Interview with Sisters of Hysteria

Image by @lemonlenz_

Known for their striking monochrome aesthetic and effortlessly coordinated looks, the band balances punk aggression with a playful, feminine energy. In this interview, drummer Madeleine Marston, guitarist Hanna Serwiak, singer Lily Crook, and bassist Jessica Ingram open up about the power of fashion in performance, their inspirations, and the double standards women face in the music industry.

How would you describe your band aesthetic?

Madeleine: Collectively, we decided on an 80s post-punk gothic look. Style-wise, we’ve gone very monochrome, chic and goth. We’re playful but sexy and very feminine.

How would you say your outfits reflect your music and personality as a band?

Jess: We go for a fun and sexy vibe, and that is reflected in the music.

Madeleine: Our sound is very classic punk. Some of our songs can be quite harsh, so we want our outfits to give them that playful energy.

Would you say you have similar or different styles?

Lily: That’s a funny question because we always get comments from people saying, “You look like a band”. Us two (pointing to Hannah), we go more with the sexy aspect, with black corsets, booty shorts and dresses

Madeleine: We definitely coordinate, but we always have our own separate styles. I think I play with the playful aspect more than the chic aspect.

Hanna: Each of our outfits reflects our own personality as well. But they all fit together.

Jess: I think I dive more into the romantic side of things with long maxi skirts, like a classier goth

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Are there any artists that have influenced your stage fashion?

Hannah: For me, style-wise, it’s always going to be Victoria from Maneskin. She’s everything in terms of stage presence and outfits.

Lily: Taylor Momsen and Lizzy Hale, definitely.

Madeleine: I don’t think I have any people in mind when I pick out my outfit. I just look at my wardrobe, and I think, “What’s the vibe today?”. There’s not anyone specific for me, it’s more just style and visual aesthetic

Do your outfits change based on the audience or venue?

Madeleine: If I know the people at the gig might be older, or they might be younger, I think that affects the outfit I pick to try and fit the vibe better. Oh, and we’ve got that Paris show coming, and I definitely want to be consciously thinking about my outfit and maybe wear something classier than booty shorts and t-shirt.

Lily: Yes, for example, last night I sent you (pointing to Hannah) that outfit, and I said “I’m going to save that outfit for the City Dogs (upcoming gig)”. It was a bit too slutty for a classier venue.

How would you describe your band in one sentence?

Lily: I’m just thinking about what we write on every poster: All-female goth punk band

Hannah: I would say fierce

Madeleine: We’ve decided our target market is the girls, the gays and the greys.

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Would you say your outfits on stage are similar or different to the ones you wear on a regular day?

Jess: I always kinda keep the same vibe. I don’t go on stage and wear a costume; it’s (the outfit) like an extension of myself. Maybe in the future, when I have more funds, I will delve into a whole new look.

Lily: Gigs are excuses to wear that outfit that’s not necessarily appropriate to wear anywhere else.

Hannah: It’s just you but a bit more

Madeleine: My outfits are very different. I usually wear a lot of colors but on stage mostly stick to black. Again, it’s not a costume, it’s just another extension of that side of me. I would still wear the outfits that I wear on stage on other occasions.

Have your outfits evolved over time?

Hannah: No, we were friends before the band started, and we knew the vibe going in: we’re doing goth punk shit.

Madeleine: I guess practically, we’ve evolved as to what works and what doesn’t, but our style hasn’t.

Jess: We don’t have a uniform, though; we just wear what we gravitate towards that day. It’s not like you have to wear black or you’ll be kicked off the band.

What’s is the process of picking your outfit for a gig like?

Lily: Putting clothes on and feeling what feels right that day. Or I know that for that show in five weeks, I’m going to wear that outfit. Or I put music on, try on every item of clothing that I have and then find the ones I like today. I just have fun with it. Oh, and before gigs, we never tell each other what we’re going to wear.

Jess: I don’t really plan, I kinda just go into it with what I’m feeling that day.

Hannah: It depends on the gig, I guess, because for Open Anchor (previous gig), I knew I wanted that specific dress, and nothing was going to stop me.

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Does comfort and freedom of movement impact what outfit you choose to wear?

Madeleine: I have to be quite logical with what I can wear with drumming. Because one time (laughs), I wore a dress that was quite tight and it was riding up while I was playing. I didn’t realize under I wore that dress how much my comfort affected how I played. So, I definitely can’t wear whatever I want to wear, no skirts and stuff.

Hannah: One time, on stage, I wore my platform DocMarteens, and it was a disaster because I couldn’t feel the pedals, and it was an absolute mess.

Lily: That same day, I had a leather dress that had safety pins at the back because it was way too big, but because it was a great dress, I got it anyway. But then I had to hold the top of my dress the entire time because my chest was falling out. In the beginning, it wasn’t on my mind, and then I was on stage, and I thought, “I can’t move”, so now it definitely impacts my outfit. And I remember one of my favourite outfits was one that was very easy to move in; it fit well, and there was nothing holding me back.

Do you think that women in the music industry have more pressure to be styled than men?

All: Yes

Lily: Men get so much praise and attention for having “different outfits”, like Harry Styles in a dress. Or they would put a little bit of eyeliner on and people are saying, “Oh he’s going the extra mile” When I was in a band with guys before, they would not care about how they looked. I would show up in those super cool outfits and big makeup, and the guys would just be wearing t-shirts and jeans.

Madeleine: And then Chappell Roan is overdressed, and people call it drag. Women have to have such a strong aesthetic to be noticed in their style. For example, early Artic Monkeys days when they would just wear a Tottenham shirt and jeans, it’s crazy. Men don’t have to put in effort, and women do. For example, Taylor Swift wears 10 outfits a night and constantly changes during her 3-hour show. Women have to commit to their image much more than men do. And, when men change up their look, people call it a new era in their career, and it establishes their development. But when a woman does the same thing, people say, “She’s lost her way, she’s not the same anymore, she’s betraying herself and her identity”. Like Ariana Grande not putting her hair in a ponytail and people saying that she changed and that they hate her now.

How you ever faced criticism or double standards regarding what you wear?

Lily: This old man came up to me after a show, and I mentioned how I was matching with this other girl because we were both wearing black corsets, and he said, “Yes, you’re both in your underwear.”

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Have people judged you based on your appearance?

Lily: In my old band, because it was only guys and me, the sound guys or the other bands that were playing, they would only say hi to the guys and talk with them and never with me. They wouldn’t even introduce themselves to me. Also, a lot of people say to me “I didn’t expect such a tiny person to have such a big and powerful voice”.

Hannah: I was in a music store buying strings, and I was telling him exactly which strings I want, and the guy goes: “Do you know they’re for electric guitars?”. A few weeks ago, I was buying an amp, and the guy was trying to teach me how to set it up.

Madeleine: In my old band, I was in my tomboy era, full jeans and shirt, but now I dress more femininely, and I noticed that sound guys and people at the venue help me set up the drumkit but before, when I was more masculine presenting, they would just leave me to it. People have also said to me, “You’re a little pocket rocket”, and to me, it just means that they were not expecting much when they saw me. People underestimate us, so when we go on stage, it’s a way to prove them wrong. We feel powerful, especially in our outfits.

Do you feel a pressure to be dressed a certain way?

All. No, we’re free

Madeleine: I feel no judgement from you guys

Lily: And it’s fun to dress up! It’s not for anybody else, and we just think “We’re going to look so cool tonight!”.

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