Interview by Ashley Galvan
WHEN I connected with Amy Love and Georgia South of Nova Twins for an interview, they had just wrapped rehearsals for a monumental year, headlining their own tour before joining forces with Evanescence and Spiritbox for a powerhouse female-fronted rock tour. Fresh off their third album, Parasites and Butterflies, the duo has been fearlessly carving space in a male-dominated space while building something revolutionary: shows where women claim the front row and where being your weird, wonderful self is celebrated. Amy and Georgia revealed the duality that makes their artistry so compelling, the parasites and the butterflies, the darkness and the light.
The way I practiced recording this, I was like, “Hello, hello.” Pee pee poo, made sure that this worked. Thank you, guys, so much for chatting with me for Fantom Magazine, a street roller skating and music magazine empowering women and people in the community we love so much. I am so pleased to be able to talk with y’all before you embark on this amazing tour journey. I know you guys just finished rehearsals and everything. How does it feel right now to be in a place where you’re going to headline your own tour and then join Amy Lee and Evanescence?
Amy: Yeah, we are super excited about our headline tour. It’s an interesting one because we did the first half last year, from October or November, I think, so we’re dipping back in to finish off the second half of it. So, that’s just like a different perspective, but it’s really fun because we get to rinse it and do a little bit more with our fans, and it’s really nice to be on the road and to get stuck in cause when we don’t gig, we get a little bit stir crazy. So, it’s nice to know that that’s around the corner. Then obviously, Amy Lee, legend. Evanescence, legend. Spirit Box, legend. That’s just going to be like a proper powerhouse, female-fronted, with lots of good energy, because usually it’s the guys who seem to dominate the rock scene. So, it’s really nice to see us actually doing that now as well.
Courtney LaPlante’s going to be with you guys! Yes! Oh my gosh, that is going to be legendary. How does it feel to go from performing with Lenny Kravitz to this? I cannot believe this trajectory. You’re coming from that incredible experience with Lenny, and now you’re doing a combination of headlining your own tour and then joining Evanescence. As you were saying about men dominating this industry at times, what excites you most about stepping into this experience with such female power?
Georgia: I think it’s amazing to see. We’re super excited about our tour because our audience, that whole front row, is majority female, which is amazing. You know, for years and years, it’s been like girls stand at the back. They can’t get to the front, but people are still claiming space there. And our shows are such a beautiful place to be, like, you can turn up alone but make a bunch of friends. They’re so warm and welcoming. You can just be purely yourself, weird, wonderful, dress how you want to dress, be how you want to be. It’s just fully accepted at our shows. And that’s what’s been so great to see on our tours, and how we’ve grown the community as we’ve gone along. So, we’re excited to head on to the Evanescence tour because it is so female-led. To feel that female energy and power in that too, and really experience a proper female rock tour, where each band has female forces. So, we’ve never experienced that on a big scale before, and it’s going to be really interesting to feel the energy backstage and in the crowd. It’s going to be awesome.
That’s beautiful and powerful. I had a similar moment at Doechii’s free show in my hometown last year. I arrived early, went straight to the front, and was surrounded by women. It was a unified, special experience. Meeting new friends and being with other women is different in such a male-dominated industry. You’re paving the way for women to be front and center. I’m excited to see you collaborate with other creative women and share your new album, Parasites and Butterflies, with the world. So, what was the creative process like for this album? What emotional space were you in while writing it?
Amy: We just came off the back of Supernova touring that extensively for a few years, and it was the first time. So, we obviously had a lockdown, and then we came out of that, and then we just scored like the most we’d ever done in our lives. So, it went from one extreme to the other. It was amazing. It was exciting. It was tiring. There were tears. There was laughter. There was blood. There was everything. Not literally blood, like metaphorical blood. And well, there might have been some, but it was really just such an incredible experience. But I think we also learned to navigate our mental health, off the back of that, because when we finished touring, and everything stopped, we realized we were out of balance, and we put it down to the adrenaline spikes, the lack of sleep. Like, we did like three countries in one day at one point, and it was like we weren’t sleeping, but we were so excited that adrenaline just got us through. So then, when we came back, and everything stopped, we didn’t really have time to even ourselves out and get a bit of balance. So, we went straight into writing the next record. It was a short turnaround, and then I went to Vermont for two months to record it. So, I think we struggled in places that ended up in the music. So, the parasite part, you know, acknowledging the dark and the light, the opposites, and then as we were working through the album, finding the butterflies, like the light, you know? So that’s why we played with that duality, because that’s how we felt. We felt like one minute we were, like, chaotic, and the other minute we were, like, oh, we’re having fun. We’re out with our friends, and suddenly we’re home, and then we’re like, oh no, we’re home. Oh god. So, it was just like all these different feelings, but it all went into the record and became the foundation of the concept as we were writing it. So, that was really cool, actually. So, it was just an honor to reflect on where we were at, and after that we toured it. It was nice just working through that and enjoying the fruits of our seeds.
Absolutely. My husband tours for a living, so I relate to that experience you just shared about being on the road and then coming home. When you’re each home, what do you find grounding during that transition? You’re coming down from such a heightened state of touring, you’ve got your own intense system locked in, and then suddenly you’re home, and everything slows down. You’re not just forced to rest, but you also get that wonderful opportunity to go DND mode and truly decompress. What’s something each of you does to ground yourself and settle into just being home?
Georgia: I think when you first finish touring, and you get back from a tour, the first week, all you want to do is just stare at a blank wall and just be because it is so noisy on the road. It’s like you don’t really have time to process your own thoughts or just be alone, really. So, I think for the first few days, you’re kind of just staring into space, and that feeling is really nice. And also, you’re just exhausted. And then we found that the routine is really great. We love having a routine. I’m not quite there yet, but Amy’s going to the gym. I love a routine, like, I don’t know.
Amy: Having food, like normal meals.
Georgia: Having breakfast or just touching base. A big part of this for us as well is that being home feels like touching base with family and friends, because often in friend group chats, they’ll think they’re not going to be able to come. You know, you stop getting invited to things because it’s like they’re not around, but actually because we’ve been home for quite a long time, like probably the longest we’ve ever been, and it’s been like four months or something. We’re like, “No, we are around and we can go to that birthday or we can see this family member’s wedding and we can do these big things and really rebuild these friendships in person like face to face because obviously you can text people as much as you like, but an actual in person meeting has been just like invaluable to us. It really means a lot to us, and we’ve really enjoyed that part of being at home.
Honestly, you’re about to hit the road again. I was looking at your tour schedule and got sad because there’s no Austin date [I live in Texas!]. But your last show is in Lisbon, where my husband and I got married. I’m like, should we go to Lisbon in October? It’s incredible. The schedule blew me away. It reminds me of what you shared about this album, that balance of light and dark, which mirrors the contrast between touring and being home. As you’re about to embark on this next tour and this next year, and with spring approaching too, how does this season of your life feel different? For the Nova Twins, uniting and being creative angels, how does this particular era in your career feel compared to any other time in the past? What makes this cycle unique?
Amy: I think freedom, perhaps. I think we’ve come full circle. I think we started with our first album, Who Are the Girls? We’re very much trying to break out onto the scene, and people were still being like, “Who are they? Supernova was us being like, we’re arriving. And then Parasites and Butterflies were like a reflection. So now, full circle: like, we were those girls, we are now women, and it’s really about embracing that, and we know ourselves, and obviously everyone’s continuously evolving. That shouldn’t stop. If it does, you should be worried. And I think with that in mind, we’re also just ready to not listen to the noise and to the bullshit and just to be who we want to be and unapologetically do that without looking back. Cause, I think even though we were at that stage, Supernova, we were like, “Yeah, we’re powerful.” But it came from a place where BLM was happening, and we wanted to really be a force for people and like a bit of a bit of hope to be like, we’ve got this, but we were still like scared girls, but wanting to really just be like we can go through anything. We’re going through some of the worst things in our lives, but we wanted to put forward that message. And then that third album we wanted to show, oh, actually, vulnerability is just as powerful, and it’s important to be able to rest in both. And now we’ve had a bit of everything. It’s like, well, let’s go forward. Let’s do it, and let’s just not care about the noise, and let’s just have fun again as we did at the beginning. Like, because the industry is so harsh, it’s a harsh place, and it can be a little bit hostile. But if you can find the magic in the creativity and why you did it in the first place, you can’t really go wrong. So, I think just getting back in touch with those girls at the beginning, who we were, but with the knowledge that we have now.
Absolutely. Yes. What about you, Georgia? Do you feel the same way?
Georgia: Yeah, completely. I think yeah, we’ve got that fuck it, fuck you attitude back again. Not that it ever really left, but I think it’s good to have that energy, too, cause when you start in the industry, you’re so kind of naive to everything, and you run everything like, “Yeah, let’s get the world. Let’s fucking go.” And then you know you’re bitten by harsh truths here and there, so then to come full circle and kind of get that back is very freeing, and it feels great.
Yes. And even in this time, for each of you, is there a quote or mantra that is resonating with you right now?
Amy: Just like it’s not really a quote or anything like that, but be in your moment and just do you. That’s all you can do. Don’t be looking over your shoulder at anyone else, what they’re doing, or comparing yourself. Death by comparison is such a thing, you know, a big thing, especially for artists when you’re just flooded with all these people putting their best foot forward and not really actually showing the full spectrum of it, you know? So, then it makes people feel a bit inferior or like they should be doing a little bit more. So just be yourself, enjoy your moment, and be in that, because that’s all you have at the end of the day. Honestly, real. What about you, Georgia? This past year, my mantra has been, “enjoy the process of becoming.” Different words and values resonate in each season of life, and I’m always curious what guides the people I care about, like what little Jiminy Cricket is around you, you know? Is there a phrase or feeling that’s sticking with you this season?
Georgia: What always comes to mind is something my nan says: “The long road draws sweat, but the short road draws blood.” And I think that’s just like you can put that with anything. And you know, being in a band is a long road. For most people, it’s like from your first rehearsals to playing in independent venues and building up your fan base, and you don’t want the short road because all these building blocks are what’s going to really make your career sustainable. You’re building something that you can just look back on, and the journey is the reward. I think when you first start, and we’ve definitely done this, you think of the end goal. What is the end goal? That is the kind of treasure chest at the end that we’re trying to aim for. You know, when you’re starting, you think about the Grammy’s and you think this and that to get that, that means you’ve made it. But now, looking back, we’re like the best times we’ve had are being in a van pulling up to a venue, and we’re like in a dressing room covered in band stickers, and we’re so excited, high on life. We played the best, most energetic show to like 200 people, that’s fully going wild, or we’ve ended up with some random afterparty after a show, and it’s just like funny memories along the way. We’ve already won because how is it that we’re living this life?
Absolutely. Life is like a scrapbook, you flip through and remember all those moments. I keep all my show wristbands as reminders. Looking back, you realize the journey itself was the goal, not just the destination. That’s such a powerful perspective, and I’m happy that’s where your hearts are. I recently told my friend that when you’re supported, your dreams get louder than your self-doubt. Listening to your record, I felt that message strongly. Who in your life has helped quiet that self-doubt so your creative dreams could come true?
Amy: Definitely a massive testament to our families. We’ve been very, very lucky to have their support in terms of them just being like, because our band, the kind of music we make, is not very conventional. We like pop, but we don’t make pop girly music. So, it’s like they always encouraged you to go after your dreams. Whether it was my aunt or my mom being like, “You know, do what you want, Amy, go for your dreams. Whereas G’s parents are weirder, embracing it. We were very lucky that they let us be ourselves, because it’s really hard for families when music isn’t obviously the easiest career choice, and some parents worry it won’t be a proper job. You’ve got to let people take their own paths, and you can’t kill a dream before it’s even started. So, we’re lucky that they were supportive. I started there, and we’ve had a lot of champions along the way. A lot of amazing women like Sophie Kay were definitely one of them, and Tom Mel, like loads of artists who picked us up along the way as well, like you need to listen to this band, come on, what’s going on here, you know.
Yes, I love that. Georgia, do you feel the same way? Beyond family and the wonderful people along the way, is there anyone specific in your circle who’s been your champion? Someone you go to when you’re unsure, and they’re like, “Girl, I got you?”
Georgia: No, definitely like what Amy said, our families are so vocal and supportive of us, and from a young age. Neither of us went to uni, and it wasn’t that pressure of like you should be going to uni and doing something else or anything like that. It was like, “No, be in the band and do that.” But they also were like, “Put as much time and effort as you would do if you were, you know, doing a course in something.” So, we still worked so hard at it, and I think they saw that we were working incredibly hard. So yeah, they would always back us and support us. My partner’s super supportive, and our friends are always popping up in our music videos.
Yes, that’s beautiful.
Georgia: Yeah, we’re like, we need a video, and you know, we need somebody to do this in the video. They’re like, yeah, we’ll do it. We have so many people around us, our little angels supporting us.
Absolutely. It’s so important in the creative process to have someone who can ground you while also uplifting and nurturing your growth. I’m so happy you both have that support, because it shows how uniquely expressive and authentic you’ve been from the beginning. You’ve described this album as coming from a vulnerable place in your creative process. Also, when I was watching your Tiny Desk, the mothership, though! Absolutely incredible. When did you start building this mothership world of effects?
Georgia: Yeah, we’ve just always been interested in making weird and wonderful effects, whether it’s from my pedal board or Amy’s vocals and creating weird tones out of that. We’re quite nerdy in that way where we delve deep into our pedal labs, and it’s just grown over the years. We started with not many, and then we’d go to Denmark Street in London and experiment with pedals and be like, “Oh, that’s fun. Uh, let’s try that out.” And I think also we always felt like, because we are women and women of color playing, you know, in the rock scene, we always felt like we have to play everything live and make sure that we’re extra proving ourselves because people always doubt us. Even to this day, you’ll see the odd comment of like they’re miming or you know, it’s fake, it’s AI, but it’s like, you know, you wouldn’t say that if it was a white male. So, we always have our pedals on show and try to make it as obvious as it can to people because that’s just what we do. It is what it is on the tin, and we love it. We love the risk of when we play live, it is live, and if something breaks down, it just breaks down, and that’s just how you have to deal with it because that’s what bands did back in the day. There weren’t any tracks running behind it or anything like that. So, we love it.
That’s so real. I’m honored to be around someone who’s proving these men wrong, especially white men. It’s amazing how you both inspire so many women, particularly women of color, to do their thing. Your aesthetic and swag are iconic. When did you start creating your stage aesthetic? I love how you’re like, “This doesn’t exist yet? Let’s make it ourselves,” very Selena-style DIY, which I grew up on. When I saw your Tiny Desk, I was obsessed with those outfits. Then you mentioned you made them yourselves, and that’s super unique! How do you build your look for shows and tours? How do you cook up these creations?
Amy: Yeah, I think it’s always a little bit of a last-minute death, to be honest. We’re like, we got tour, we need clothes to wear. Oh my god, we need to now sit there until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. making clothes. And music videos, we used to be so bad. It would always be the night before that I tried to finish the music video. And there were times where, especially in Supernova, that was ridiculous. It was like going to bed at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., then a shoot at 6 a.m., and then we feel tired, look like shit, but we got the outfit and Georgia is last sewing at night.
Georgia: Amy will be in bed by 12 a.m.
Amy: I can’t do it. But I think our music is a massive mix of sound. And when we first started, for one, clothes were really expensive. We didn’t have the money to go to these fancy shops and buy these cool one-off pieces that maybe you would get from a cool designer or something, because, you know, we wanted something a bit more bespoke and tailored. So, the only way we could do that was just by starting with safety pins and buttons and very, just kind of your everyday kind of household stuff, and we’d kind of really accentuate that stuff in a maximalist type of way. And then we got really good at stitching. And then suddenly we got sewing machines. And then, suddenly, we were putting outfits together, making skirts and tops, and it got better and better as the years went on. And then through that, it kind of just represented our sound so much that you know we figured that it just felt comfortable like it was our armor and we felt really good on stage. Not to say that we’ve since opened it up to independent designers, who have so many cool, creative things we like to work with as well. We definitely love making our own clothes. We’ve got our own brand called Bad Stitches, and eventually we’re going to put it out there, but for now we’re keeping it back. So, yeah, we love fashion and clothes. It’s something we’re all so into.
That’s my favorite thing about being a creative soul. When society tries to box you in, you break through. You jump between communities and mix things up. I love creative women who blend their communities into one and express that fusion. It’s iconic. This feels like divine alignment because it’s proof that you can be anything you want. You don’t have to be just one thing, and if it doesn’t exist, make it.
Amy: Yeah. Exactly. That’s so beautiful.
What are you valuing most right now? I feel like our values shift in different seasons of life; they’re all within us, but certain ones illuminate more at different times. Sometimes family takes priority; other times, relationships, career, or personal growth. For each of you, what’s the one value that’s shining brightest for you right now?
Georgia: I think, for me, it is family, loved ones, and friends. I feel like they’ve been, I guess, the most neglected over the years. So, it’s illuminating now because this is the longest time we’ve had at home, and it’s been so lovely to be in their presence for more than, you know, a couple of days without leaving. So, that’s been just really, really amazing and beautiful.
I love that. And then what about you, Amy?
Amy: Yeah. I think just striking the balance between what you love to do, work and really important things. So, I think there was a point where we’d say yes to everything because we were like, we can’t say no, but it’s a sacrifice. We’re always going to work hard, and we’re always going to do what we love, but it’s very, very important to do so because what we love is also work, and they merge into one thing. And then because you love it, you work around the clock, and it’s not normal, you normalize that as a musician. You normalize not clocking off or being like, “No, I’m going to put my phone down and spend this evening with my partner or my family or a friend that I haven’t seen for ages.” Because at the end of the day, I think that is the most important thing. The people you love aren’t guaranteed to be here forever. I think sometimes you can get caught up in yourself and your own world. Especially in music, you have to be a bit selfish because it takes everything. But I think in the future we’re trying to strike a balance. We need time for ourselves, but also, when we are with them, to be present and make that extra effort to see them, hang with them, and really see what’s going on in their lives, because that’s who you have at the end of the day. If everything goes to shit, your family, your friends, they’re the ones going to pick you back up again. Do you know what I mean?
Absolutely, those interpersonal relationships.
Amy: It’s just about making sure we nurture them and take our time for ourselves as well, because shit happens in life. You’ve got to carry on with your work, falling apart around you, and you’re like: There’s a show tomorrow, there’s a tour, and actually, if you’re not okay, then there’s going to be no tour, there’s going to be no music in the long run anyway, so also treat yourself like a family member and love yourself, too. I think we’re just growing and making sure that we’re touching base.
This last season taught me the importance of self-preservation. It’s not selfish to prioritize yourself; you need to love yourself first to show up for others, for the girlies in the front of the pit. If you’re going to exchange that energy with the crowd and inspire people, you need to fill your own cup first. I’m happy you’ve had this time at home before embarking on tour. Not everyone gets that pause to practice discernment instead of just saying yes to everything. It’s beautiful that you’re watering your own garden. I’m excited to follow your journey this year; we’re just getting started! Now that you’re about to share this creative burst of life with the world, what do you hope fans take away after seeing you on this tour?
Georgia: I think from this tour, we want them to feel accepted and that they have like a home and a place to be themselves and go to. We’ve got a Discord page and seeing people who come to our shows alone and make this community, with or without us now, because it’s like they’ve made friends for life through coming to our shows. So, continue to build this community where they can stand up for each other and themselves, feel their own confidence and power in that, and recognize the amazing people they are because they’ll stand up for justice. They’re fully ride or die, and you know it’s a special community for that, and you know we couldn’t ask for more. We feel so lucky to have them. So just that they feel happy and that they do have a place where they can express all parts of their vulnerability, and celebrate their wins as well.
Celebrating your wins is so important. This last year taught me that instead of just focusing on New Year’s resolutions, we need moments to celebrate ourselves. What you said about feeling accepted really resonates. In every creative community, whether it’s music, skating, fashion, pottery, what keeps you there is that feeling of acceptance. Especially during life chapters when you might not feel that elsewhere, or when you’re working on self-acceptance and having others nurture that. I really appreciate this conversation. I can’t wait to be front row at one of your shows with the girlies, crowd surfing together. Thank you for being powerful women who share your light with everyone and inspire others to be loud, vulnerable, and powerful.
Amy: Thank you so much, Ashley!
Georgia: Keep slaying roller skating!
Oh, yes. Thank you so much. Enjoy your beautiful year. It’s going to be iconic, and I hope the wonderful things that come to you just continue to shape how you are in the world because it is beautiful.
