Body Type
Body Type are an Australian indie rock band formed in Sydney in 2016.[1] The group consists of Sophie McComish (guitar and vocals), Annabel Blackman (guitar and vocals), Georgia Wilkinson-Derums (bass and vocals), and Cecil Coleman (drums). Known for their raw, post-punk-influenced sound blending scuzzy guitars and visceral lyrics, the band has released two studio albums—''Everything Is Dangerous but Nothing's Surprising'' (2022) and ''Expired Candy'' (2023)—along with extended plays ''Body Type'' (2018) and ''EP2'' (2019), and several singles.[2] [3] The band's debut album received critical acclaim and nominations for awards such as the Australian Music Prize in 2022, while their second effort continued to explore themes of industry critique and personal introspection.[4] In 2023, they earned nominations at the National Live Music Awards for Best Live Act and Best Live Guitarist (McComish). As of 2025, McComish was selected as a mentee in the APRA Women in Music program, highlighting ongoing member-specific recognition.[5] The band remains active with live performances and touring.[6]Formation and early years
Origins and lineup (2016)
Body Type formed in Sydney in 2016, initiated by Sophie McComish, who had recently completed university in Perth and taught herself guitar while beginning to write original songs.[7] McComish, originally from Perth, relocated to Sydney after reconnecting with longtime friend Cecil Coleman, whom she had known from their university days.[7] Coleman, also from Perth and new to the city, was simultaneously learning to play drums for the first time and had yet to perform with others; the pair quickly decided to collaborate on music, jamming together to develop McComish's early compositions.[1][7] To expand the project into a full band, McComish and Coleman recruited Georgia Wilkinson-Derums, a fellow Perth native already based in Sydney, to handle bass and vocals.[7] Annabel Blackman joined shortly after on guitar and vocals, having been introduced through a mutual friend's sharehouse where McComish spotted her guitar and invited her to jam.[1][7] This completed the quartet's core lineup, with McComish on lead vocals and guitar, Blackman on vocals and guitar, Wilkinson-Derums on vocals and bass, and Coleman on drums.[8] The group held their initial rehearsals in Sydney's Inner West, a vibrant area known for its creative community, where they emphasized collaborative songwriting to build a cohesive sound.[1] From the outset, the all-female lineup embodied a feminist punk ethos, drawing on themes of empowerment and challenging gender norms in rock music.[8][9]Initial releases and development (2017–2019)
Following their formation in 2016, Body Type built momentum in 2017 with the release of their single "Silver" on August 16, which premiered on triple j and showcased the band's emerging lo-fi indie rock sound.[10][11] The track marked a step forward from their initial 2016 singles "2 6 4" and "Ludlow (Do You Believe in Karma?)," released in November of that year, which had introduced their raw, guitar-driven style during early Sydney performances.[12] These releases helped establish a local following through gigs at venues like the Newtown Social Club, where they supported acts such as Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.[13] In 2018, Body Type signed with Partisan Records and its Australian distributor Inertia Music, announced on April 24 alongside the release of their single "Arrow," produced and mixed by Antonia Gauci.[14][15] This deal brought international attention to the Sydney quartet, leading to further domestic buzz. Later that year, on September 13, they released "Palms" as the lead single for their self-titled debut EP.[16] The EP, Body Type, arrived on October 19 via Partisan Records, featuring a tracklist of:- "Ludlow (Do You Believe in Karma?)"
- "Palms"
- "Teeth"
- "Dry Grass"
- "Silver"
- "Arrow"
- "Stingray"
- "Free To Air"
- "Uma"
- "Insomnia"
- "Sad Wax"
Musical style and influences
Genre and sound evolution
Body Type's primary genres are post-punk and garage rock, defined by angular guitar riffs, driving basslines, and dual vocal harmonies that create a dynamic, interlocking sonic landscape.[25][26] The band's instrumentation centers on dual guitars from Sophie McComish and Annabel Blackman, which produce conversational push-and-pull textures through back-and-forth riffing and wailing leads, complemented by Cecil Coleman's punchy, finesse-driven drumming and Georgia Wilkinson-Derums' melodic yet chewy basslines that anchor the rhythm section with muscular prominence.[25][3] This setup yields ferocious, earworm-laden tracks blending jangling indie energy with punk ferocity, often featuring layered gang vocals and shouted refrains for added intensity.[1][27] The band's sound has evolved significantly from their early EPs, which embraced a lo-fi, abrasive punk aesthetic with shoegaze-tinged melodies and raw tempo shifts, to their full-length albums that incorporate pop elements and greater production polish.[3][25] Their 2022 debut Everything Is Dangerous But Nothing's Surprising refined these foundations into a self-possessed post-punk core, recorded swiftly to capture unfiltered edge, while the 2023 follow-up Expired Candy shifts toward cleaner, poppier indie rock structures with hooks, harmonies, and reverb-washed guitars reminiscent of 90s influences, emphasizing a joyful, free-spirited grit over initial abrasiveness.[27][28] This progression reflects a distillation of their identity, moving from EP-era experimentation to album-length cohesion without losing punk urgency.[29] Lyrically, Body Type explores personal relationships through themes of romance, isolation, and band camaraderie, alongside societal pressures like music industry misogyny, capitalism, and populism, all delivered with raw emotional intensity via biting, stream-of-consciousness delivery and feminist empowerment narratives.[25][3] Tracks often challenge male ego and #MeToo-era reflections, blending tongue-in-cheek poetry with critiques of chauvinism to foster resilience and narrative reclamation.[1][28] In live settings, this translates to an amplified high-energy amplification of studio material, with wild, moshpit-inducing performances that transform club spaces into blistering punk environments, emphasizing sweaty, furious fun.[1][30]Key influences
Body Type's musical foundations are deeply rooted in punk and post-punk traditions, drawing from both Australian and international sources that emphasized raw energy and social commentary. Early exposure to local Australian acts within the Sydney underground scene helped shape their aggressive guitar-driven sound, while international post-punk influences contributed to their confrontational approach to rhythm and vocals.[25] Similarly, the American post-punk band Pylon's angular, danceable grooves informed the band's rhythmic precision and minimalist arrangements during their formative years.[31] Garage rock elements further colored Body Type's ethos, amplified by the vibrant modern scene in Sydney, where bands experimented with lo-fi production and distorted tones in small venues.[32] The group's all-female lineup amplified these garage influences, channeling a sense of unpolished rebellion that echoed the genre's outsider spirit.[12] Central to Body Type's identity is the feminist and DIY ethos inherited from the riot grrrl movement, particularly through bands like Bikini Kill, which impacted their lyrical focus on empowerment and gender dynamics. This influence manifested in their commitment to self-produced releases and collaborative songwriting, fostering an all-female dynamic that prioritized autonomy and community.[28] During their formation, immersion in the local Sydney indie scene— including performances at key venues like Oxford Art Factory—exposed them to a network of like-minded artists, reinforcing DIY principles and collaborative experimentation.[33] As their sound evolved in the late 2010s, Body Type began incorporating pop-punk hybrids, drawing from 1990s alt-rock to blend melodic hooks with punk's intensity. This shift allowed for greater emotional range in their compositions while maintaining the raw edge of their roots, reflecting broader trends in the Sydney scene toward more accessible yet subversive rock forms.[25] These influences collectively informed a distinctive ethos, bridging historical punk movements with contemporary feminist expression.Career trajectory
Debut album era (2020–2022)
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted Body Type's momentum following their 2019 EP release, imposing lockdowns in Australia that separated the Sydney-based quartet geographically and halted live performances and touring plans. This led to a creative pause, with the band unable to promote or build on their early work amid widespread industry shutdowns.[25] The debut album Everything Is Dangerous but Nothing's Surprising emerged from sessions recorded over eight days in early 2020 with producer Jonathan Boulet of Party Dozen, capturing a raw, spontaneous energy just before full lockdowns took hold. Self-funded by the band, the album's 12 tracks—including "A Line," "The Brood," "The Charm," "Couple Song," "Futurism," "Hot Plastic Punishment," "Flight Path," "Sex & Rage," "Weekend," "Buoyancy," "Prayer," and "An Animal"—explore themes of feminist critique, music industry chauvinism, personal estrangement, and the banality of shocking experiences, drawing influences from David Cronenberg's body horror and Eve Babitz's Sex and Rage. These elements reflect underlying anxieties about power dynamics and relationships, tempered by a resilient, humorous edge in tracks like the jaunty "Buoyancy," which navigates moral ambiguities.[34][35][25] Released on 20 May 2022 via Poison City Records, with international distribution handled by Partisan Records, the album marked the band's transition to a full-length project after their initial EPs. Promotion began with the February announcement and lead single "Sex & Rage," followed by "The Charm" and "Buoyancy," which highlighted the record's post-punk drive and lyrical bite. The band announced a national headline tour in May 2022, including stops in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, to capitalize on pent-up demand post-lockdowns.[34][36][37] Critics hailed the album as a breakout for Australian rock, praising its refined post-punk sound, thrilling contrasts, and self-possessed feminist voice, with NME awarding it four stars and calling it one of the strongest debuts from the country in years. It positioned Body Type as a vital force in the post-pandemic scene, blending raw energy with sharp social commentary.[25]Second album and ongoing activities (2023–present)
Body Type released their second studio album, Expired Candy, on 2 June 2023 through Poison City Records.[38] The album was produced by Jonathan Boulet, known for his work with Party Dozen, and marked a shift toward a more pop-infused post-punk sound compared to their debut.[3] Preceding the full release, the band issued lead single "Miss the World" in February 2023, followed by "Holding On" in March 2023, both of which previewed the album's themes of escapism and emotional resilience.[38][39] Building on the momentum from their 2022 debut Everything Is Dangerous but Nothing's Surprising, which established their presence in the Australian indie scene, the band embarked on a national Australian tour in August 2023 to support Expired Candy.[40] The tour spanned cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Wollongong, with rotating support acts such as Sweetie, Cable Ties, and Gut Health, drawing crowds eager for the live energy of the new material.[41] Internationally, Body Type expanded their reach with performances at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in July 2023, alongside a broader European and UK tour that included stops at Rock Werchter and venues in Sweden, France, and the UK.[42] These dates showcased tracks from Expired Candy to international audiences, solidifying the band's growing reputation beyond Australia.[43] From 2024 through 2025, Body Type maintained an active presence without issuing a new full-length release, focusing instead on live performances and individual member pursuits within Sydney's vibrant music community. The band appeared at events like SXSW Sydney in October 2025, continuing to engage local and festival crowds with their dynamic sets.[44] Guitarist and vocalist Sophie McComish participated in APRA AMCOS's 23% Mentorship Program in 2024, joining 13 other women and gender-diverse creators for professional development from June to August.[45] Meanwhile, vocalist and guitarist Annabel Blackman released her debut solo album Interior Delirium as Solo Career on 11 July 2025 via Dinosaur City Records, a synth-pop project exploring identity and performance that she developed alongside band commitments.[46] These activities, coupled with occasional Sydney gigs and teases of new songs in interviews, signal the band's ongoing evolution and intent to deliver fresh material in the near future.[47]Discography
Studio albums
Body Type's debut studio album, Everything Is Dangerous but Nothing's Surprising, was released on 20 May 2022 through Poison City Records.[35][34] Recorded over eight days in early 2020 and self-funded by the band, it was produced and mastered by Jonathan Boulet.[34][48] The 11-track album captures the band's raw post-punk energy. It is available in digipack CD packaging, featuring minimalist artwork emphasizing the album's chaotic themes.[35] The track listing is as follows:- "A Line" (3:10)
- "The Brood" (3:24)
- "The Charm" (4:09)
- "Couple Song" (3:53)
- "Futurism" (5:13)
- "Hot Plastic Punishment" (0:53)
- "Flight Path" (2:45)
- "Buoyancy" (3:09)
- "Sex & Rage" (2:42)
- "An Animal" (5:46)
- "Everything Is Dangerous but Nothing's Surprising" (3:31)
- "Holding On" (2:48)
- "Summer Forever" (2:51)
- "Weekend" (3:09)
- "Tread Overhead" (3:40)
- "Sha La La" (3:39)
- "Creation of Man" (3:23)
- "Miss the World" (3:10)
- "Anti-Romancer" (3:23)
- "Beat You Up" (2:59)
- "Albion Park" (3:36)
- "Expired Candy" (4:58)
Extended plays
Body Type's debut extended play, titled Body Type, was released on October 19, 2018, through Partisan Records.[17][36] The EP consists of six tracks recorded primarily with producer Kon Kersting at Airlock Studios in Brisbane while on tour, capturing their raw indie rock sound with a runtime of approximately 20 minutes.[7] The tracklist includes:- "Ludlow (Do You Believe in Karma?)"
- "Palms"
- "Teeth"
- "Dry Grass"
- "Silver"
- "Arrow"
- "Stingray"
- "Free to Air"
- "UMA"
- "Insomnia"
- "Sad Wax"