Emerging from the vibrant DIY scene of Covington, Kentucky, Girl is a project that defies easy categorisation. Founded by the prolific multi-instrumentalist Reniel Hernandez at just 14 years old, the group has evolved from a solo experimental outlet into a fully-fledged band featuring Deacon Schwarber, Vinnie Paige, and Quintin Scherrer. Their sound is a fascinating patchwork of influences, stitching together the lo-fi charm of Alex G and Modest Mouse with the abrasive, uncompromising edges of Xiu Xiu and Kraus.
As they gear up for their upcoming release, ‘Homeboy’, the band is stepping into a new era—transitioning from bedroom recordings to a live stage presence. Characterised by "elementary" recording setups and a blend of upbeat melodies masking deeper real-life narratives, Girl represents the pinnacle of experimental rock. In this interview, we dive into their unconventional songwriting process, the transition into a permanent lineup, and the raw, "sleazy" indie rock that defines their latest work.
Thank you so much for joining us, Reniel and Deacon! We're excited to dig into the world of Girl. First off, when did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you to pick up instruments in the first place?
Reniel: “I started making music around 13. I would produce electronic music. Aphex Twin and Osamu Sato were my biggest inspirations at the time; at 8 I started guitar and piano, later picking up drums. When I was around 14 I began Girl by myself and got into mixing and mastering, having fun blending electronic and traditional indie.”
Deacon: “I was kinda late compared to most people. I only started seriously listening to music when I was in the 8th grade and only started to attempt to make music because of one guy I knew. I didn't really have an inspiration at that time, just going with whatever he said. It was only years after that I found what sounds I wanted to make. Ones that get that itch for me – can't say I could name them though as something specific.”
Can you tell us a bit about your latest release, Homeboy, and what this specific project means to you personally?
Reniel: “Our upcoming release is going to be a very experimental album. We have a variety spanning from indie pop to power noise so it’s going to be pretty cool. ‘Homeboy’ means a lot to me because it’s the first album we’ll be performing live, and it’s the first where me and Deacon sat down and wrote every single song together.”
Deacon: “It's the first release where Girl is an official band instead of a shell for collaboration. I've known Reniel for years, but this is the first time I've fully worked on an album with him (that doesn't include the dumb stuff we did as high schoolers). If anything, this is a test to see if I'm good at making music. This might be different for Reniel, but if anything, this album is the manufactured proof that I'm good at being creative, which is practically my only confidence in life.”
Were there any particular artists or experiences that influenced you while you were writing and recording this release?
Reniel: “There are a plethora of artists that have influenced me, but the ones who’ve influenced me the most have to be Xiu Xiu, Zach Hill, and The Flaming Lips.”
Deacon: “With inspiration I don't tend to use it how most people do, which is to almost make a homage. I use it almost as a reminder of what not to do; rarely do I look up to artists for inspiration. Most of the time I do stuff out of spite of what has been done. Why would I want to be something that has been done before? That's a waste of time, and I'd rather just make something like nothing else. The expectations to that are when I'm writing for some odd reason, with Modest Mouse being my biggest lyrical inspiration.”
How did the songwriting process for 'Homeboy' come together? Was it more structured than your previous work?
Reniel: “Very organised compared to the previous ones; usually we would have an idea and just record it, then mess with it on the software. For this one we’ve sat down and written almost improvised-sounding parts to make up the songs, a lot of them emerging from me and Deacon making up new chord progressions together.”
Deacon: “To be honest, a lot of it is just bouncing ideas off each other. I wouldn't say we've figured out our songwriting groove, but we have decent ideas. It's just a matter of making them stay decent. If that means wasting days on a song we will never release, then so be it. At least I have fun.”
How would you describe the specific sound of this latest release, and how do you feel your style has evolved since you started?
Reniel: “The sound is very raw and not afraid to be itself. Songs will be happy, sad, slow, harsh, and clean, with a mixture of alien synthesiser sounds over sleazy indie rock. Definitely changed.”
Deacon: “Since I haven't been here for long, it's really up to whoever is willing to listen to everything to determine that.”
Is there a central theme or message you’re trying to convey with the album?
Reniel: “Honestly not really; the release, for me personally, captures different stages of the past 8 or 9 months we’ve been working on it. Each song paints a photo in my mind of what we were doing that day, driving around with Henry and Quintin before recording songs and taking photos; that’s probably what it captures.”
Deacon: “Maturity, at least for me. We're not kids anymore, goofing off to make music (even though we will do that till we die); we're trying to actually make something to show to the world that we are competent at the very least.”
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the band? Where do you see yourselves in the next few years?
Deacon: “I kinda see us branching out under different artists' names to experiment with whatever sounds we want to try. Personally. I want to prove myself independently as an artist and improve the quality of our band. To really set ourselves apart from other musicians.”
What’s next on the calendar for Girl once this album is out?
Reniel: “Definitely playing shows for ‘Homeboy’ but after that I think we’re gonna sit down and write another album; there is a teeny tiny EP I’m working on, on the side. Hopefully it releases alongside ‘Homeboy’.”
Finally, is there anything you’d like to say to the people reading this?
Reniel: “Thank you for taking the time to look at our little section on this page! We hope you’re interested enough to check out our songs and stay tuned for Homeboy releasing on all platforms.”
As Girl moves from the "janky" home-recording setups of the past into the loud, unpredictable world of live performance, they remain one of the most exciting experimental acts to watch. Be sure to catch their raw, sleazy indie-rock sound when ‘Homeboy’ drops, and you can keep up with their journey and upcoming shows by following them on their socials.
For more, be sure to join the band on Spotify, or join Reniel on Instagram.
