Q&A: Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! Electrifies the Tokyo Underground
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KYLEE WIENS ☆
Photography Credit: Kylee Wiens
GROOVY, SOULFUL BASSLINES, A SURFY GUITAR TIMBRE AND EVOCATIVE POST-PUNK VOCALS — Meet Australian power duo Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! With tracks that pack as much of a punch as their band name would suggest, the musical shapeshifters take on elements of everything from garage rock, to funk, to pop and everything in between.
The Luna Collective was recently lucky enough to catch a dazzling live performance amid the band’s recent Japan tour. In a literal underground venue in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku neighborhood, DTMSM! attracted a unique crowd of tourists and local punks alike. The air inside was thick with cigarette smoke and eager anticipation. A Tokyo post-punk band, ZARIGANI$, opened with a wonderfully cacophonous and carefree set. Spirits were high as two blonde bombshells then took the stage, donning daring catsuits and platform boots. “We are Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! from Melbourne, Australia!” screamed the guitarist and bassist, flashing their matching Fenders. Their live drummer assumed his position as if preparing for battle, and thus the riveting rock ‘n’ roll began.
What followed was roughly forty-five minutes of unadulterated, gritty greatness. Structurally simple songs allowed for Nitida Atkinson’s bright and crisp guitar tones to shine. Esther Henderson maneuvered the bass instinctively, holding together each track with melodic tenderness. The duo’s vocals were remarkable, evoking somehow both the Slits and Madonna in their fervent delivery and punky panache. This amalgamation of tones and influences sounds like it could produce a muddy or chaotic result; however, quite the opposite was true. DTMSM! sounded like a glorious marriage of musical genius.
Standout tracks included “Be My Forever” and “Hott Mess.” The former was dedicated to the person “who you think is super kawaii” according to the band, and conjures the saccharine sweetness of a schoolyard crush. “Hott Mess” is a tongue-in-cheek and flirty tune that relies heavily on its sultry basslines. DTMSM! closed the night with two languid and romantic tunes - it was the perfect cool down from a red-hot set filled with all the effervescence of a fine prosecco.
Luna caught up with the band after the show to chat all things Tokyo underground scene, tour, a new album and being gluten intolerant. Read on for our conversation, and be sure to find Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! on all streaming platforms.
Photography Credit: Kylee Wiens
LUNA: First of all, I’m so excited to be meeting you both. I found your album last year, and it was my favorite of 2024—it made my number one. I work in a record store in California, and I showed it to all my coworkers. We all love it. We have this little niche community of Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me! fans in California. So when I saw you were touring Japan—this is our first night here, by the way—I thought, "Oh my gosh, this is perfect!" I'm super excited to meet you both.
DTMSM!: Wow, that’s so cool. Thank you!
LUNA: And congrats on the tour! How are you feeling?
DTMSM!: Buzzed. Elated. Tired. Just constantly buzzing. We’ve been meeting so many people, so we’re just always on—chatting, trying to make as many friends as possible.
LUNA: I’ve heard that at live houses, people are super social and friendly.
DTMSM!: Absolutely. And all the bands we’ve played with have been incredible.
LUNA: That’s so cool! How many bands do you usually play with per night?
DTMSM!: At least three, sometimes four. It’s been such a smorgasbord of Japanese bands every night. Each night is completely different. Some nights there’s a solo act, then a duo, then it builds up to four bands. Other nights, it’s just non-stop energy from start to finish.
LUNA: Do you have a most memorable night on tour so far?
DTMSM!: Oh god—for me, it was watching one of the bands playing tonight: The Stompin’ Riff Raffs. It’s an all-girl group—guitarist, drummer, bassist, and keyboardist. The keyboardist also plays a theremin. They wear matching outfits and masks, and the frontman is this wild rock ‘n’ roll guy who rolls his eyes back while performing. It was insane—just full energy cutting sick on stage.
LUNA: That’s amazing! What’s been the hardest part of the tour so far? Not necessarily bad, but something challenging?
DTMSM!: Two things: First, we're both gluten-intolerant, so finding food has been a bit tricky. We try to stick to rice dishes and avoid soy sauce, but it’s tough. Second, traveling. The trains are great, but sometimes we end up on these ridiculously long walks with all our gear. We once walked forever to find our accommodation after a show. We took the longest, most complicated route possible, only to realize later that we could've just gone straight there. We were lugging two suitcases and jackets, walking along a highway. It was comical in hindsight.
LUNA: Oh my gosh, at least you got your steps in! So, what was the inspiration behind your debut album?
DTMSM!: We just write songs that make us feel something on stage. There wasn’t a single concept, apart from us just wanting to express ourselves. Some songs are cheesy love songs, some just ramp up into pure chaos. We’re collectors of songs—if we love it, it stays. Everything has to pass our “two-person quality control.” If it doesn’t feel good for both of us, it doesn’t make the cut.
LUNA: Do you find it easier to be creative in a certain emotional state?
DTMSM!: I think we write from an extroverted place. Some songs come from romantic themes, but nothing too sad. If we’re feeling something strongly, we write about it. Sometimes we take the piss out of things—a little satirical, but never hateful. Just finding humor in situations.
LUNA: Do you identify strongly with a specific genre?
DTMSM!: Not really. We have too many influences floating around. People try to categorize us, but we just call it "garage-core" or "rough and ready." Live, our sound is raw-er than on the album. Sometimes we lean into punk, sometimes it’s more soulful, sometimes it’s just screaming.
LUNA: Do you think genre is still relevant in today's music landscape?
DTMSM!: It is in some ways, because genres help build communities. But everything is way more fluid now. Some people stick to a purist approach, but we don’t. What matters most is what you’re saying, what you want to express. The feeling is more important than the category.
LUNA: What are your creative plans moving forward?
DTMSM!: Another album. As soon as we get home, we’re recording. Our drummer from this tour is co-producing it with us. This time, we’re doing it fast, capturing more of our live energy instead of overthinking things.
LUNA: That sounds amazing. Any final message for listeners?
DTMSM!: We want to come to California! Also, we just want to say—believe in yourself. Especially girls. Just go for it. Get really good at what you do, have fun being who you are, and don’t compare yourself to others. We want to be girls on stage so other girls see us and think, "I can do that too."
LUNA: That’s such an important message. Thank you both so much! I’m so excited for what’s next for you.
