Bangin' Belles

Some bands form over a mutual love of music, the arts and wanting to express artistic freedom. Some bands get together to make sweet, beautiful melodies with the aim of making the world a better place. Some bands think that is bollocks and get together to get smashed, get laid and get rich. Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes formed for another reason. “We formed over our mutual love of '90s dance music videos and synchronised dance moves,” says fierce leading lady, Clairy Browne.

Okay, so that isn't strictly true. Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes are deeper than that. “We came together for a lot of reasons. There is always good music out there but there is not always a good show. You either get a brilliant band or an over-the-top burlesque show with not much substance. We wanted to do both.”

In 2009 Clairy Browne, known as a power diva by some, and her all-girl group The Bangin' Rackettes joined forces with a group of musicians and started rehearsing, recording and plying their trade. Things have progressed rapidly, although the power diva tag remains a mystery. Browne admits, “I do not exactly know what a Power Diva is. I think it relates to a tough woman who does not take shit. It is a compliment as I am inspired by Tina Turner, Cher and Etta James, who I consider power divas.”

So Browne and her ensemble teamed up with a group of lovable rogue musicians to start rehearsing and recording music in a makeshift studio, which happened to be a barely standing ex-coffin factory in the suburbs of Melbourne. It has quickly become their musical home. “It is still where we rehearse even though half the house has fallen down and trees grow inside. It is a cool place and we bring good vibes.”

They have come far in a short amount of time. They've toured throughout Australia, played the Big Day Out, Melbourne's Forum Theatre and appeared at the Golden Plains and Falls Festival. They've also done the obligatory appearances at numerous dingy venues. Their take on music is as intriguing and original as their name suggests. Their sound, best described as hybrid of doo-wop, soul, blues, rhythm and blues and ska, is their interpretation and their story – told their way.

Of course, their story extends to an all-out live show that can include a marching band, often located outside a venue to play as people stream in, dancers that get jiggy with the crowd, and cameos from a raft of singers that are seated amongst the listening hordes. It is cabaret, of sorts. “We like to get people involved and get people excited about what they are seeing,” says Browne.

It turns out that the audience could be in for quite the treat. “They will see sexy but not too revealing women. We want to reach different people and have a heart connection with the audience. We want to take the audience to another place. What we do is big.”

The band's 2011 debut album, Baby Caught The Bus, took two years to make and was produced by the much-commended Steve Schram (of Little Birdy and Cat Empire fame). The album was a concoction of party frenzy, soul and gut-wrenching doo-wop delivered via Browne's big, booming, soulful voice.

The album has already gained notoriety with media commentators, winning album of the year on ABC Radio National and a respectable sixth in The Age's album of the year list. So, what's next? “We're working on our new album.” And because Baby Caught The Bus was such a success, the pressure is on for the follow-up. “It is a good pressure and there is more expectation. That is why we are taking our time to get it right.”