Take one look at the Versace Boys and you’ll immediately know – good times are coming. Will and Alex, who met at a Sticky Fingers concert in Berlin (obvs), create satirical pop-hop, lacing their shows with freestyle litness, synchronsied dance moves and some super deep and meaningful insight into the struggles of being rich, famous, gorgeous and humble. Here, they chat with REGGIE about where it all began.
Let’s start at the beginning – where did you grow up, and what do you treasure most about your upbringing?
Will: I grew up in Armidale. I loved my siblings and cousins, fire twirling, the trampoline and making cubbies. Mum threw me into Suzuki violin at three and I found an epic community of lovely people there. I supposedly hummed Twinkle Twinkle at six months. We weren’t allowed to quit music, just change instruments. So I jumped on guitar in my teens, singing, trumpet and production followed. I started singing midway through my time at the Con, when I changed most of my subjects to jazz. Judy Bailey made me the solo singer in our jazz vocals class and I had to learn and sing The Girl from Ipanema in Portuguese.
Alex: Wollongong – I loved the beaches, lakes, rough areas in paradise. I basically grew up in Mount Druitt by the sea. I first started playing music at Warrawong, I’d busk outside the newsagent as a 13-year-old songwriter.
How did you meet, and when did you form the Versace Boys?
Will: We met through a mutual friend, Trim Foley, at a Sticky Fingers concert in Berlin. Instant vibes, hangs and tunes! We formed the Versace Boys mid Covid when we’d been forced back to Australia and lost all of our jobs and bands!
Alex: I was in Berlin touring Europe and went to a Sticky Fingers concert, we wrote our first song Gin & Cucumber soon after and felt a vibe. Versace Boys was born. We moved back to Australia. Covid ravaged our touring plans so we began playing small market gigs in Byron Bay, living in a van.
Who and what inspires your music?
Will: We’re inspired by comedic insights of our close realities. In-jokes and free styling are our main weapons that we wield heftily when songwriting. Unleashing into the moment without caring about what anyone thinks, and freaking out people with hectic word combos. The flow state is very easy to get to in this group, we often make up a whole set or two and some nights it’s just incredibly on and we basically write a whole EP.
Alex: Versace Boys started out making fun of the influencer / trust fund gentrification going on in Byron. It’s super fun to see an audience dancing, singing our songs. We love freestyling, jamming, and making beats.
Do you have a favourite song to perform?
Will: Lit goes pretty hard, we often crowd surf in that one and Nails is always a big froth.
Alex: Nails is my favourite. I remember a gig at Bellingen Liberty Cafe where it was first performed in its early new creation phase. It was a burner. Lots of laughter from showing each other our surprise finished versions we’d made. Reading some lyrics off our phone, testing the new Nails – it was heaps lush.
Where to from here for the Versace Boys?
Will: We’re hoping to sell out Red Rocks one day, but for now the Mullum Markets. We’re also just chatting to some legends about playing the Edinburgh Fringe.
Alex: Madison Square Garden.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Alex: Shout out Zulu & Zephyr for the lovely clothes!
For upcoming gigs and good times, keep an eye on these here socials | Facebook | Instagram
