All Our Exes Live In Texas On Missing Backstreet Boys

This time last year All Our Exes Live In Texas played Small World Festival, taking the stage after an AC/DC cover band. Hannah Crofts of All Our Exes Live In Texas recalls a punter describing their sound and style as being "like a spongecake after a bag full of drugs". Take that, iTunes genre categories! Don't be deceived, though, the awesome lady foursome are not all sugar. All Our Exes Live In Texas have such a smooth effect because they are also wicked, hilarious and damn fine musicians. Taking the murder ballad genre back from Nick Cave and co for new single The Devil's Part from debut album When We Fall, the group has finally got their firecracker essence down in long form.

"When we saw Taylor Swift we're saying to our booking agent, 'Please put us forward [for support], singing with Tay Tay would be sick'."

"When we started this band, we picked up our instruments — well, we bought instruments and we learned how to play them for the band. Because we didn't expect it, as a band, to keep going," begins Hannah Crofts, vocals and ukulele. "Singing, we all went to university and did that so we were all really on top of that, but instrument-wise... we compensated a bit for our playing with our banter, having a really good time on stage. And then over the last three years we've all had heaps of lessons in our instruments — and writing a lot specifically for them and together — so for us this record is something we're really musically proud of. Hopefully the energy and our personalities will really come through, but we're really proud of what's down musically on this record too."

Crofts' modesty about the band's process of learning their craft is endearing, but far from an uncommon story in popular music. Artists like Paul Kelly still admit, decades into their careers, to learning more as they go. What makes All Our Exes Live In Texas particularly interesting is their scope and breadth of musical style and influences. While sounding indie-folk on the surface (think the McGarrigle sisters times two), their indie-rock and contemporary pop influence is not far away, either.

Crofts praises Courtney Barnett, who she says "has paved the way for everybody, she's so good". As part of their journey to debut album status, All Our Exes Live In Texas also supported '90s bubblegum greats, Backstreet Boys. "We miss them, we miss them every day. What's Howie D thinking right now and is he thinking of me? Because I'm thinking of him," laughs Crofts. On how they secured this support slot, Crofts says, "We just got an email from the promoter, and we had emailed them and told them that we'd love to do it... and we do that for all tours, actually. When we saw Taylor Swift we're saying to our booking agent, 'Please put us forward [for support], singing with Tay Tay would be sick'."

While All Our Exes Live In Texas are more than worthy headliners in their own right, their willingness to be unlikely-but-awesome supports does open up new possibilities. Have they contacted the Guns N' Roses crew to offer a little sonic spongecake for their 2017 tour? "That's awesome, Exes and Guns N' Roses - it's a good combo!" Crofts swoons. Are you reading this, Axl?