"It's Insane": We Asked Dulcie How They Became Australia's Most Exciting Band in Under a Year
The talented ladies have even drawn the attention of Ocean Alley.
It is hard to believe that Perth-based indie pop band Dulcie only uploaded their melodically intricate debut single "Fall" to triple j Unearthed in January 2019.
In the space of a year, they have made a remarkable impact on the Australian music scene. Just months after releasing their debut single, they were picked as a featured Unearthed artist, and in May their second song "Own Ground" was widely praised for its distinct sound.
I was first introduced to the powerhouse group last November when they opened for G Flip in Fremantle. Immediately mesmerised by their stunning harmonies and effortless stage presence, I knew instantly I had to talk to them.
Fortunately, Ashleigh Carr-White (keys and vocals), Timieka Denton (bass and vocals) and Saskia Brittain (guitar and vocals) love to talk. They are also quite possibly the most ebullient people I’ve ever met. When we meet at Hyde Park in Perth, I go to shake Ashleigh’s hand, and she pulls me in for a hug instead.
It is understandable that the girls are so excitable. To add to their already impressive list of successes, they’ve just won triple j Unearthed’s competition to perform at Laneway Festival in Fremantle in February.
"It’s honestly just a dream come true," says Ashleigh, sounding genuinely dumbfounded.
"It’s insane."
Something tells me Dulcie is this modest most of the time. Sitting beside a pond in a circle, this is closer to having lunch with pals than an interview. Constantly giggling and interrupting one another, I can’t help but wonder whether they’re more like best friends than bandmates.
"We are," they say, in complete unison. Ashleigh, Timieka and Saskia are totally in sync, and their chemistry is undeniable. However, they remind me it hasn’t always been this way.
"It took a while; we did have our up and down moments, and we didn’t really know how everyone worked," Timieka says.
"I think that happens with every band though. It takes a while to understand each individual person."
As the girls explain, Ashleigh and Saskia founded Dulcie, and brought Timieka on board to play bass while they were studying at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). It was also there that they found their drummer, Madison Hanley, who couldn’t make today’s chat.
With Dulcie’s expeditious growth, the four have decided to defer their musical studies.
"We’re doing what we wanted to do anyway," says Ashleigh.
Timieka interjects: "That’s what we went there for: to make a band and be successful."
I am reminded of how much Dulcie has accomplished so quickly. I ask whether they have really had time to define their sound.
"People say we’ve got our own unique style, but we don’t know what it is," says Saskia.
"It’s all different styles jammed together, and I think that’s what makes our music so different."
Whatever Dulcie is doing, it’s working incredibly well. They’ve even drawn the attention of Australian alternative reggae-rock band Ocean Alley, who dubbed "Fall" their favourite track of 2019. Saskia excitedly pulls out her phone to show me screenshots.
While Ashleigh, Saskia and Timieka share vocals on their tracks, they point out that Ashleigh is responsible for writing the lyrics for "Fall".
"Ash is a legend," states Saskia.
"We all definitely write together,” Ashleigh interrupts, adding, "I wrote "Fall" in like 10 minutes, and I had to listen back to my voice memos to learn it."
It is obvious that the girls don’t take themselves too seriously though they do feel a responsibility to share important messages through their music.
"If we were ever to get really big, I’d like to hope we were helping people and using that platform to do as much good as we could," says Ash, with Saskia and Timieka in agreement.
I ask how they’ve managed to stay so optimistic under the pressure that comes along with being young musicians.
Saskia tries to explain. "You’ve got to have a lot of self-belief to get where you want to be. If you don’t, then you won’t really try, or achieve anything," she says.
"You have to set goals for yourself," adds Ashleigh.
This line of conversation makes me curious to know what Dulcie’s long-term aspirations are.
"I’d say our goal is to hit Top 10 of the Hottest 100," says Saskia. Her answer is met with a collective gasp, and fits of laughter.
As for me, I’m not entirely sure what is so funny. At the rate they’re going, Dulcie can certainly afford to dream that big.
Dulcie's national tour kicks off in March. You can buy tickets here.
Header Image: Supplied
