Blusher Suck: “We Actually Don’t Really Know How To Dance”
"My ideal morning routine would be to wake up at 5am, do a cold plunge, pump some iron, read a book. My actual morning routine is to get up at 9am, down three cups of tea and then freak out for half an hour."
Melbourne pop trio Blusher are one of Australia’s most in-demand pop acts.
They’ve only released a smattering of singles and played a handful of live shows since forming in late 2021, but their confessional, high-energy strain of pop has captivated audiences, both in Australia and overseas. Members Miranda Ward, Jade Ingvarson-Favretto, and Lauren Coutts used to all be solo artists, and by channelling their respective powers into the one project, they’re pretty much Australia’s pop Avengers. Just don’t ask Blusher if they can actually dance, because the answer may shock and surprise you (unless you’ve read the title of this article).
They’ve just released their debut EP, Should We Go Dance?, and it’s a tightly-packed, cohesive project that features five hits of polished pop goodness. They make music that’s designed for dance floors and soundtracking D&Ms. If you’re looking for a dopamine rush, then this project is for you. Do Blusher a favour, though. When you’re listening to Should We Go Dance?, keep in mind that they’ve been through the ringer to make this project a reality, as each song originally began as a mistake from their lives. It’s yet more proof that artists will face situations that suck head-on, knowing that they’ll be able to turn the pain into music we can all enjoy.
Junkee: A mistake that turned into an opportunity?
Lauren: I think every song on our EP was once a mistake that turned into a song!
Cringe quote you used to live by?
Jade: There’s a quote, it’s a Swedish quote, which translates to “no cow on the ice”, which means no worries, no need to be concerned. But, one time, there actually was a cow on the ice!
Worst advice you got and blindly followed?
Jade: In high school, all of the girls used to tell each other “if you put baby powder in your hair, it’s gonna fix it and make it beautiful and get rid of the oiliness”. It just made you look like a grandma in a school uniform.
The worst failure you’re up for sharing, and what you learned from it?
Miranda: One time, at band camp, we had two days to learn this song that everyone else in the school band somehow knew and I didn’t know it at all. I’d never heard it. I told them “I can’t memorise a whole song’s worth of lyrics in two days”, but they were like “no, you’ll be fine”. I got up to sing the song, and I sang the first line, and then I just stood there silently for the whole rest of the song, just looking. What I learnt from that is [to] have a lyric sheet.
Anything you used to be wrong about?
Lauren: Skinny jeans.
Miranda: Side bangs.
Jade: Yes, doing a combover side bang.
Miranda: Bring it back! Mine was probably thinking that as a redhead you could wear bright red. I’ve learnt [gestures at outfit] muted tones.
Embarrassing Internet habit?
Lauren: I am a big unsender of messages. I like to think that I’m a confident person but I really don’t seem it. I back out every time I say something.
Miranda: She’s mysterious!
Lauren: You’ll never know… or you’ll know for a second, then it’ll be retracted.
Ideal morning routine versus actual morning routine?
Miranda: My ideal morning routine would be to wake up at 5am, do a cold plunge, pump some iron, read a book. My actual morning routine is [to] get up at 9am, down three cups of tea and then freak out for half an hour. Maybe do 10 minutes of yoga.
Lauren: 10 minutes of yoga will fix it!
Something very off-brand for you?
Jade: I think off-brand for us as a band is [that] actually, we can’t dance, and we tell everyone we can. Our EP is called Should We Go Dance?, we’re quite ambitious to do choreography with our live show, but we actually don’t really know how to dance.
Lauren: No formal training.
Bad health decision?
Lauren: Just coffee. Coffee every time.
Jade: Caffeine addiction. When you’re on the caffeine comedown and then you decide the solution is more caffeine in another cup of coffee to get back up, or another bag of lollies.
Lauren: Yesterday, Jade and I ate a really sugary cookie and basically hallucinated (everyone laughs).
Miranda: Also, spending like eight hours in a dark studio room with no windows and just existing on coffee and studio snacks.
What do you waste money on?
Jade: Depop!
Miranda: Not a waste though, is it?
Jade: No, it’s all recycled.
Lauren: I waste money on treats. I buy an $8 cake — $8 piece of cake — every day.
Worst procrastination habit?
Lauren: Also cake.
Miranda: Baking.
Lauren: Yeah, we procrastibake.
Jade: Don’t do an interview on an empty stomach!
Blusher’s debut EP Should We Go Dance? is out now.
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Illustration credit: Matt Lauricella, @pigeonboyart
Editor’s note: This piece has been lightly edited for length and clarity.