Spotlight: Scarlet Demore Makes Powerful Lollapalooza Debut
SCARLET DEMORE MAKES MUSIC FOR WOMEN WHO AREN’T ABLE TO GET THEIR REVENGE – The Chicago-based punk band, Scarlet Demore, has made an unforgettable Lollapalooza debut following their recent highly acclaimed Baby Teeth EP. With their Lollapalooza performance that took place on Sunday, August 4, the band continues to push boundaries within the punk scene. Following the success of Baby Teeth, Scarlet Demore’s performance at the iconic festival marked a significant milestone, not just for the band but for their loyal fans and the Chicago punk scene.
The energy at Lollapalooza was instantly amplified as Scarlet Demore took the stage. The audience was a mix of longtime fans and newcomers, all drawn by the band’s reputation for creating a fierce and exciting atmosphere. There was even a memorable all girls mosh pit that was started mid-set. Their performance is a testament to their roots in Chicago’s DIY punk circuits, showcasing their classic grunge foundation with a raw edge that left a long lasting impression on festival-goers.
Scarlet Demore's music is not just about sound; it’s about substance. They excel in tackling difficult subjects such as self-destruction, misogyny and personal evolution. Their songs are anthems for those who feel voiceless, particularly women who have faced injustices and are seeking a cathartic release through music.
Their EP Baby Teeth stands out as a raw and emotionally charged work of art. Each track is a confessional diary entry, capturing the vulnerability and loss of innocence that comes with youth. The title itself is symbolic, evoking the tender and often painful moments of losing one’s baby teeth – metaphorically speaking, the process of growing up and facing harsh realities.
The band’s journey is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of music. They are not just a band; they are a movement, amplifying the voices of those who seek revenge and justice through their art.
Scarlet Demore's journey from the local punk circuits to the Lollapalooza stage is a testament to their dedication and talent. Their DIY roots have shaped their sound and ethos, all while remaining the beating heart of a community that values powerful connections and safe spaces to cry, dance and heal. They have remained true to their origins while evolving and expanding their reach, making them a beloved fixture in the punk community.
To be a fan of Scarlet Demore is to be part of a movement that celebrates the power of music to heal, inspire and unite. In the true spirit of DIY, Scarlet Demore continues to forge their own path, leaving a trail of inspired and empowered fans in their wake.
Photography Credit: Alina Pawl-Castanoñ
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna again. It’s an absolute pleasure to have you back since your Baby Teeth EP release. I’d love to catch up and see how life has been treating you since and what you’ve been up to?
CAT: We toured twice. We went on tour with Floats and we did a West Coast tour in February, and then we just got back from an East Coast tour with Bugsy from Minneapolis. Our entire goal for this year was to tour as much as possible. I think we’ve been doing a good job at it. Then we started writing a record with this lineup and it's been really magical. I'm really lucky to have really talented musicians that I can rely on and that make cool as shit music.
LUNA: What kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
CAT: I always try to create safe spaces, specifically for women in the queer community. It's just for anybody that's too scared to take up a lot of space. We see them and we hear them.
G: Take up that motherfucking space you deserve. You deserve that.
CAT: These shows are as much theirs as they are ours. We have a really, really great crowd that's been very respectful and very kind and funny. I feel like we make music for the girls that will never be able to get their revenge and give them a space to express that. I know that going to shows is a really cathartic experience for a lot of people, not just as a performer, but as somebody who attends shows, so just being able to facilitate that space for people is a really beautiful thing to watch.
LUNA: You released your iconic Baby Teeth EP last year and when one thinks of losing baby teeth, it marks an end of an era and an emergence of a new chapter in life. How do you feel you’ve matured as artists and storytellers since the release of this EP?
CAT: I think we started writing for ourselves more. Writing music with four other people is hard, and we've grown really close with each other and I consider everybody in this band my family. We trust each other a lot more and we allow space for each other to be really vulnerable. We work better together now than when we did Baby Teeth. Everybody's a lot more involved.
LUNA: Were there any specific breakthroughs or lessons you learned while creating Baby Teeth that have carried over to your future releases and projects?
CAT: Not to settle I think was a big one and to really let things cook. There's a lot of songs that we've been writing in the past year where we want to call it once the song is quote, unquote done. We are smarter about it now, and we allow it to change and keep morphing as we play it.
LUNA: How do you feel about Baby Teeth and its impact a year later?
CAT: It's just been really wild watching more and more people sing it back to me. I think everybody struggles with this where whenever you're going through something, it's really hard to imagine that anybody else could feel the emotions that you're feeling at the capacity that you're feeling.
G: Mental illness brain be like, ‘no one could possibly ever understand how I feel ever. I'm literally the only person that's ever felt this way. No one ever understands me.’
CAT: Watching people especially during “A/B,” that is my favorite song lyrically that I've ever written. Musically, everybody does such a great job on that song. Watching girls scream those lyrics to me has been really powerful. All those songs are like, ‘where have you guys been all my life?’ I feel a lot less alone than I used to, and it's also really nice and validating watching the crowd grow in size.
LUNA: You have made a huge impact within Chicago’s DIY and punk circuits. How have the reactions and support been from fans and loved ones when you announced you’re performing at Lollapalooza?
G: I will say that all of us as a band are so incredibly lucky because all of our families support us so hard, and I feel like so often, especially being in a smaller band, a lot of families are not supportive, and we are so blessed. Not only that, but our friends will ride or die for us and are always there to help us. People hearing about us playing Lolla have been nothing but incredibly supportive and so kind. We're really grateful.
LUNA: Can you describe the energy and atmosphere at Lollapalooza? How does it compare to other festivals or shows you’ve played?
JOEL: It's just chaotic. It's always a strange dynamic shift when you have to play to people that are 100 yards away and you can't see their face, because we're so used to playing shows where you can see everybody. It’s a different type of show but the energy was so great. Chicago popped out.
CAT: I am really proud of us. I was really, really scared and then when I went out there and realized that pretty much everybody here I've seen at a show multiple times, and that made me feel really good. I'm really grateful that they came through and supported us.
LUNA: What were some highlights or memorable moments from your Lollapalooza performance?
CAT: I called for an all girl pit and it actually happened and I've never done that. I've always wanted to, but it’s hard for it to happen because you gotta either move forward or move back or to the side. I saw Allie and all the girls showed up and knew exactly what needed to happen.
G: I love when Cat says, ‘where are my girlies?’ and then the majority of the crowd screams and cheers.
LUNA: What’s your favorite song to perform live?
CAT: I love the new song, “Ticket to Heaven.”
JOEL: I like the new song too.
G: I really like “Ticket to Heaven,” and obviously “A/B” because I get my moment. I love “Dead Men” because it really resonates with people, so it’s really fun seeing people really feeling that.
Photography Credit: Alina Pawl-Castanoñ
LUNA: How do you prepare for a big festival performance like this? Do you have any pre-show or post-show rituals that help ensure that you play your best set?
G: Smoke and practice.
CAT: Freak out, cry, contemplate everything and then you just have to flip the switch. That's something that we've had to learn to do, where it's like everything could be going wrong, but you have to realize that while it is us playing our show, it's not about us. It's about the people watching us and the people that love us and support us.
LUNA: Did you have a chance to check out any other bands or artists at Lollapalooza? If so, who did you enjoy the most?
CAT: Chappell Roan. It felt like we were at Live Aid because there were so many people. It was crazy.
G: Chappell. I love lesbians. She’s so baddie.
JOEL: Chappell.
CAT: I cried the whole time.
G: I also cried because I love lesbians.
CAT: She deserves it because she has worked her ass off, and it is a 10 year game. She is a perfect example of that. She just never gave up. I think a lot of artists like us see ourselves in an artist like her. It means just a million baby steps and you can't give up.
G: Deftones fucking slayed and I’m excited to see Slow Pulp.
LUNA: How do you prepare for a festival performance compared to a regular concert? Are there any differences in your approach or setlist?
CAT: Different. You have to plan a whole intro and outro. You have to really prepare, especially when it's outdoors, for it to be hot as fuck out. You have to give yourself time. Festivals are a different beast.
JOEL: You have to be a lot more strict about what goes on during your set. You don't want to go under or over at all.
CAT: We have to time our set.
G: It was crazy because we have so many stage hands and all they want to do is help us.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would like to share with Luna?
JOEL: We want to finish the record.
LUNA: Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you would like to add?
BAND: Your local band can do it too, don’t give up.
