Girl Scout share their Brink influences playlist: Alvvays, Pavement, Teenage Fanclub and more
Swedish indie pop outfit Girl Scout built up some early buzz in recent years with a handful of infectious power pop EPs that carry just enough of a punk edge, as well as a tour with Canadian indie icons Alvvays. Today, the band delivers their debut full-length, Brink, via AWAL, and it’s a proper arrival from the band, full of big hooks and stunning arrangements, blending shoegazey haze with a pop immediacy and a grungy edge that pushes the hooks up front while offering rewarding repeat listens on a good set of headphones.
To celebrate the release of their new album, the band put together an influences playlist for Treble, lining up a bunch of stellar tracks that provided inspiration while they were working on their debut LP. Among the bands they had on repeat were Scottish jangle-pop legends Teenage Fanclub, tourmates Alvvays, the timeless indie anthems of Pavement and more.
Girl Scout’s vocalist/guitarist Emma Jansson, guitarist/bassist Kevin Hamring and drummer Per Lindberg offered commentary on those songs, including which songs sound like freedom to them, and the idea of nostalgia in a song. Listen to Girl Scout’s influences playlist below, and hear Brink in its entirety.
Teenage Fanclub – “Is this Music?“
Kevin: Going into the album process, earlier that summer we had come off an amazing tour opening for Alvvays, one of my absolute favourite bands. This song was their walk-on track, with some bagpipes added to it. It was glorious.
Fuck – “Laundry Shop“
Kevin: Discovered this band from an old poster on the wall at a venue in Dresden, Germany. Such a stupid band name, haha, but the music was really good?
Alvvays – “Forget About Life“
Kevin: Alvvays are such experts at this cinematic sadness. I often find myself returning to this song. It’s soothing, sad and hopeful to me, all at once.
22° Halo – “Virtual You“
Emma: Such a beautiful, intricate track. The whole album is amazing but this song in particular is one that I listen to all the time. The guitar parts are so pretty and the lyrics are so touching.
Indigo De Souza – “Heartthrob“
Emma: Listened to this song a bunch when I was strutting around Stockholm last summer during the period we were making the album. Sounds like freedom and sunny skies!!
Pavement – “Range Life“
Emma – I have a soft spot for music that doesn’t need to feel polished to be perfect. This song in particular was probably a big influence on “Simple Life” on some subconscious level. Pavement 4ever <33
The Smashing Pumpkins – “Perfect“
Emma: It’s woeful in a very addictive sort of way. I’m a sucker for songs about yearning. “I promise that we’ll be perfect, perfect strangers when we meet, strangers on the street, lovers while we sleep.” That line kills me.
Fontaines D.C. – “Favourite“
Per: There is a magic to this song that I can’t really put words to, but I was obsessed with it the summer when we made the album. How it feels hopeful and joyful but still melancholic—basically just nostalgia in a song?
Miya Folick – “Fist”
Per: I think Emma first sent me this album, she usually sends us a lot of music (which is a thing I love about her). I’m drawn to songs that feel a bit like a mantra, how they just go on and on and take their time, and this is a perfect example of that.
Grandaddy – “The Crystal Lake“
Per: Who recorded this synth? Who decided “this is what we’ll put in the song next to a crazy guitar solo?” Probably Jason Lytle himself but whoever it is, that person is a genius.
