After being friends for decades, former members of The Muffs, The Pandoras, and The Friggs, Kim Shattuck, Melanie Vammen, and Palmyra Delran, finally decided it was time to start their own band together. Kim and Melanie first played together in The Pandoras and went on to form The Muffs, meeting The Friggs’ Palmyra on a Pandoras tour. The uber-talented trio is now known as The Coolies—a female-fronted super group backed by decades of rock stardom, who are using their platform to combat ALS.
The Coolies dropped their self-titled debut EP earlier this summer and have donated 100% of proceeds from record sales to support research for the ALS Association. Living in different cities, the six-track EP was recorded at both West and East Coast studios and mixed by Grammy Award-winner Geoff Sanoff.
From the very first track, “Uh Oh!,” bubbling down to “Yeah I Don’t Know,” The Coolies dabbles in fizzy pop, punk, and pure rock—an essence that’s perfectly captured by its psychedelic 3-D vinyl cover.
Here, The Coolies talk their new band, The Coolies EP, upcoming music, and why ALS research is important to them.
AF: Why is combatting ALS and the ALS Association important to The Coolies?
K: Because it runs on my dad’s side of the family and I am super sick of seeing it take down my relatives without a cure!
M: It has affected us all by knowing loved ones enduring this horrific disease. It’s time to find a cure!
AF: Do you plan on continuing to raise awareness and funds with your next project/s?
K: I’m always gonna do a lot more work with The ALS Association – I will always do it!
M: I will always want to help in whatever way I can.
P: We’re committed to raising awareness and donations to find treatments and a cure for ALS. Diseases can be cured, and ALS is such a mystery. It’s time.
AF: How does it feel coming together at this point in your career and being able to form The Coolies?
K: Pretty crazy dammit! I love these chicks with my whole heart and soul, and we have some tales to tell! We are like peppermint pirates!
M: It’s incredible and so special! I love these badass chicks and it means everything to me.
P: It’s actually pretty hilarious how this whole thing happened out of three old pals having a laugh about a picture of Paula Pierce’s ass! We figured, why not? And it’s been a mind-blower how fast it all fell together. I love these dames!
AF: Are you planning any future shows / touring?
P: We are scheming!
M: We’re figuring it out! I can’t wait for people to hear Coolies songs live!
AF: What are you currently working on / planning next?
K: Pretty cool things that we have planned!
P: We’re already working on the next batch of songs.
M: A full-length album!
AF: Your EP is available on vinyl with a 3-D album cover, which is awesome. What gave you guys that idea?
M: I think Palmyra and Louie (the artist) suggested it.
P: Everything comes out of the three of us sitting around laughing! Kim would sign her emails as “Kimba,” which sounded like a cartoon character to me. I started signing my emails as Palimba, and not missing a beat–Melanie became Melimba! The whole thing morphed from there and ended up on (Art Director at Wicked Cool) Louis Arzonico’s desk, who came up with the illustration.
AF: What was the trans-coast recording experience like?
K: It was a hoot! Hey, it should be that easy all the time. I’m so happy! The best thing is recording with them. And we did it!
M: It was so easy! First time I’ve recorded like this and we got to be just as creative this way like if we were all in the same room together. It worked amazing!
P: This definitely proves that anything can be done these days!
AF: How has your current sound been influenced by each of your musical backgrounds?
M: You know, we all do our thing with our signature styles and sounds.
P: It’s what comes out naturally from within each of us. It just so happens to fit together really well.
AF: Anything else you’d like to add?
M: Take time to laugh in life! Be yourself and don’t doubt your abilities! We love our record. Hope you love it too!
