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Photo – Ash Cartwright

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Interview with
CAT & CALMELL
(6th November 2025)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Watch the whole interview below:

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When it comes to the Australian music scene, few acts embody authenticity, fun, and fearless self-expression like Cat & Calmell. Since emerging in 2020, the Sydney-based duo have continued to evolve — blending genres, breaking rules, and reminding fans that being unapologetically yourself is the best way to connect.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the pair for a chat that was as chaotic and charming as their music itself — full of laughter, honesty, and the occasional well-placed swear word.

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Cat & Calmell / Photo – Ash Cartwright

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From YouTube Cringe to Pop Stardom

Before the streaming numbers and festival slots, Cat & Calmell were just two best friends making “stupid videos” on YouTube. “We’ve been friends for 11 years,” Calmell explained. “We did everything together — music, videos… all of it’s still out there somewhere. We can’t log into the account to private it, so it’s there forever!”

Cat laughed, adding, “It’s actually kind of endearing now. That’s who we were — and still are. There’s something cool about people being able to see how far we’ve come.”

Their debut single in 2020 marked the official start of Cat & Calmell as an act, but their real evolution has been happening in public ever since. “We kind of went into it blind,” said Cat. “No incubation period — just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.”

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Neo Indie Sleaze Trap Pop Star Type Shit

Fast-forward to today, and the pair are entering a new era — one that they jokingly (but also kind of seriously) describe as “Neo Indie Sleaze Trap Pop Star Type Shit.”

“We just wanted to mash all of our personal music tastes together,” Cat said. “Before, the music we made sounded really different from what we actually listened to. Now it feels like us — trashy, fun, and free.”

Their latest single, “Hotness!!!”, embodies that shift — a sultry, self-assured anthem about feeling sexy without anyone else’s validation. “It’s about self-exploration and feeling unapologetically hot,” Calmell said. “Not because someone else thinks you are, but because you do. It’s just me in my room, feeling myself.”

The track is part of their upcoming mixtape, a bold and experimental project that blends electro-pop, trap beats, and a healthy dose of attitude. “It’s the first time people have told us, ‘This sounds like you,’” said Cat. “That’s the best feedback we could ask for.”

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Finding Freedom in a No-Rules Era

As social media continues to blur the line between artist and influencer, Cat & Calmell have learned to approach things on their own terms.

“We used to feel frustrated having to sell ourselves like a product,” Calmell admitted. “Now we’ve just found our own way to do it. We don’t have to shove music down people’s throats — we just have to do what feels right.”

That authenticity seems to be a major reason fans keep coming back. “Some of them have followed us since before we even released music,” Cat said. “It’s like a full-circle moment. They’ve grown with us.”

Heaps Gay, Headline Shows & What’s Next

The duo are gearing up for a big end to the year, including a performance at Heaps Gay in Marrickville this November, where they promise to unleash the full Cat & Calmell 2.0 experience.

“You’ll hear the whole mixtape live,” Calmell grinned. “It’s a completely reconfigured show — just the two of us. It’s going to be a wild, gay, sweaty time.”

Beyond that, Sydney and Melbourne headline shows are locked in, with whispers of overseas plans in 2026. “We don’t like to say anything until it’s confirmed,” Cat teased. “But yeah… we’re dreaming big.”

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A Quickfire Round of Chaos

Before wrapping up, we ran through a lightning round of questions — though, with these two, “lightning” is a relative term.

Dream collaboration?
Cat: “Björk.”
Calmell: “Fergie, circa 2009.”
(Dave: “Madonna follows Calmell on TikTok!”)

Favourite movie?
Cat: “Interstellar.”
Calmell: “Coraline, Twilight, and the Simpsons Movie.”

Favourite food?
Cat: “Dumplings.”
Calmell: “Ramen — always.”

Matching tattoos?
“Yeah, from Korea — our angel numbers, 222 and 555. They mirror each other,” said Cat. “It just represents us.”

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Final Thoughts

What stood out most in our chat was how genuine these two are. They don’t hide behind PR polish or algorithmic aesthetics. They’re real, witty, and completely comfortable in their own chaos — and it’s that energy that makes their music hit differently.

As their sound expands and their star continues to rise, one thing’s certain: Cat & Calmell are just getting started.

Catch them live at Heaps Gay (Marrickville) this November and stay tuned for their upcoming mixtape, featuring “Hotness!!!” — streaming everywhere now.

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Photo – Ash Cartwright

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Follow CAT & CALMELL
TIK TOK – INSTAGRAM – SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE – APPLE
FACEBOOK – TWITTER

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Watch the whole interview below:

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Press Release 6th November 2025 (below) HERE

CAT & CALMELL
announce new mixtape
LIVE LAUGH COOL STAR
releasing November 28

PRE-SAVE HERE

+ Announce shows in
Sydney and Melbourne

TICKETS HERE

Release new single
‘POP MUSIC
feat. CULT SHφTTA’

LISTEN HERE / WATCH HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB