The band have announced that Janey Starling has left Dream Nails, the London-based feminist punk four-piece she fronted since co-founding it with guitarist Anya Pearson in 2015.
Dream Nails’ self-titled debut album only came out last summer and its infectious poppy hooks, by turns cuttingly humorous and righteously angry, earned them plaudits from the likes of Kerrang and the NME.
Since their debut gig at the first Loud Women event to last year signing with Dine Alone Records in North America, in the process becoming label mates with Alexisonfire on Fidlar, Starling said she was “grateful for the adventures and the opportunities” being Dream Nails had offered.
She added: “It was my dream to start an all-women punk band, and it’s been my greatest blessing and joy to have been able to create music and music spaces where women and nonbinary people can safely express their collective rage and joy.
“For me, this band has been a labour of love, feminist activism and speaking out against violence against women. I’m still going to do all these things with all my heart, all the time, but no longer in Dream Nails.”
The band said their former singer would now be dedicating her punk energy to co-directing Level Up, the feminist gender justice community that in 2018 launched the UK’s first fatal domestic abuse reporting guidelines.
“For me, this band has been a labour of love, feminist activism and speaking out against violence against women. I’m still going to do all these things with all my heart, all the time, but no longer in Dream Nails.” Janey Starling, Dream Nails
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Currently down to a trio of Pearson, bassist Mimi Jasson and Lucy Katz on drums, Dream Nails also expressed their pride in the courageous music they’ve made and appreciation of their former singer.
“As one of the founding members she has worked incredibly hard and brought so much to the band. We thank her for everything and remember five and a half years of the best of times and many milestones we will always be proud of,” the band said in a statement.
“Rest assured though, this is not the end of Dream Nails! We are working on the next album and putting the finishing touches to new live shows.”
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