Sisters Clara, Georgia and Ella make up Adelaide-based, world-touring indie pop band Germein. They bring their thoughtful, catchy songwriting to recordings and the stage with kickass vocals, guitar, bass, drums, cello and a joyous presence. The trio enjoys busting tired old gender stereotypes in the music industry. As their song Good For a Girl says, 'I don't want be good for a girl, I just want to be good'. Amen to that.
We've spoken to Germein as they're headlining at Gluttony for the Adelaide Fringe, and kicking off the national 'Under The Southern Stars' tour, where they perform alongside an impressive national and international lineup including Cheap Trick, Bush, Stone Temple Pilots, Killing Heidi and The Superjesus.
But no matter how far or how wide they roam, there's no city quite like Adelaide for the Germein sisters.
You all grew up on your family property in the Adelaide Hills. What are your childhood memories of the Adelaide city area?
ELLA: Well, before the freeway had the tunnel coming down to the city, it was a bit of a hike. Especially because mum had four kids under four years old. It was a hectic time, going on a city adventure.
CLARA: It was such a treat.
ELLA: It was like wow, the city! Even though it's not that far, for us it was was something we didn't get to do all the time.
And how has your relationship to the city changed?
ELLA: We've seen it change so much, because we go overseas quite a lot. Usually for four or five months of the year. It's always so exciting when you get back to Adelaide. It's like, oh my gosh, look at that there, look at that there. You see it grow so much, especially the Adelaide Festival Centre area. We used to go for a treat every year, mum would take us to a show at the Festival Theatre. It's been amazing coming back there over the years and seeing the development of that area.
GEORGIA: We played at the new Festival Plaza launch on Friday. The new Plaza is amazing, it's a big hub of arts and creativity.
What are your favourite Adelaide venues to play at?
CLARA: The District room, at the Adelaide Casino, that's one of our favourite places.
GEORGIA: We played at the opening of that one, ha, as well, which was just over a year ago.
ELLA: Jared who runs The District, he's travelled the whole world, lived in LA, organising gigs, and met some amazing artists, and he's really brought that back to Adelaide, to The District. It's such an amazing venue and such a good place to play, the whole vibe of it. And I was lucky enough to do a mural, I do a bit of art on the side and Jared asked if I wanted to do a feature mural on the staircase.
GEORGIA: Fringe Festival, we've done the Fringe for, oh, seven years I reckon. The Garden of Unearthly Delights, this year we're playing Gluttony, and also Under The Southern Stars as part of the Fringe. It's that whole festival vibe. When it's that summery weather and everyone's just coming together.
ELLA: Adelaide Oval and Elder Park, where we did Carols By Candlelight.
Favourite places to see other performers?
CLARA: Obviously the big ones at Adelaide Oval are always fun.
GEORGIA: The Jade, and the Exeter, oh and the Grace Emily! Adelaide has beautiful, intimate venues. And Rundle Mall's just a beautiful spot as well, the buskers, and all the shops, and all the smells and coffee....
Speaking of coffee, any favourite spots?
CLARA: I feel like good coffee is a real musician thing, so often when musicians come to Adelaide, or when we've had people doing our video clips, they're always like 'take us to a good coffee place'.
ELLA: Hey Jupiter, the green tiled place... I feel like Adelaide just does good coffees everywhere actually.
Since you're vegetarians, what are your favourite vego places to eat?
ELLA: Gondola Gondola, on Hindley Street. The salt and pepper eggplant is amazing.
CLARA: There's a really good vegan yiros place -
ELLA: - Staazi & Co., on Grenfell Street. They have a food cart as well.
Since you're vegetarians, what are your favourite vego places to eat?
ELLA: Gondola Gondola, on Hindley Street. The salt and pepper eggplant is amazing.
CLARA: There's a really good vegan yiros place -
ELLA: - Staazi & Co., on Grenfell Street. They have a food cart as well.
How about music shops? There's a place in your video 'Good For A Girl'?
GEORGIA: Twang Central! Dad would take me there, we would go and look at all the amazing guitars and Terry who works there would just say 'play this one, play this one'. And when we have muso friends come from interstate or overseas we take them to Twang Central for the experience. It's just that beautiful and unique shop that you've got to go to. And I get my guitars serviced there. They're just beautiful, lovely people.
CLARA: Derringers is also our go-to.
GEORGIA: There's a Derringers in the city.
CLARA: For drums, I go to Derringers.
When you've been touring, what do you love about coming back to Adelaide?
ELLA: You can come back into Adelaide city and have that relaxed feeling. But you still get the social buzz of a city and having cool little places you can check out. It's this nice compact area. It's the perfect place for an extroverted introvert that likes social stuff, but doesn't want to be overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of places like London or Sydney... as amazing as those places are. I really do like that side of Adelaide. You can go shopping or you can go for a nice meal somewhere or you can go to the park, all in one place. You don't have to catch a million trams or tubes to get to great spots.
GEORGIA: When I've had friends coming from interstate we'd get bikes and go for a ride on the Torrens or go from Adelaide to Glenelg. There's just so much that you can do but there's not crowds and crowds of people. You're in the city but also it's kind of your own private city. I just love how it's green and open. I've played a few gigs at Adelaide Oval, corporate things, and just walking there along the river, it's a lovely place.
ELLA: And the air is nice and clean. Some of those cities, you can't wait to have a shower at the end of a day, I feel like I'm covered in smog.
Where do you get your awesome stage outfits?
ELLA: There's a place on Hindley Street that I go to, called SCO – Sustainable Clothing Co. It's vintage, or people bring in their fashion items, and you go in and either swap for something in the store or you get credit for the store. I've bought some really cool sparkly numbers. And I like that idea of not buying brand new.
GEORGIA: There's another vintage store that I really like, Fox On The Run, on Rundle Street. And The Lion The Witch Vintage as well.
ELLA: And Adelaide Vintage in the Myer Centre, I've got a couple of cool things from there. Also Miss Gladys on Rundle Street.
GEORGIA: We played at the opening of SABA on Rundle Street, and we got some clothes from them, which was really cool.
How have you been inspired musically, in Adelaide?
GEORGIA: Our dad's a musician, in a band called Gumbo YaYa, a New Orleans style band. He plays trumpet and I always remember going to his shows. That really inspired us, it was cool to see people having fun on stage, and doing it in your home town. St Paul's Creative Centre in the city do a lot for musos, which is awesome.
ELLA: There's so much talent that has been born and developed in Adelaide. It's a nurturing city, and it sets people up for success all over the world. So we feel very lucky that we've had support over the years from that 'big country town' vibe, to help us in the direction we've gone with our career so far.
More about Germein
Germein info and tour dates: germeinsisters.com
Instagram: @germeinsisters
Spotify: Germein
Credits:
Photography: Israel Baldago
Words: Jane Goldney