This feature is part of a new Scene Report on Dunedin. Check out the series here.
Not every Aotearoa band gets to play shows in Australia before they even release their debut album. But Vagina Dry aren’t just any old band.
The Ōtepoti trio headed to Australia for LOUD WOMEN Fest 2025, playing alongside other “female, non-binary and trans badasses” from around the world. LOUD WOMEN Fest was the biggest event of its kind to happen in Australia — and a Dunedin band with just a handful of singles to their name was there.
The titles of Vagina Dry’s songs gives you a good idea of what they’re all about: “PRIVILEGED MAN”; “LIAR”; “WHITE FEMINISM”.
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They’re leading an exciting new generation of politically charged punk bands from the city, with the likes of SEEK HELP! following in hot pursuit.
Vagina Dry’s songs are Riot grrrl to the maximum, as if Bikini Kill had relocated from Washington state to Otago. Like their Riot grrrl forebears, Vagina Dry have had to deal with obtuse men (they recounted a “pretty horrible” experience opening for DARTZ, whose predominately male crowd met them with “dead silence” to Critic Te Ārohi) but they’ve remained steadfast in their music and beliefs.
LOUD WOMEN Fest was the ideal platform for Vagina Dry, because inclusivity and intersectionality are of paramount importance to them.
“[W]e advocate for people of colour and minorities… getting more women into the music scene as well… it’s a massive part of Vagina Dry and then a massive part of the scene these past few years as well,” El, who’s joined in the band by Caleb and Reef, tells me.
It’s Dunedin’s tight-knit music community that’s allowed Vagina Dry to be the band they’ve always wanted to be. “I think that the Dunedin music scene is very open and accepting of different genres, and you can make the weirdest music and there would be at least a crowd that would be like, ‘How good this is for me?!'” El says.
Aged between 20 and 21, Vagina Dry’s members are now looking ahead to a major landmark.
“We’re taking a little bit of a breather because Australia was a lot and we need rest, but we have an album that’s coming and hopefully some physical releases with that,” El explains. “And then we’ve got a couple of plans for next year — but we can’t say anything about it because it is a top-secret situation!”
Read more from our conversation with El below.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ: How much did music influence you in your early life?
El: Music was a massive influence for me as a little kid. My answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, was always “a pop star.”
What artists influenced you growing up?
Paramore/ Hayley Williams has been my longest listened-to artist. The bright pink and orange hair changed my entire life direction.
What are some career highlights so far?
Most recently going to Australia and playing Loud Women Fest plus three other shows in Melbourne. Opening for C.O.F.F.I.N this year and also our single release tour!
Tell us about your latest album/EP.
We are currently working on our album, it has been the longest mission ever. We recorded it all in Caleb’s garage with mics duct-taped to chair legs. The main three singles were released earlier this year.
How would you describe your music to a potential fan?
Angry, screamy, femme punk with sprinkles of girly pop attitude.
What are your goals for 2026 and beyond?
To perform in the UK, but realistically it should be to actually release our album and do some physical releases too. Write new music and keep having fun while uplifting voices that need to be heard.
