The Belair Lip Bombs are undeniably cool. Their winning formula? Keep production sleek, arrangements straightforward, and hooks incredibly catchy. Their sound features dry, motorik drums, guitars that range from minimalist to dusty, and bass lines that occasionally take the lead. A touch of flair is added only if it feels just right—like the Irish fiddle that opens their latest album, Again.
In the music video for “Hey You,” the band performs on a rooftop while dressed in sharp suits. Guitarist Mike Bradvica, sunglasses perched on his nose, lights a cigarette with the nonchalance of a character from Reservoir Dogs. In 2025, it seems that the classic symbols of rock ‘n’ roll cool can still resonate as long as the music hits the right notes. Being Australian certainly adds to their charm.
This straightforward, catchy brand of rock is hard to come by these days, making the Lip Bombs one of the most exciting acts to emerge from Melbourne’s indie scene in recent years. With rave reviews, they’ve toured across the UK and the US and made history as the first Australian band to sign with Jack White’s Third Man Records, known for its keen eye in talent scouting.
When you chat with half of The Belair Lip Bombs, you find they are as laid-back as they are talented. Vocalist and guitarist Maisie Everett is outdoors enjoying a meal, while Bradvica joins from a nondescript hotel room during a work trip—confirming they still have day jobs in the music industry in 2025.
“We’re mindful of crafting songs that we can perform well live as a four-piece, ensuring they retain their energy,” Everett explains, tucking her legs up on her chair. “We’re not keen on adding synths. Our goal is to create a record that stands the test of time. You want something cool that doesn’t lose its appeal.”
While Melbourne is a hub for indie rock, the band members grew up in the surf-inspired suburb of Frankston. Everett and Bradvica met in high school and formed the band soon after graduating in 2017. “We were still underage at our first shows,” Bradvica reminisces. “We played at the legendary Cherry Bar and got kicked out right after our set.”
Culturally, Frankston was lacking, but it did boast a DIY space called Singing Bird Studio, which hosted rehearsals and live events. “For the first five or six years, it was our home base,” Everett notes. “We wrote and recorded our early EPs there. It’s one of the few venues in Melbourne that welcomes all-ages gigs, enabling young music lovers to form bands and connect.”
“It can be isolating in high school when you don’t have like-minded peers,” she adds. “Having a space for kids to express themselves and meet fellow musicians is crucial. A strong community has formed around Singing Bird.”
The Lip Bombs released their self-titled EP in 2018, followed by Songs To Do Your Laundry To in 2019. After some aimless years, they found their footing with their debut album, 2023’s Lush Life. “People really liked it,”.
With Third Man Records backing their second album, Again, they stepped into the studio with a label budget for the first time, struck by the genuine enthusiasm from the label during their inaugural SXSW trip in 2024. While pressure accompanies the new arrangement, it serves to elevate their work. “We felt we could push ourselves and refine our songs more than before,” Everett explains. “We now have a clearer identity as a band.”
Where Lush Life embraced post-punk and psych-rock influences, Again opts for a more straightforward approach. Tracks like “Again And Again” carry a lively, Strokes-like energy, while “If You’ve Got The Time” channels a Stones vibe. Songs like “Another World” and “Cinema” offer dreamy contrasts, and “Hey You” brings a robust bass and dreamy guitar reminiscent of the Kings of Leon, with their energetic live spirit shining through.
“At our core, we write songs together in one room,” Everett reveals. “Many bands send demos back and forth; we thrive on feeding off each other’s energy.”
“I keep the overdubs minimal,” Bradvica states, “aiming for a sound where one guitar feels like five executing a similar vibe.”
Everett has previously coined their style as “limerence rock,” referencing intense infatuation. Though she’s now reluctant to label their sound too strictly, she still finds meaning in it, declaring lines like “I’ve been telling everybody I’m fine / But you’re on my mind each night” from “Again and Again.” Their catchy tunes aren’t just trendy: they’re sincere.
“Contemporary pop-focused rock often lacks excitement,” Bradvica contends. “Many songs just don’t have the hooks. We consciously strive to create engaging pop music.”
Prior to the album’s release, the band tested new songs on their first US tour, supporting fellow Australians, Spacey Jane. They learned the nuances of captivating new audiences. “Sometimes, the most unexpected cities respond the best,” Everett shares. “We found an enthusiastic crowd in Portland, Oregon, a city I’d never considered before.”
More adventures lie ahead, with upcoming month-long tours across the UK, Europe, and North America. “If the album is well-received, we hope to tour more often and return overseas,” Everett muses as night falls outside her window. “Once that’s done, we’ll likely start writing the next album and repeat the process.” It’s a humble outlook, but as far as we’re concerned, the idea of the Belair Lip Bombs delivering fantastic songs over and over is incredibly exciting.
The Belair Lip Bombs’ Again is available now through Third Man Records.
Check out The Belair Lip Bombs’ exclusive playlist to accompany The Cover below on Spotify and on Apple Music here.
Words: Spencer Hughes
Photography: Ian Laidlaw
Makeup: Sara Rakhmetova
Styling: Chelsea Nguyen
Label: Third Man Records
