Public Figures is in the Public Interest!
Oh Victoria, a state of many things. Think sports, the arts, culture, and world-class coffee. Being firmly from New South Wales though, I've long considered it my utmost responsibility to take any shot at Victoria I can get, given our rivalry predates Federation, but even I, a devout Waratah loyalist, have to concede sometimes. This is certainly one of those times, because Public Figures is firmly from our southern neighbour, and despite Victoria being famous for its rain and cold climate, Public Figures may be doing more in turning up the heat within the state than anything in its history.
The story of Public Figures begins long after the gold rush, but the sound they crank out is certainly treasure to anyone who’s listening. The band was born in the suburbs of Melbourne around four years ago, when Evie Vlah and Gigi Argiro bonded over a shared love of punk and bands like Sonic Youth and Mannequin Pussy. So given that pedigree, it was only a matter of time before they were burning hot on the airwaves. The band's current lineup stands as a four-piece with Evie Vlah on vocals, Gigi Argiro on vocals and drums, joined by Lakota Vella on lead guitar, and Mary-Lou Hylands on bass, creating an unmistakable, unapologetic and downright addictive sound that belongs undeniably to Public Figures.
And so, riding on the back of their recent EP Figure It Out!, the band is poised, in my opinion, for total continental domination!
I had the opportunity to sit down with Gigi to gain a deeper insight into Public Figures' plans and where the sound comes from.
When asked to describe the band in their own words, Gigi doesn't hesitate: in your face, lots of attitude, "a punch to the gut with guitars." A far better summary than I could manage for a band whose name is itself a bit of a wink, courtesy of a friend who coined it for them. This same playful defiance runs straight through to how the band presents itself. The visuals are just as loud and deliberate as the music, something Gigi credits to Evie, who's been the driving force behind the band's look. But don't mistake the aesthetic for the starting point or a simple facade. The music came first, Gigi tells me (I think Christ is kicking Himself for missing that one when creating the heavens and earth), with the world of Public Figures built up around it afterward.
That music has been a long time coming. The earliest songs on the EP date back to 2021 and 2022, chipped away at slowly over the years rather than knocked out in one burst. It wasn't always smooth going, either. Nothing was especially painful to write, Gigi says, but the vocals were re-recorded again and again as the band's confidence grew, each pass sounding closer to the Public Figures they were creating. Now that Figure It Out! is finally out and the launch show is behind them, there's a sense of deliverance to it. "It feels awesome," Gigi says. "It was a long journey, but we pushed through, and now it's here."
That journey has already taken them to Golden Plains, one of the biggest stages a Melbourne band can play. For all the significance of the milestone, Gigi insists the mindset doesn't shift much. They walk out and treat it like any other gig, huddled together beforehand, breathing, locking in before they hit the stage. It's a ritual about grounding themselves as much as it is about getting hyped up. That same steadiness carries onto the road. This is the band's first proper regional tour, but with plenty of prior touring experience between them and a genuinely like-minded group of bandmates, Gigi says there hasn't been much to adjust to.
It’s this mindset that’s behind the band’s energy, from the smallest speakeasy to the largest stage. Public Figures guarantee your hard-earned cash is not spent in vain.
Beneath the noise and swagger, there's something more deliberate going on. Public Figures have never shied away from channelling the hard realities and everyday anxiety of the world into their music, with songs like Cut It Out, Landed In A Trap and How I'm Feeling, but Gigi is careful to frame it as a search for light rather than a wallow in the dark. It's about finding the positive within the negative. Gigi elaborates further: that balance is exactly what they want audiences to walk away with. A Public Figures show "should leave people feeling empowered," free to let go without judgment, and ready to take on the world.
So what can you expect from such a show, or even their studio recordings? Expect loud, sweaty, a sound that leaves your ears ringing in all the good ways. So don your best glam and your sturdiest boots, because a band with the power and passion of Public Figures commands every bit of it.
As for whether the Illawarra gets a look in. Wollongong, consider yourselves warned, because getting up here is officially on the band's mission list.
So to the beautiful reader reading this. Give yourself a well-deserved reprieve from reality and endless uni work. And give your ears a blessing they've earned, by listening to Public Figures!
