Brisbane’s sweethearts WAAX have hit the radio waves with their new single “FU”. Not long after seeing the track at Good Things Festival, I’m finally able to put this song on repeat. Vocalist, Marie DeVita is known for her powerful anthems and this track is no different. In case the title wasn’t a giveaway, she’s not very happy with a few things, and we’re gonna hear about it. WAAX have never disappointed in that respect, you can count that whatever needs to be said will be yelled and screamed until it can’t be screamed anymore.
Being able to see the raw energy of “FU” on stage psyched me up for the day it released, and I can safely say that energy has been translated perfectly to a recorded format. Following on from their previous single “Labrador”, which saw its way into Triple J’s Hottest 100 this year, WAAX are still calling bad people out and it’s only going to get fun from here.
“Nobody hurts me, fuck you for trying.”
The chorus rips through with some thumping guitar and absolutely huge drums – “Nobody hurts me, fuck you for trying.” The track plays on previous exploitations of weakness from an unnamed third party, but I think we’ve all known someone in a similar situation. The vocals alternate from angry, betrayed cries to hurt, wobbling wails; exploring the range of emotions experienced throughout. The song’s bridge feels almost psychedelic and outer worldly, and while it’s a sad thought, it does remind me of coping with illicit substances. All of a sudden Marie is far away, exploring the loneliness and helplessness. The words “No way out” ring through our heads.
Manipulation and mental abuse are pretty big deals, and it’s refreshing to hear people with a platform tackle these issues. I love seeing a band be able to harness their experiences and put out a powerful performance based on that. The song captures the rollercoaster of being mentally unwell and having somebody else pulling the strings. It’s healthy and important to speak up if you or anyone you know is dealing with these types of trauma, I’m just glad WAAX have. We’re including contacts below for anyone that may need them.
Important Numbers:
1800 Respect
1800 737 732
Full Stop Foundation
1800 424 017
Lifeline
13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service
1300 766 491
Mensline Australia
1300 789 978
Kids Help Line
1800 551 800
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
