you guys inspired by a lotof the artists and the music
that was taking place there wasit?
Was that something that thatresonated with you guys?
WOMB (04:28):
yeah, definitely.
I think, um, yeah, well, likeit's a city of probably, uh, I
think it's got like 400 000people, so it's like a very
small city, um, and it's gotlike university students coming
through.
It's the capital city.
It's um, yeah, and itdefinitely kind of like ebbs and
(04:48):
flows with like what creativepossibilities are there at the
time?
Like there's lord of the ringswas being filmed in new zealand
in like 2000, uh, like earlier2000s, and that brought a lot of
like money and create.
Like there's more money forcreative stuff during that time,
um, there's more venues.
So it's definitely like periodswhere there's more money for
creative stuff.
During that time, um, there'smore venues.
So it's definitely like periodswhere there's more venues and
then kind of like it becomesless viable and less possible.
(05:11):
So those close down, butthere's always kind of like a
heart and young people makingmusic and yeah, so it's
definitely awesome space forthat right, and you and Cello
were siblings that grew uptogether.
colleyc (05:27):
How did your musical paths start to come together as
you guys were growing up?
WOMB (05:44):
got the same mom but a different dad, but we've always
grown up together, um, the threeof us, um but she was really
influential for us from likequite a young age because she'd
share music with us.
So it's quite like aninteresting kind of like process
where we started making music.
Drajet wasn't playing music fora long time, like she wasn't a
musician until later on, um,when she joined the band um, but
she was definitely at the startlike influencing us with
(06:05):
different music.
She would just explore as ateenager and she'd have like a
really, yeah, a really awesomekind of perspective on music.
Great, gigi, do you want to?
colleyc (06:18):
hop in here.
We have Bridget here as well.
Hi, I read too, gigi, thatLWire was was a big door opener
for you, in the sense that youwere able to look and discover
all of these amazing artiststhat maybe not very many people
have heard of.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how you came to music and
(06:40):
how you kind of discovered itand and those artists that
really inspired what, what youwanted to do?
WOMB (06:46):
yeah, so hello also sorry that I'm late um no troubles uh,
it was actually even beforelimewire, it was napster and
then that's, true because I'mfrom east, but um, yeah, it was
actually even though that's howI influenced cello and has he
(07:07):
before that um, our older bigsiblings used to make me
mixtapes and things because theylived in melbourne and they
would, um, have access to a lotmore music than what we had
living in the forest, and sothey would make me these little
mixtapes of things like pgharvey and bjork and many, many
(07:28):
things, and then both of ourdads like my dad and cello and
has his dad had pretty extensivevinyl collections as well, and
so I guess we were all justexposed to many different genres
of music, kind of coming fromall angles, and yeah, and then
(07:49):
so it kind of just passed onfrom family member to family
member.
colleyc (07:53):
It seems like it was that way right, Like it was kind
of funneled down through theolder siblings to the younger
ones.
Yes, exactly.
And Gigi, did you ever thinkthat you were going to be in a
band?
Like I know that you onlystarted to be in a band.
Like I know that you onlystarted playing drums a little
bit later on and kind of weren'tin that band.
Kind of ethos, um, whatinspired you to want to be in a
(08:17):
band?
WOMB (08:19):
well, I did always fantasize about being a musician
when I was little, but I Ialways focused on visual art
instead.
And I did have a couple of drumlessons when I was a little kid
, but I never really thought Icould do it because I just, yeah
, focused so much on my visualart that it just seemed like a
(08:40):
fantasy.
And then, like I used tofantasize that I'd be Alanis
Morissette when I grew up, orsomething like that when I was
really little, and be a rockstar and wear all leather.
But then when I was 27, theyCello and Hazzy asked me if I
wanted to join a band with themand that's when I picked up the
(09:02):
drumsticks and uh, then I juststarted doing it and I guess it
became more of a reality thatwas always a fantasy right and
has what?
colleyc (09:14):
what inspired you to bring gg into this?
Like, why did you?
Why?
Where did the idea come thatwith this would be a sibling
band?
Other than just kind of goingoff on your own and exploring
the world of music individually.
What was the catalyst thatbrought you guys together?
WOMB (09:34):
Yeah, it wasn't really orchestrated or anything like
that.
So me and Charlotte were doingthis kind of like it was mainly
like kind of folky projectbefore when we were like
teenagers and then we kind ofwanted to move on from that and
Char Cello started a like a soloproject called it was Womb, and
(09:55):
they released the first EP andthen they want to perform live
and then they wanted some peopleto help perform live.
So, yeah, they struck us intothat and then, yeah, um, we
started.
colleyc (10:12):
Yeah, I think it just kind of, yeah, organically
happened like that right,because the first, the first um
womb record that was put outself-titled.
Yeah, you guys weren't on that,I mean gg looks I remember I I
read that you did the cover artand as you were like consulting
and a part of it, but youweren't a part of it yet like it
(10:33):
wasn't the official like okay,we're, we're coming together
yeah, that's right yeah amazing,amazing, and why.
I guess you know, like I guessI'll start with gg what was it
in your siblings that thatconnected with you, that this
would be?
You know, it's not alanismorissette, but it's something
(10:55):
that I want to be a part of.
Like.
Well, what was it that theywere offering?
That you were like I'm in.
WOMB (11:02):
I don't even know if there was much of a questioning in my
mind.
It just kind of startedhappening and it felt right, and
we've always like made thingstogether in different iterations
our whole lives really, andlike so it just kind of seemed
like a continuation of that andI don't actually remember really
questioning it or asking myselfif it was something I wanted to
(11:24):
do.
I just was doing it because itfelt right and they, they had
already been kind of my maincollaborators prior to that and
so it just felt like another umextension.
That at the time, I'm prettysure.
And yeah, and I have alwaysbeen besotted with any music
(11:46):
that either of them had madetogether or separately, and yeah
, I felt very honored to beasked to join, even though I
didn't know how to drum.
colleyc (12:05):
Let's talk about that, let's drill down a little bit on
that.
Like what?
So they come to you we need adrummer.
You you had a few classes whenyou were younger, as you had
mentioned.
What was that process like foryou?
What did you have to do to tobe able to feel comfortable, to
say, okay, I'll do it.
What's your process of that um?
WOMB (12:21):
transformation into a drummer I think, yeah, I think
there's like this photo of me asa baby on my dad's friend's
drum kit and I think, the way mymind works, I kind of saw that
as like a apparition orsomething, or like a or a
foreshadowing.
(12:42):
When I, when then they asked,and I was like, oh yeah, that
seems right, but I can't exactlyremember what was going through
my mind.
Um, but it was really scary tobe suddenly playing gigs like
two weeks after.
Uh, coming together and likethey already really knew what
they were doing and I did not.
colleyc (13:03):
So, um, yeah, that's pretty impressive though I mean
it's uh, I mean just to gettingtwo body parts involved in
playing an instrument.
Forget about four.
I mean it's a next level in mymind anyway, but that's
interesting.
And what was it like?
(13:25):
Did they describe to you thekind of style, or did you
develop the style based, youknow?
I mean based on what they werepresenting to you, obviously,
but how did your style evolvewith, with womb?
WOMB (13:39):
well, I think initially they probably showed me a few
things to do.
I can't actually exactlyremember because it is a decade
ago now, but um yeah, they wouldhave shown me some general
things and but I'm not sure ifwe necessarily had those kind of
conversations earlier on, didwe Hazzy?
(14:00):
Yeah, I don't think so.
I think like the tone was kindof set like by that first EP,
like the tone and kind of likethe feeling of the band was set
with that EP and also just likestuff we were listening to.
Like I think there was quitelike a Wellington kind kind of
sound or like a new zealandsound at that time that we were
(14:20):
probably part of and like awareor not aware of it, but being
influenced by that, um.
So I think we're all kind ofjust like.
I don't think any of us werecoming from it from like a
completely different perspectiveor like wanting to make a
different sound or anything.
I think we all were kind ofjust on the same same page with
that cool and was it thatsibling connection you think
(14:42):
that enabled, that?
colleyc (14:44):
it facilitated it?
WOMB (14:47):
definitely yeah yeah, yeah it's so easy, like being a
three-piece, or like easy, likeas easy as it can be, being like
a three-piece, siblings thatlike get along mostly, um right
right, yeah in the end, thesebands that like trout, they go
on tour and stuff and theyaren't sibling like we.
(15:10):
Yeah, it's just, it makes it alot easier to like tour and yeah
, it's yeah so what's?
colleyc (15:16):
what's your process?
Like um has maybe I'll throwthis your way Like how do songs
come to be for Womb?
Is there one person that tendsto write the structure of the
song and then brings it to thelike how does your collaboration
work?
Because I do understand toothat we were talking a little
bit before we hopped on here,that you guys are kind of
separated, you're not like nextdoor, so like, how does that
(15:39):
collaboration and how does thesong start for for womb?
WOMB (15:44):
there's not really like a set way that we would start a
song, but, um, like, oftentimeschar will kind of do like voice
memos, like have like notes ontheir phone, um with like lyrics
.
Um, they're also like a writer,so they're a creative writer,
so they they're like, yeah, penon paper is their vibe, um, but
(16:05):
they yeah, so they would kind oflike come up with song
structures.
They've got like unique guitartuning that they use um and
different, yeah, chords theykind of they often return to, so
they would kind of start that.
Oftentimes there's not really astructure so much in place, but
we'll kind of come together allof us and help define that
structure.
(16:26):
Um, sometimes, like I've madejust like guitar bass, like kind
of instrumental stuff that I'vesent to cello and they will use
that and I think they kind oflike that process.
Also, we'll send stuff to judajets, kind of like got a bank of
some drum patterns and stuffthat she'll use um, so, yeah, it
kind of comes together.
(16:47):
We've got a residency, like aself-imposed residency, coming
up next month, which will bereally good.
So we're just going to be inthe same space and um start
generating ideas and cometogether with what we've been
working on independently, soyeah, interesting I like that
residency, is that?
colleyc (17:05):
so you guys will organize a chunk of time where
you'll all be kind of close toeach other and then be able to
be amongst each other to toflush things out yeah, we all
like, we all have other jobs.
WOMB (17:17):
We work full time on other stuff, so it's hard to have
time because otherwise it'sevenings and it's scant across
different weekends and stuff.
It's really nice to be likewe're just reserving this time
and we did that earlier in theyear before the tour, so that's
really special.
It was awesome to have thatbefore the tour.
colleyc (17:41):
Yeah, that's a great idea too.
Like and like how long do yourresidencies last?
And like what's the expectationgoing into it?
Like, do you guys set like okay, we're going to work on these
songs, or you know, we'd like toget ready for this live show?
Or like what's, how do you setthose residencies up?
WOMB (17:58):
it's such an interesting idea I'll let your jet answer
that, if you want to.
Yeah well, I guess this wouldonly be.
This will be our third one.
I think of um our self-imposedresidencies and so for the prior
to, we've just gone in with anidea or like what we need to
work on and then kind of blockedout the days and the times and
(18:20):
had set times to also just bondwith each other in the interim.
So we can because that's partof the process as well and
incorporating, like going outinto nature and in in this case
the beach is very close and thenjust kind of playing around and
devising and, yeah, fleshingout what's already starting to
(18:44):
be formed as well, and it'squite structured but also loose
enough for it to be organicamazing, amazing, yeah, and have
you?
colleyc (18:54):
have you found you that time, like how the sound has
evolved, like, do you guys findthat you're that the sound is
changing over time?
I mean, I would think that itwould naturally.
But, like your observation, doyou guys try to change record to
record or do you try to keep itkind of like foundational of
(19:16):
your roots, of you know, likeyou were saying before, this
I've titled was kind of the waythat you guys wanted to continue
creating songs.
Has your sound evolved overtime in unexpected ways?
WOMB (19:29):
Yeah, I think it definitely has, while still kind
of retaining some kind oforiginal essence.
And I think that the past, uh,the last three albums we've done
, um teller, has been saying aswell, like they're, they're kind
of closed now, so this nextalbum is going to be quite
(19:53):
different.
Um yeah, do you want to takethis one over, heddy?
yeah, we've done three albumsthe.
It's the first one like.
I love the first album becausewe just had like no, we hadn't
it was.
We weren't like conceivinganything or we weren't like
predetermining anything, we'rejust like this is what we've
(20:14):
made and we went into like avenue studio space and just
recorded it live and it's reallylike um, just direct.
And we went into like a venuestudio space and just recorded
it live and it's really like um,just direct.
And we're young, like we'requite young I guess making it um
.
Someone said someone likeresponded with a new album and
said it was like with the soundis like coming into focus, like
(20:34):
our sound is coming to focus,which is interesting.
But I don't know if Icompletely agree.
colleyc (20:39):
I think like each album's kind of just like been
its own thing and right, yeah, Idon't think we predetermine too
much going into it and andsaying that you're you're just
mentioning that you kind of areclosing a chapter on and like
are the songs that you guys arewriting nowadays?
Do you feel that they're adeparture from um or an
(21:03):
evolution of the sound that thatthat you have been creating so
far?
WOMB (21:12):
um, yeah, I think, like instrumentally, we've all kind
of like explored differentthings on each of our
instruments and I think, yeah,there's been a natural
progression into that evolution.
colleyc (21:26):
I think, if that answers your question, yeah,
totally, totally and kind ofstepping back a little bit and
looking at this record that thatyou, you, you put out this year
.
One is always heading somewhere.
How have you felt the responsehas been from from the world,
from people that are listeningto it?
(21:47):
How do you guys feel that theresponse has been?
WOMB (21:52):
It's been.
Yeah, it's been really nice.
It's it's always weird.
I guess the nature of music nowis like it's so online and your
experience is like, yeah, verykind of filtered through that
format.
So I think, going on tour weplayed five shows for the album
release and I think the touringis such a nice way to actually
(22:14):
meet people and you feel likeyou're connected with people.
And you feel like you'reconnected with people.
We played with a lot ofdifferent support acts from
Aotearoa that it was.
All of them are quite likeearly stage musicians, which was
so awesome to share the stagewith them at that stage.
And, yeah, I think connectingwith an audience in that way is
really beautiful and you canfeel kind of like a reception
(22:36):
and a different engagement thanjust online.
Online can be pretty awful.
You just kind of you put stuff,you kind of like a reception
and um different engagement thanjust online.
Online can be pretty awful.
You just kind of you put stuff,you kind of, yeah, work on
something for so long and youjust kind of like put it out
there and it's just out there,existing in that kind of
ephemeral, kind of um tangiblespace.
So, yeah, I'll let your jet sayanything if you want and yeah
(22:59):
it's been super lovely and itwill be interesting to see in
these coming weeks how it feelspost tour, because we put it out
and then went on tour um and,yeah, that was a very different
way of engaging and hearingfeedback and receiving reception
.
And so now, yeah, I guess, likewhat has he was saying?
(23:21):
It will be more um in theinternet realm and then when,
when people say it to us also inperson.
But it'll just be interestingto see the distinction of how it
feels having put it out therefor sure.
colleyc (23:37):
Well, it's sure sign, too, that.
I've talked to some artists.
They're like as soon as I startnoticing people singing along
with me.
We know that.
You know it's out there, thatthe world is, has has received
it.
Um, so what?
What else 2025 was you know?
Chugging through the recordsout, what can we look forward to
(23:59):
from WOM for 2025?
What's on the docket?
WOMB (24:05):
Well, cello I'm not sure if Hazzy mentioned earlier
they're going to be going toEurope and I think in July
they'll be playing a couple ofsolo shows over there and also
doing a residency in Spain Isthat right?
Yeah, yeah, and working ontheir writing and music in the
(24:28):
residency, which is connected tosome cave structures.
So they'll be experimenting,which will be quite cool, and
we'll also maybe be playing witha string quartet at some point,
which is not announced yet anddoing some more shows and just
(24:49):
working on the next album.
colleyc (24:51):
Amazing.
And how's the residency?
Is this so that you can startto flush out what's to come?
Is that?
Or is it just personaldevelopment, like musical, like
professional development, like?
How are you approaching that?
WOMB (25:08):
yeah, it's definitely like making.
It's definitely like makingmusic for the next record,
whatever that will be.
Um, yeah, cello kind of gotlike immediately after the last
record was like immediately likeinto writing and doing stuff
For me and Dredge.
I think, yeah, a bit busy atthis stage, so excited to kind
(25:28):
of enter into that space.
We've also, me and cello, havebeen composing for two different
short films, so each separatelyworking on some composing um,
which has been very fun.
Um, but yeah, so it'll be like,yeah, it'll be focused on the
next record, though, so amazingamazing.
colleyc (25:49):
Well, I want to thank you too.
Um, this has been a lot of fun.
It's great to hear about yourjourney and what's to come, and,
um, I think this latest recordis is a testament to the power
of family and siblings andalmost this non communication
that needs to happen to createthese sounds.
It's just such an open andaccessible record, from from
(26:13):
start to finish, so thank youfor putting that out into the
world.
It's a.
It's been a real treat tolisten to.
Thank you.
And it's been a real pleasuretalking with you guys.
I hope once the residency isdone and the next record's out,
we can reconnect.
I'd love to have you back on totalk about it and see how all
of all of that's evolving.
I will be listening, I'll bewatching.
(26:34):
I wish you all the best, too,for your summers and what's to
come down the road.
It's been a real pleasuretalking with you guys.
WOMB (26:44):
Thank you so much, Chris.
Thank you.
(27:17):
Bye, thank you.
We walked a couple hours andall the lights were closed, like
the night was only for us, asif day might never come.
(27:39):
Yeah, I've been turning slowly,I've been spinning across the
sky and everything lay broken.
But I said I'm feeling fine.
Never thought that this couldchange.
(28:02):
Staring at each other's face,we were weightless.
Say we're weightless.
I thought I saw the both of usin all my dreams.
I'm someone else who can takethis.
(28:25):
I can take this, thank you.
You make me think I could be anything I want, like when I
called you on the drive homefrom the house that you grew up
in On that visit.
We were walking on the pavement, I was talking down the hallway
(00:30):
calling your name, how the raincame in the middle of the Be
With Podcast.
colleyc (00:49):
Wow, am I reaching around the world?
We're actually headed to NewZealand today and we're going to
be talking with Wum and I haveHans here with us, who's going
to represent the band.
So thanks so much for hoppingon here, and I know it's early
morning for you.
Um, I hope it's not too early,uh, for you to wake up and and
(01:12):
have this chat no, no, it'sgreat.
WOMB (01:14):
I'm happy to be here.
colleyc (01:15):
So thanks, chris oh, it's been a pleasure.
I'm uh I was so into this newrecord you guys put out.
Um, so good, one is always aheading somewhere.
It came out just at the startof this year An amazing record.
This band is very DIY chamberpoppy, shoegazy, dream poppy.
(01:37):
It's got all these beautifultouches and it's a band of of
siblings, which is really cool.
Um, so, how's, maybe I'm goingto rewind a little bit and we'll
kind of like we'll, we'llcreate a little bit of a
foundation here on which we'lltalk.
So, growing up, you're a twinwith charlotte, who is the lead
(02:02):
vocalist in Womb.
How did you guys grow up aroundmusic?
Like, was there music in yourhome as you were growing up?
Like, I saw a picture of thetwo of you at a piano, the cute
little picture of the two of yousitting beside each other.
Was music always a part of yourhome when you were growing up?
WOMB (02:24):
Yeah, yeah, well, it definitely was.
Um, so mainly from our dad'sside, like his kind of lineage.
Um, he is a musician, he playslike a lot of bluegrass music,
so he played in australia quitea bit, um, just kind of like for
fun and but they put out somerecords and stuff like that.
But um, so he taught us guitarwhen we were a bit younger and
(02:45):
then he's got kind of his uh,grandparents and
great-grandparents there's musicon that kind of side of the
family.
They're from illinois, aroundthe midwest, and um, we actually
had our great great grandfatherwas he's in the book of world
(03:06):
records because he walked a longdistance playing the fiddle.
So, yeah, from that, yeah,music was definitely like
encouraged and yeah, so musicand yeah.
colleyc (03:28):
And were you guys a part of two like just shows,
like I like, did your dad bringyou to like live music events
and stuff like that?
Like did you kind of get asense of live music when you
guys were growing up, that thatwas something that that was
adventurous to?
WOMB (03:39):
you to you guys not not so much um, yeah, not so much live
music, like when we were kids.
We grew up in, uh, in champaign, illinois, and I guess we
didn't see heaps of like livemusic.
But I think when we came towellington in new zealand when
we were um, we're 12 and kind ofin our early teenage years,
(04:00):
there's like a really cool musicscene live music scene in
wellington and new zealand.
So we just got involved withthat.
There's heaps of diy showswhich are awesome and yeah, so
that kind of got us into it andis wellington like?
colleyc (04:15):
was it a well-established scene for music
, like, like?
Were you guys inspired by a lotof the artists and the music
that was taking place there wasit?
Was that something that thatresonated with you guys?
WOMB (04:28):
yeah, definitely.
I think, um, yeah, well, likeit's a city of probably, uh, I
think it's got like 400 000people, so it's like a very
small city, um, and it's gotlike university students coming
through.
It's the capital city.
It's um, yeah, and itdefinitely kind of like ebbs and
(04:48):
flows with like what creativepossibilities are there at the
time?
Like there's lord of the ringswas being filmed in new zealand
in like 2000, uh, like earlier2000s, and that brought a lot of
like money and create.
Like there's more money forcreative stuff during that time,
um, there's more venues.
So it's definitely like periodswhere there's more money for
creative stuff.
During that time, um, there'smore venues.
So it's definitely like periodswhere there's more venues and
then kind of like it becomesless viable and less possible.
(05:11):
So those close down, butthere's always kind of like a
heart and young people makingmusic and yeah, so it's
definitely awesome space forthat right, and you and Cello
were siblings that grew uptogether.
colleyc (05:27):
How did your musical paths start to come together as
you guys were growing up?
WOMB (05:44):
got the same mom but a different dad, but we've always
grown up together, um, the threeof us, um but she was really
influential for us from likequite a young age because she'd
share music with us.
So it's quite like aninteresting kind of like process
where we started making music.
Drajet wasn't playing music fora long time, like she wasn't a
musician until later on, um,when she joined the band um, but
she was definitely at the startlike influencing us with
(06:05):
different music.
She would just explore as ateenager and she'd have like a
really, yeah, a really awesomekind of perspective on music.
Great, gigi, do you want to?
colleyc (06:18):
hop in here.
We have Bridget here as well.
Hi, I read too, gigi, thatLWire was was a big door opener
for you, in the sense that youwere able to look and discover
all of these amazing artiststhat maybe not very many people
have heard of.
Can you tell us a little bitabout how you came to music and
(06:40):
how you kind of discovered itand and those artists that
really inspired what, what youwanted to do?
WOMB (06:46):
yeah, so hello also sorry that I'm late um no troubles uh,
it was actually even beforelimewire, it was napster and
then that's, true because I'mfrom east, but um, yeah, it was
actually even though that's howI influenced cello and has he
(07:07):
before that um, our older bigsiblings used to make me
mixtapes and things because theylived in melbourne and they
would, um, have access to a lotmore music than what we had
living in the forest, and sothey would make me these little
mixtapes of things like pgharvey and bjork and many, many
(07:28):
things, and then both of ourdads like my dad and cello and
has his dad had pretty extensivevinyl collections as well, and
so I guess we were all justexposed to many different genres
of music, kind of coming fromall angles, and yeah, and then
(07:49):
so it kind of just passed onfrom family member to family
member.
colleyc (07:53):
It seems like it was that way right, Like it was kind
of funneled down through theolder siblings to the younger
ones.
Yes, exactly.
And Gigi, did you ever thinkthat you were going to be in a
band?
Like I know that you onlystarted to be in a band.
Like I know that you onlystarted playing drums a little
bit later on and kind of weren'tin that band.
Kind of ethos, um, whatinspired you to want to be in a
(08:17):
band?
WOMB (08:19):
well, I did always fantasize about being a musician
when I was little, but I Ialways focused on visual art
instead.
And I did have a couple of drumlessons when I was a little kid
, but I never really thought Icould do it because I just, yeah
, focused so much on my visualart that it just seemed like a
(08:40):
fantasy.
And then, like I used tofantasize that I'd be Alanis
Morissette when I grew up, orsomething like that when I was
really little, and be a rockstar and wear all leather.
But then when I was 27, theyCello and Hazzy asked me if I
wanted to join a band with themand that's when I picked up the
(09:02):
drumsticks and uh, then I juststarted doing it and I guess it
became more of a reality thatwas always a fantasy right and
has what?
colleyc (09:14):
what inspired you to bring gg into this?
Like, why did you?
Why?
Where did the idea come thatwith this would be a sibling
band?
Other than just kind of goingoff on your own and exploring
the world of music individually.
What was the catalyst thatbrought you guys together?
WOMB (09:34):
Yeah, it wasn't really orchestrated or anything like
that.
So me and Charlotte were doingthis kind of like it was mainly
like kind of folky projectbefore when we were like
teenagers and then we kind ofwanted to move on from that and
Char Cello started a like a soloproject called it was Womb, and
(09:55):
they released the first EP andthen they want to perform live
and then they wanted some peopleto help perform live.
So, yeah, they struck us intothat and then, yeah, um, we
started.
colleyc (10:12):
Yeah, I think it just kind of, yeah, organically
happened like that right,because the first, the first um
womb record that was put outself-titled.
Yeah, you guys weren't on that,I mean gg looks I remember I I
read that you did the cover artand as you were like consulting
and a part of it, but youweren't a part of it yet like it
(10:33):
wasn't the official like okay,we're, we're coming together
yeah, that's right yeah amazing,amazing, and why.
I guess you know, like I guessI'll start with gg what was it
in your siblings that thatconnected with you, that this
would be?
You know, it's not alanismorissette, but it's something
(10:55):
that I want to be a part of.
Like.
Well, what was it that theywere offering?
That you were like I'm in.
WOMB (11:02):
I don't even know if there was much of a questioning in my
mind.
It just kind of startedhappening and it felt right, and
we've always like made thingstogether in different iterations
our whole lives really, andlike so it just kind of seemed
like a continuation of that andI don't actually remember really
questioning it or asking myselfif it was something I wanted to
(11:24):
do.
I just was doing it because itfelt right and they, they had
already been kind of my maincollaborators prior to that and
so it just felt like another umextension.
That at the time, I'm prettysure.
And yeah, and I have alwaysbeen besotted with any music
(11:46):
that either of them had madetogether or separately, and yeah
, I felt very honored to beasked to join, even though I
didn't know how to drum.
colleyc (12:05):
Let's talk about that, let's drill down a little bit on
that.
Like what?
So they come to you we need adrummer.
You you had a few classes whenyou were younger, as you had
mentioned.
What was that process like foryou?
What did you have to do to tobe able to feel comfortable, to
say, okay, I'll do it.
What's your process of that um?
WOMB (12:21):
transformation into a drummer I think, yeah, I think
there's like this photo of me asa baby on my dad's friend's
drum kit and I think, the way mymind works, I kind of saw that
as like a apparition orsomething, or like a or a
foreshadowing.
(12:42):
When I, when then they asked,and I was like, oh yeah, that
seems right, but I can't exactlyremember what was going through
my mind.
Um, but it was really scary tobe suddenly playing gigs like
two weeks after.
Uh, coming together and likethey already really knew what
they were doing and I did not.
colleyc (13:03):
So, um, yeah, that's pretty impressive though I mean
it's uh, I mean just to gettingtwo body parts involved in
playing an instrument.
Forget about four.
I mean it's a next level in mymind anyway, but that's
interesting.
And what was it like?
(13:25):
Did they describe to you thekind of style, or did you
develop the style based, youknow?
I mean based on what they werepresenting to you, obviously,
but how did your style evolvewith, with womb?
WOMB (13:39):
well, I think initially they probably showed me a few
things to do.
I can't actually exactlyremember because it is a decade
ago now, but um yeah, they wouldhave shown me some general
things and but I'm not sure ifwe necessarily had those kind of
conversations earlier on, didwe Hazzy?
(14:00):
Yeah, I don't think so.
I think like the tone was kindof set like by that first EP,
like the tone and kind of likethe feeling of the band was set
with that EP and also just likestuff we were listening to.
Like I think there was quitelike a Wellington kind kind of
sound or like a new zealandsound at that time that we were
(14:20):
probably part of and like awareor not aware of it, but being
influenced by that, um.
So I think we're all kind ofjust like.
I don't think any of us werecoming from it from like a
completely different perspectiveor like wanting to make a
different sound or anything.
I think we all were kind ofjust on the same same page with
that cool and was it thatsibling connection you think
(14:42):
that enabled, that?
colleyc (14:44):
it facilitated it?
WOMB (14:47):
definitely yeah yeah, yeah it's so easy, like being a
three-piece, or like easy, likeas easy as it can be, being like
a three-piece, siblings thatlike get along mostly, um right
right, yeah in the end, thesebands that like trout, they go
on tour and stuff and theyaren't sibling like we.
(15:10):
Yeah, it's just, it makes it alot easier to like tour and yeah
, it's yeah so what's?
colleyc (15:16):
what's your process?
Like um has maybe I'll throwthis your way Like how do songs
come to be for Womb?
Is there one person that tendsto write the structure of the
song and then brings it to thelike how does your collaboration
work?
Because I do understand toothat we were talking a little
bit before we hopped on here,that you guys are kind of
separated, you're not like nextdoor, so like, how does that
(15:39):
collaboration and how does thesong start for for womb?
WOMB (15:44):
there's not really like a set way that we would start a
song, but, um, like, oftentimeschar will kind of do like voice
memos, like have like notes ontheir phone, um with like lyrics
.
Um, they're also like a writer,so they're a creative writer,
so they they're like, yeah, penon paper is their vibe, um, but
(16:05):
they yeah, so they would kind oflike come up with song
structures.
They've got like unique guitartuning that they use um and
different, yeah, chords theykind of they often return to, so
they would kind of start that.
Oftentimes there's not really astructure so much in place, but
we'll kind of come together allof us and help define that
structure.
(16:26):
Um, sometimes, like I've madejust like guitar bass, like kind
of instrumental stuff that I'vesent to cello and they will use
that and I think they kind oflike that process.
Also, we'll send stuff to judajets, kind of like got a bank of
some drum patterns and stuffthat she'll use um, so, yeah, it
kind of comes together.
(16:47):
We've got a residency, like aself-imposed residency, coming
up next month, which will bereally good.
So we're just going to be inthe same space and um start
generating ideas and cometogether with what we've been
working on independently, soyeah, interesting I like that
residency, is that?
colleyc (17:05):
so you guys will organize a chunk of time where
you'll all be kind of close toeach other and then be able to
be amongst each other to toflush things out yeah, we all
like, we all have other jobs.
WOMB (17:17):
We work full time on other stuff, so it's hard to have
time because otherwise it'sevenings and it's scant across
different weekends and stuff.
It's really nice to be likewe're just reserving this time
and we did that earlier in theyear before the tour, so that's
really special.
It was awesome to have thatbefore the tour.
colleyc (17:41):
Yeah, that's a great idea too.
Like and like how long do yourresidencies last?
And like what's the expectationgoing into it?
Like, do you guys set like okay, we're going to work on these
songs, or you know, we'd like toget ready for this live show?
Or like what's, how do you setthose residencies up?
WOMB (17:58):
it's such an interesting idea I'll let your jet answer
that, if you want to.
Yeah well, I guess this wouldonly be.
This will be our third one.
I think of um our self-imposedresidencies and so for the prior
to, we've just gone in with anidea or like what we need to
work on and then kind of blockedout the days and the times and
(18:20):
had set times to also just bondwith each other in the interim.
So we can because that's partof the process as well and
incorporating, like going outinto nature and in in this case
the beach is very close and thenjust kind of playing around and
devising and, yeah, fleshingout what's already starting to
(18:44):
be formed as well, and it'squite structured but also loose
enough for it to be organicamazing, amazing, yeah, and have
you?
colleyc (18:54):
have you found you that time, like how the sound has
evolved, like, do you guys findthat you're that the sound is
changing over time?
I mean, I would think that itwould naturally.
But, like your observation, doyou guys try to change record to
record or do you try to keep itkind of like foundational of
(19:16):
your roots, of you know, likeyou were saying before, this
I've titled was kind of the waythat you guys wanted to continue
creating songs.
Has your sound evolved overtime in unexpected ways?
WOMB (19:29):
Yeah, I think it definitely has, while still kind
of retaining some kind oforiginal essence.
And I think that the past, uh,the last three albums we've done
, um teller, has been saying aswell, like they're, they're kind
of closed now, so this nextalbum is going to be quite
(19:53):
different.
Um yeah, do you want to takethis one over, heddy?
yeah, we've done three albumsthe.
It's the first one like.
I love the first album becausewe just had like no, we hadn't
it was.
We weren't like conceivinganything or we weren't like
predetermining anything, we'rejust like this is what we've
(20:14):
made and we went into like avenue studio space and just
recorded it live and it's reallylike um, just direct.
And we went into like a venuestudio space and just recorded
it live and it's really like um,just direct.
And we're young, like we'requite young I guess making it um
.
Someone said someone likeresponded with a new album and
said it was like with the soundis like coming into focus, like
(20:34):
our sound is coming to focus,which is interesting.
But I don't know if Icompletely agree.
colleyc (20:39):
I think like each album's kind of just like been
its own thing and right, yeah, Idon't think we predetermine too
much going into it and andsaying that you're you're just
mentioning that you kind of areclosing a chapter on and like
are the songs that you guys arewriting nowadays?
Do you feel that they're adeparture from um or an
(21:03):
evolution of the sound that thatthat you have been creating so
far?
WOMB (21:12):
um, yeah, I think, like instrumentally, we've all kind
of like explored differentthings on each of our
instruments and I think, yeah,there's been a natural
progression into that evolution.
colleyc (21:26):
I think, if that answers your question, yeah,
totally, totally and kind ofstepping back a little bit and
looking at this record that thatyou, you, you put out this year
.
One is always heading somewhere.
How have you felt the responsehas been from from the world,
from people that are listeningto it?
(21:47):
How do you guys feel that theresponse has been?
WOMB (21:52):
It's been.
Yeah, it's been really nice.
It's it's always weird.
I guess the nature of music nowis like it's so online and your
experience is like, yeah, verykind of filtered through that
format.
So I think, going on tour weplayed five shows for the album
release and I think the touringis such a nice way to actually
(22:14):
meet people and you feel likeyou're connected with people.
And you feel like you'reconnected with people.
We played with a lot ofdifferent support acts from
Aotearoa that it was.
All of them are quite likeearly stage musicians, which was
so awesome to share the stagewith them at that stage.
And, yeah, I think connectingwith an audience in that way is
really beautiful and you canfeel kind of like a reception
(22:36):
and a different engagement thanjust online.
Online can be pretty awful.
You just kind of you put stuff,you kind of like a reception
and um different engagement thanjust online.
Online can be pretty awful.
You just kind of you put stuff,you kind of, yeah, work on
something for so long and youjust kind of like put it out
there and it's just out there,existing in that kind of
ephemeral, kind of um tangiblespace.
So, yeah, I'll let your jet sayanything if you want and yeah
(22:59):
it's been super lovely and itwill be interesting to see in
these coming weeks how it feelspost tour, because we put it out
and then went on tour um and,yeah, that was a very different
way of engaging and hearingfeedback and receiving reception
.
And so now, yeah, I guess, likewhat has he was saying?
(23:21):
It will be more um in theinternet realm and then when,
when people say it to us also inperson.
But it'll just be interestingto see the distinction of how it
feels having put it out therefor sure.
colleyc (23:37):
Well, it's sure sign, too, that.
I've talked to some artists.
They're like as soon as I startnoticing people singing along
with me.
We know that.
You know it's out there, thatthe world is, has has received
it.
Um, so what?
What else 2025 was you know?
Chugging through the recordsout, what can we look forward to
(23:59):
from WOM for 2025?
What's on the docket?
WOMB (24:05):
Well, cello I'm not sure if Hazzy mentioned earlier
they're going to be going toEurope and I think in July
they'll be playing a couple ofsolo shows over there and also
doing a residency in Spain Isthat right?
Yeah, yeah, and working ontheir writing and music in the
(24:28):
residency, which is connected tosome cave structures.
So they'll be experimenting,which will be quite cool, and
we'll also maybe be playing witha string quartet at some point,
which is not announced yet anddoing some more shows and just
(24:49):
working on the next album.
colleyc (24:51):
Amazing.
And how's the residency?
Is this so that you can startto flush out what's to come?
Is that?
Or is it just personaldevelopment, like musical, like
professional development, like?
How are you approaching that?
WOMB (25:08):
yeah, it's definitely like making.
It's definitely like makingmusic for the next record,
whatever that will be.
Um, yeah, cello kind of gotlike immediately after the last
record was like immediately likeinto writing and doing stuff
For me and Dredge.
I think, yeah, a bit busy atthis stage, so excited to kind
(25:28):
of enter into that space.
We've also, me and cello, havebeen composing for two different
short films, so each separatelyworking on some composing um,
which has been very fun.
Um, but yeah, so it'll be like,yeah, it'll be focused on the
next record, though, so amazingamazing.
colleyc (25:49):
Well, I want to thank you too.
Um, this has been a lot of fun.
It's great to hear about yourjourney and what's to come, and,
um, I think this latest recordis is a testament to the power
of family and siblings andalmost this non communication
that needs to happen to createthese sounds.
It's just such an open andaccessible record, from from
(26:13):
start to finish, so thank youfor putting that out into the
world.
It's a.
It's been a real treat tolisten to.
Thank you.
And it's been a real pleasuretalking with you guys.
I hope once the residency isdone and the next record's out,
we can reconnect.
I'd love to have you back on totalk about it and see how all
of all of that's evolving.
I will be listening, I'll bewatching.
(26:34):
I wish you all the best, too,for your summers and what's to
come down the road.
It's been a real pleasuretalking with you guys.
WOMB (26:44):
Thank you so much, Chris.
Thank you.
(27:17):
Bye, thank you.
We walked a couple hours andall the lights were closed, like
the night was only for us, asif day might never come.
(27:39):
Yeah, I've been turning slowly,I've been spinning across the
sky and everything lay broken.
But I said I'm feeling fine.
Never thought that this couldchange.
(28:02):
Staring at each other's face,we were weightless.
Say we're weightless.
I thought I saw the both of usin all my dreams.
I'm someone else who can takethis.
(28:25):
I can take this, thank you.
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