NEW VIDEO: Charlie Needs Braces 'Mussels' + BIGSOUND Performances

 Charlie Needs Braces flexes their ‘Mussels’ in new video 
+ BIGSOUND Performances! 

Naarm-based sister duo Charlie Needs Braces is back with another of their signature quirky and energetic music video for fan-favourite ‘Mussels’, taken off the recently released second album NYAA WA, ahead of the band's BIGSOUND performances in Brisbane this September.  

Having already performed at A Day on the Green, the NAIDOC Ball, Clarence Jazz Festival, Brunswick Music Festival's Sydney Road Street Party, Moomba Opening Night, National Folk Festival, Planting Festival, ROAR Fest, Wandiligong Nut Festival, Multicultural Festival, Mussels & Jazz Festival this year, as well as a sold-out album launch show at Naarm's Shotkickers, make sure you pack your dancing shoes in preparation for their BIGSOUND shows! 

A true crowd-pleaser, 'Mussels' is a song dedicated to flexing your ‘muscles’ and celebrating the duo's love for aquamarine life, such as ‘mussels’. Charlie wrote the lyrics whilst eating mussels on the beach and comparing muscles as she ate them, only noticing then that it’s the same word but spelled differently. The track is a highlight of Charlie Needs Braces live performances, thanks to its cheeky chorus and audience-led dance routine that never fails to get people moving. “Mussels are one of our favourite songs to perform live,” says Charlie. “We made a very light-hearted and silly dance to the chorus and still enjoy teaching the audience the routine at our shows.”

Capturing the true Charlie Needs Braces' spontaneous spirit, the video features the band donning colourful 80’s-style workout gear, including platform sneakers, while attempting pull-ups and cardio sessions. “We loved filming the video clip and started the shoot after finding some nearby 80’s style workout gear,” Charlie explains. “You can witness us trying to do pull ups and cardio workouts in platform sneakers, haha.”

Filmed on the lands and waters of the GuriNgai, Awabakal, and Dharug people, the video was directed by long time collaborator Master Kapow. The video was the perfect introduction to a whirlwind fortnight of shooting. “Mussels was the first video we shot! Perfect to get into the spirit of filming for the next 14 days. It was a day filled with many laughs and humorous moments. We also got to figure out the best way to plan the day as we did end up having to film the next day as well.”
 

NYAA WA means "take care" in Charlie and Miri's mob’s GuriNgai language, and the songs on the album emphasise the importance of taking care of lands, waters, and wildlife, and the need to keep culture alive, tell stories, and preserve sacred sites from development. Garnering a Bandcamp New and Notable feature plus Feature Album placements on PBS and 2SER, as well as inclusions on RRR Soundscape, and tracks added to rotation on Edge Radio 99.3FM, RTR, and Aussie Music Weekly, the album was placed across Spotify editorial playlists including New Music Friday AU/NZ, Alt Here, Original Storytellers, and Big Ancestor Energy.

Known for weaving together stories and language, get ready to dance along to songs from the album when Charlie Needs Braces take to the BIGSOUND 2025 stages in Brisbane.

BIGSOUND SHOWS
Tuesday 2 September
The Sound Garden (Goolwal Garden) 
9:00 pm - 9.30 pm

Wednesday 3 September 
Ric’s Backyard 
On stage: 7:30 pm - 8.00 pm

Other Upcoming Shows
Train Scendence 
15 - 16 November

St Kilda Show Gem Festival 
22-23rd November 

Folk Rhythm & Life 
5- 7 December
www.bilyana.com/lineup