BIOGRAPHY
The SoapGirls
“Unique, Raw, catchy, anarchistic Rock and Roll“
“If being controversial means being consummate professionals, playing great original songs to an appreciative engaged audience and treating everyone with respect then The Soap Girls must be at the front of the pack.” – Devolution Magazine
The SoapGirls write outsider anthems with grungy punk pop infused guitars overlaid with harmonic vocals and huge melodious overtones and metal growls that are androgynous, audacious, and straight from the heart. Their music is a brand of storytelling with a strong message behind each track. With their DIY attitude and unbridled work ethic they have been named as a band to watch out for by music critics around the globe.
The SoapGirls, French born sisters from Cape Town, are often described as the world’s hardest working duo even during lockdown they never stopped performing over 400 live streams with varied theme nights and dark humor. Armed with unforgettable melodies and catchy choruses, The SoapGirls energy, rawness, and authenticity live, has earned them a deserved formidable reputation. Touring continuously since 2015 these fearless French born sisters Millie and Mie, have an impressive ever growing global dedicated base of followers known as the ‘The SoapSuds’,
Guitarist /vocalist Mie sets the pace beautifully as she powers through each song with a certain style and grace with guitar riffs that captivate every audience. Her vocals have been likened to an early Blondie. Drawing musical influences from Fleetwood Mac, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Heart, Nirvana, The Butthole Surfers and R.E.M her preferred style of music being more melodic.
Bass player/Vocalist Millie is an onstage force to be reckoned with encompassing a unique bass technique with contortioning that you would rarely see in a live rock performance whilst never missing a note coupled with an insane vocal range often likened to Brodie Dalle, Tina Turner and Randy Blythe from her angelic notes to metal growls that will leave you disturbed Mille is undoubtedly a force on her own terms. Being a fan of heavier music from acts like Alice in Chains, Marilyn Manson, The Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Alanis Morrissette, Hole, Nirvana, Napalm Death and L7. which is evident in her furiously energetic performance as she connects and shocks the crowd.
Both sisters, although complete opposites, blend vocally and musically in a way that only siblings could and their live performance are delivered with a ruthless unmatched energy that is rare to find. Their harmonies are another aspect that sets them apart from other bands. Onstage and live is where The SoapGirls truly come alive and for those who have seen them live they cannot get enough.
With their Don’t Give A Damn Tour 2022 wrapped which saw them conquering new territories in the USA and Japan where they had sold out shows there is much excitement for their next worldwide tour titled Love Potion starts in May 2023 which Rock fans of all stripes can look forward to an extraordinary evening with one of the most energetic and wildest live bands with unmatched energy. Features on the band have appeared in Classic Rock, The Mirror and Vive Le Rock, Power Play magazine while their last two singles were played on BBC Radio and play listed by Planet Rock Radio.
Already as children, the fearless siblings Camille and Noémie Debray became an international attraction as street performers singing and selling homemade soaps to tourists in order to donate the proceeds to hospitals – so the public gave the well-known lively, nonchalant young ladies the name “The SoapGirls“. It is here really where the roots of their journey and their approach to their music and fans gave birth to them as rockstars.
As teenagers, they stormed #1 on the album charts in South Africa with dance-pop and their Debut album. In the same year, they placed all four single releases from the album in the top ten of the single charts. Despite their youth, they quickly realized that success comes at a price. The mechanisms and soulless marketing machinery of their major label Universal were against them.
From then on, The SoapGirls decided not to compromise on their songs and their live performance. They left the safe haven of chart success, ended their collaboration with Universal, and followed their hearts.
Their passion was and is rock’n’roll – they celebrate true freedom, freedom of movement and authenticity paired with a provocative honesty that is second to none. Social commitment and a good portion of punk attitude remain the basic attributes of The SoapGirls. After their break in style, the musical cornerstones are alternative rock, grunge and glam paired with catchy melodies, great guitar riffs and choruses. Some skillful excursions into the metal genre round off their spectrum.
In 2016, the first independent album in self-production “Calls For Rebellion” came about – with songs like “Bloody“, which addresses the blood spilled from government policies in Africa that create a social war. The second album “Society’s Rejects” was released only one year later and became the life motto of The SoapGirls. In Japan, the album became a respectable success in the alternative charts with provocative songs such as “Rather Be Dead”, “Original Sin”, “Bad Bitch”, “Johnny Rotten”, “Step Outside”, “Party in Hell“. This is followed in 2019 with their third self-produced album “Elephant In The Room” with smash hits “One Way Street” and “Bitter”. Their 4th album released In 2022 titled “In My Skin” has already been named by Tower Records in Japan as one of the top 5 albums played of the year. In My Skin is a magnificent sonic blast of visceral rock’n’roll energy which is raw to the core. Whilst it pays more than a nod the likes of The Runaways and Joan Jett with a top slicing of Nirvana, Riot Girl and Shoegaze thrown into the mix, it is an album which defines the very essence of what they stand for and is undoubtedly another bold statement in the world of The SoapGirls.
The SoapGirls have catapulted themselves into the 1st league of the rock’n’roll scene with their onstage performances. The uncompromising attitude and their energetic, extravagant live shows have ultimately earned them the reputation of absolute credibility and authenticity. Consequently, they have made it to the top act of the biggest rock, punk and alternative festivals such as Camden Rocks festival.
December 2022, the single “Psycho” was released, which is the 3rd single release of the new album “In My Skin”, there is a rumor that they will be releasing new tracks off their 5th upcoming album – just as their tour kicks into high gear in Great Britain, Europe and also head to the USA and Japan for a second time so be sure to catch them The SoapGirls Live on their Love Potion 2023 tour.
The SoapGirls remind us that music can still be straight to the point, efficient, honest and exciting.
Armed with unforgettable melodies and catchy choruses, The SoapGirls energy, rawness and authenticity live, has earned a formidable reputation.
Performing internationally and continuously since 2015, these fearless French born sisters Millie and Mie, have slayed critics and earned a global dedicated group of followers known as the ‘The SoapSuds’, some of who follow the band across the UK and Europe.
The SoapGirls are society’s rejects and their punk credentials were rubber stamped by scintillating performances at many festivals including the legendary Rebellion Festival and Camden Rocks festival last year and such was the their success that they have inevitably been asked to perform again 2019 whilst on their current tour Sniff My Strap promoting their much anticipated latest album Elephant in the Room.
The SoapGirls write outsider anthems that are androgynous, audacious and straight from the heart. Following the release of their album Societys Rejects, the band have appeared in Classic Rock Magazine, The Mirror and Vive Le Rock, while their last two singles were played on BBC Radio and play listed by Planet Rock Radio as well as various other stations.
Fighting prejudice and haters with a sword of honesty and a shield of integrity The SoapGirls have endured much but have always risen above those that have sought to derail them. The girls shine during their exhilarating, firework-strewn live performances putting inclusivity and freedom of expression at the core of each show. They are keen to show that music should be for everyone and everyone should be free to be themselves.
Alluring, hypnotic and nonchalant The SoapGirls started their career in Cape Town performing as street artists for eight years and were given their name by the general public. “We have been The SoapGirls since we were 8 and 9 selling handmade soap and street performing for various causes, we did this 365 days of the year, for 9 years”. At twelve and thirteen they began their recording career and signed to Universal Records releasing their debut album in 2011 which topped the domestic charts.
After conquering South Africa, The SoapGirls with their thirst for knowledge and justice, wanted to broaden their musical horizons, leading them first to stages in the United States and then the UK and Europe, with a determination to fight against struggle and heartache. The SoapGirls first toured the UK 2015, releasing their first independent well received album Calls For Rebellion, with one critic accurately calling the album “Raw, catchy, anarchistic Rock and Roll. ”They then followed through with some hard hitting singles like Bad Bitch, Johnny Rotten with their second album Societys Rejects which has once again put them onto the next level of their musical careers, This Year 2019 has already seen the release of their single One Way Street with more single to follow in the upcoming months building up the hype and anticipation for a much awaited 3rd Album titled Elephant In The Room which will be released end April.
Guitarist Mie sets the pace beautifully as she powers through each song with a certain style and grace that captivates every audience. Her biggest musical influences are Fleetwood Mac, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Heart, Nirvana, The Butthole Surfers and R.E.M and prefers more chilled out melancholy music.
Bass player Millie is a fan of heavier music from acts like Alice in Chains, Marilyn Manson, The Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Alanis Morrissette, Hole, Aretha Franklin, Nirvana, Napalm Death and L7. This is evident in her performance as she connects and hypnotizes the crowd.
Both Millie and Mie swap vocal duties giving them scope to show their individual nature in a way that adds to The Soap Girls dynamic. Their common ground is grunge, but their ethic is punk. What’s in a genre anyway? It’s all music at the end of the day.
The SoapGirls remind us that music can still be straight to the point, efficient, honest and exciting, so brace yourself for The SoapGirls’s next chapter.
“If being controversial means being consummate professionals, playing great original songs to an appreciative audience and treating everyone with respect then The Soap Girls must be at the front of the pack.” – Devolution Magazine
Sam DeBray
SoapGirls Manager