Meet Mega Fäuna, an indie band from Sydney that draws inspiration from the classic Australiana genre—blending jangly guitar chords, intricate rhythms, synths, and lead guitar. Their music is enriched by the collective vocals of all five members, creating vibrant, playful soundscapes. Formed during lockdown, the band consists of Freyja Fox (vocals, guitar), Ellen Fitzgibbon (keys), Lily Keenan (guitar), Lucy Warriner (bass), and Tess Wilkin (drums). Their themes touch on issues such as gender equality, environmental conservation, and liberation, all while maintaining a joyful and creative approach to their sound.
In the following interview with the band we hear about what drives Mega Fäuna's creativity, where they draw inspiration from, and how much it costs to clean the stage after one of their performances. Hit play on their debut EP and read on to learn more.
Freyja: Mega Fäuna was started by Freyja and Tess after a concept band we’d played in together came to its natural end. We decided we wanted to write & develop our own songs. The only prerequisites were that the band members would be female identifying and didn't know each other or our instruments really well. We wanted to use it as an opportunity to take the pressure off being technically trained and focus on creating a sense of community amongst women who hadn't had the opportunity to play music before. Tess: I think a lot of what makes our sound ours comes from having such a free writing process. We don’t go into the room with heaps of pre-planning and we kind of just let everyone bring what they’re feeling to the songs.
Fäunas: We took some notes from our sister band Sweetie (of which Lily & Lucy are members & the rest of us are massive fans) and hit him up after hearing Sweetie's electric debut EP Collision which Al recorded and mixed with them. We’re all long time fans of Al's and we were really keen to have someone involved who we trusted as a songwriter as well as a mix engineer, that we could bounce ideas off and get a bit conceptual with.
Fäunas: Hell yeah. We actually recorded our first ever singles with Bowen from Bellambi at his home in Austinmer when Stranded was only a twinkle in his eye. There is a huge community of musicians down south that we are lucky to be a part of and this community was a big influence, encouraging us from day one. It’s also an insanely stunning part of the world. Light Ahead, on the EP, directly references the drive down the pass.
Fäunas: Yep for sure nature is a big theme. I think we are also pretty inspired by daring to be different… or like people who are expressive in their own unique ways. I have always been infatuated with artists like Bjork, Animal Collective, and Dirty Projectors who express themselves sincerely & fearlessly, who choose brambled unknown over the well beaten track. Our way of expressing that stuff rears its head through our music for sure but also through the imagery, costuming and art that goes alongside our sound.
Fäunas: The Go-Betweens, Paul Kelly, Clea, The Reels, Body Type, Snowy, Phantastic Ferniture, The Ocean Party, Kirin J Callinan, Annie Hamilton - We are part of such a strong music community in Sydney and if we’re being real it’s those people, making and playing incredible music around us and with us, that are our biggest influences and inspirations.
Freyja: I write the poetry. Ellen & Lucy wrote a double guitar instrumental piece which tends to stay the same, and I write a unique poem, usually on show day, about something that feels current for that time. The themes are a range of all manner of things, from personal to global, silly and serious. Sometimes it’s even an ode to the other band/s we are playing with that night.
Freyja: I think the underlying messages are about valuing nature and our environment, being yourself, and trying to see magic in the world. I hope people take their own meanings and messages from our music..
Freyja: Thanks! It’s actually all filmed at Manly Dam which has an amazing array of environments really close together, including a swamp filled with lily pads! The link between the song and the video is actually the swamp haha. I wrote Desire Lines during an impulsive 2 week road trip in the summer of 2021-22 which ended at Dunns Swamp in NSW.
I was in a bit of a broken place after a rough year, having lost a friend, and being isolated from loved ones, and was searching for something but I didn’t really know what. It was a very healing trip, camping the whole way and exploring a huge array of Aussie landscapes.
It all kinda culminated with a kayak ride at Ganguddy through lily pads where I saw my first platypus. I had been looking for them my whole life to no avail, and seeing that little guy sploshing amongst the reeds was super special and felt pretty significant.
The music video was originally born out of appreciation for that healing swamp, but the video was exploring that feeling of being willing to explore and being curious. Following your intuition and just going with it. It was all a bit of a metaphor for how inspiration can change your perspective of the world.
Fäunas: Our EP launch at the Vanguard was so special. I feel like launches are a big party to celebrate all your hard work, and it's also when you see the reach of your music. Seeing so many unfamiliar faces singing along was such a special feeling! As a side note, Freyja foraged armfuls of grasses and flowers to adorn the stage, which looked magical but ended up costing us hundreds in the cleaning bill, haha.
Fäunas: We are currently in the throes of writing, recording & uncovering the next record. We cannot wait to share it with you. You can expect it sometime after June next year…
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