Ten was a monumental age for Scarlett Stevens. Ten was when she first saw the movie Josie and the Pussycats. Ten was when she first picked up a pair of drumsticks and ten was when she formed her first band, The Flairz. “I saw the Josie and the Pussycats movie and that was it for me,” says Stevens, “I wanted to be Tara Reid.” In between school commitments The Flairz played shows, released two EPs, an album and even travelled to SXSW before parting ways at the end of high school. All of this sounds pretty fantastical but makes a lot more sense when you learn that music is the family business. Stevens’ dad, Phil Stevens, is the manager of John Butler Trio and The Waifs and co-founder of Jarrah Records. She grew up in a household filled with music where they listened to everything from Outkast and N.E.R.D. to David Bowie, PJ Harvey and Blur. But Stevens has a special spot for My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone. “It was my favourite LP as a kid and brings back the most memories.”
Stevens started jamming with her San Cisco band mates, Jordi Davieson, Josh Biondillo and Nick Gardner in 2009 and they’ve gone on to release three EPs, reach number seven in 2011’s Triple J’s Hottest 100 with ‘Awkward’ and release two albums (San Cisco and Gracetown). Their low-fi, sunshine-y yet slightly melancholic pop has been welcomed with open arms and pulled in tight by fans, and seen them tour the corners of the globe, from their hometown of Perth to Mexico. Stevens enjoys touring, especially being able to explore different cities, make new friends, meet new bands and indulge in plenty of thrift-store shopping.
Female drummers can be treated like exotic birds, as if they’re a rare species that may go extinct from the backhanded compliments they must endure. How does Stevens handle it? “I don’t know, I need some hot tips. I just try to pull people up on their comments if I think they’re being sexist. I regret not sticking up for myself more in the past.” As her confidence in dealing with the dimwits of the world increases so does her boldness in her approach to making music. “I think I’ve gotten better at asserting my ideas when it comes to songwriting with the band and working in a collaborative setting.”
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