Melbourne duo 2charm are introducing the world to ‘gooner pop’ on their debut album star scum city – a record built for sweaty, sticky dance floors pulsing with joy and euphoria.
Across nine tracks, 2charm bottle up the rush of queer desire, spiritualised partying, Euro summer escapism, and the strange magnetism of the people and places that reshape you. They melodise about queer love suffocating on small-town streets before being reborn in ecstasy beneath the blinding strobe lights of European clubs.
Inspired by the EDM sleaze of deadmau5, SOPHIE, Skrillex and Zedd, and created alongside collaborators Ninajirachi, 1tbsp and Simon Lam (Kllo, Armlock), star scum city feels worlds away from growing pains and uncertainty. It captures a self-assured escape to the big city, a newfound selfhood that booms with glittering confidence.
As 2charm come off the back of sold-out local shows and set their sights on the US and Europe, they tell Rolling Stone AU/NZ about the making of star scum city, the ideas behind their self-described ‘gooner pop’, and the community that fuels their shimmering, slightly grimy universe.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Firstly, tell us about that standout album title — where did you pull that from?!
2charm: We were walking down Johnston Street in Melbourne and saw the word ‘scum’ spray painted on a wall and we were like, ‘We like that word.’ The 2charm world in our minds has always been grimy and kinda dirty but shimmering… so star scum city was born.
What themes did you explore on this album?
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
Being “straight” and gay at the same time, flirting with hot guys, outgrowing your hometown, love and magnetism, partying being lowkey spiritual, Euro summer, girls being awesome, being hopeful, being bad, sex, debauchery, Eiffel Tower, Bangkok, etc.
Is there a narrative running throughout?
If there was a narrative, it would start with “I was in the summer of my life…”
Any notable collaborators on this album?
We made five of the nine songs with Ninajirachi, she’s kind of the queen of star scum city. The other genius producers on the album are Simon Lam and 1tbsp.
In “chateau” we interpolated a melody from a song I started writing with Troye Sivan, Leland, and Keelan Mak a couple of years ago so that’s a pretty epic coming together of gay guy minds. We made “no pressure” with a certain princess of Brisbane and if you listen carefully you’ll clock those heavenly vocals the could only come from Miss Mallrat.
Do you have a favourite track? Or is it impossible to pick?
Right now it’s “chateau” and “you will never be alone in barcelona”.
View this post on Instagram
Which artists were you listening to a lot of while making this album?
Ninajirachi, Sophie, Britney Spears, 1tbsp, Robert Miles, Mallrat, OKLOU, Caroline Polachek, Sega Bodega, Lorde, Yung Lean, Charli XCX, and Danny L Harle.
What’s your one hope for a listener to get out of star scum city?
Connection and fun.
Tell us about ‘gooner pop’. What is it?
Gooner pop is post-hyperpop EDM trance techno inspired pop with a horny aura. Think build-ups that kinda edge you and then explosive drops that are like shooting sonic ropes.
How did your pop-up shows go recently?
They were so awesome! The 2charm crowd is really beautiful hot and cool, and the dolls were out in force.
Are you excited to take 2Charm to the US and Europe? How do you think crowds over there will take to your sound?
Excited as eff. We played shows in the US with Ninajirachi last month and we can confirm… America loves 2charm. Star scum city was largely inspired by an epic Euro summer so we reckon it’s gonna feel good as hell playing these songs there in June.
What other plans do you have for 2Charm moving forward?
Keep it fun!
2charm’s star scum city is out now.
