The Aquadolls performed at Austin City Limits this year and are made up of three music-enthused women. The four of us sat down after their performance on Saturday and first touched on the group’s focus.

“We’re all about empowering women,” said Melissa Brooks, the frontman and creator of The Aquadolls. Their newly released song, “Suck On This” touches on this. Brooks noted the song is for, “when you feel like you’re being discriminated against for who you are.”

“Suck On This” is a favorite from all the girls. It’s the first taste fans get of their collaborative work together. After the band finishes touring in December, the group will go straight to writing for a new album. The girls said they don’t have a vision for the next album, but not to worry.

“I think once we do we’ll be going in the right direction,” said Jackie Proctor, drummer. She said, “We have talked about it so many times.” Brooks added they are going to, “take the sound we have now and elevate it to a whole new level.” The new album will feature new voices on the track and all three of them will be part of the writing process. 

“I find it really inspiring that other women are listening to us and can inspire them to do music or whatever they want to pursue,” Brooks denoted. Keilah Nina, bassist, added, “not just women, but any minority.” She recognized the band’s big queer and people of color fanbase. “We acknowledge our privilege pretty well,” Nina said, “letting them know we are here for them no matter what.”

Their music can’t be bound to one genre. Proctor said, “We can make people feel chill, like on the beach. Or we can make you feel more emotional, but we also have songs that can rock your fucking socks off.” And, they will. 

“I pick the one person who looks like they are having the least fun of time and stare at them and make them like us,” Brooks said. Nina agreed that her favorite part about performing live is winning over the crowd. Although before each show, the girls said they each still get nervous.

“I get nervous before literally any show,” Nina said, “whether I’ve played the set a million times or one time.” The band added that as a pre-show relaxation tactic, the band’s tour manager, JC, teaches them a little yoga. Once the nerves leave and the tour is over, the band will write the next album together, a first for The Aquadolls. Their album “The Dream and the Deception” was written and recorded entirely by Brooks. 

“I sang everything through my iPhone headphones, DIY as heck,” said Brooks. She said it took a year to do on GarageBand on a busted laptop. Brooks added that the album itself was written over the course of five years. Brooks self-released the album on Spotify and created a record label in the process.

“Spotify said type in your label name and if you don’t have one make it up,” said Brooks, “I decided to pick Aqua Babe Records because whenever I mail out merchandise from our store I always write to Aquababe.” She said she was working at signing to a label, but it didn’t work out. She added it was not what she wanted it to be and she was really unhappy.

“I was like fuck that I want to do it myself,” Brooks said, “I don’t want anyone to tell me what I can or can’t do.” She noted she likes the freedom to do whatever and whenever she wants with her band.

My personal opinion on The Aquadolls:

The girls were super cool to talk with, had great style, and were overall just really nice. I think their music is consistently good across albums. Very indie vibe, but can trail into a little rock/pop. Their band art is really cool, unusual and funky. Good performers and can keep an audience entertained. The band has a youtube channel: theaquadollsmusic 

Songs I’ve added to my playlist:

Written by: Hannah BrennanPicture from left to right: Keilah Nina, Hannah Brennan, Melissa Brooks, Jackie Proctor