Indeed, 2021 debut Fragments Of A Bitter Memory felt like the ferocious distillation of an ideology that had been taking root since the band formed at a Creeping Death basement show in 2018. Everything from police brutality and anti-colonialism to Emma’s own experiences as a survivor of childhood trauma at the hands of an alcoholic stepfather is dissected across scathing cuts like Innate Thirst and Cold Hearts In Bloom.
Crucially, though, Emma and her bandmates – middle/high school friends Pedro Carrillo (guitar) and Jeff Yambra (drums), one-time band photographer Andrew Le (bass), and “genius” six-stringer/songwriter Sam Reynolds – stress that those beliefs and experiences shouldn’t be seen as their entire identity as a band.
“It’s like when people [pigeonhole] us as ‘female-fronted’,” Emma expands. “Obviously, we are, but that’s not all we are. These things all play their part, but they’re just pieces in the bigger Dying Wish puzzle. The human experience is complex. That’s something we like to reflect.”