Somebody Do Something: Portland Frontwoman Finds Happiness in New Zealand Band

Formed just after the pandemic struck the world in 2020, Somebody Do Something are a 6-piece box of original recipe from Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. Band members include Marlee Fay (lead vocals), Grace Stainthorpe (violin and vocals), Grant McPhie (bass), Callum Margetts (guitar), Ash Perry (drums) and Wilson Reveley (saxophone).

Hailing from Portland, frontwoman Marlee Fay has followed music from Los Angeles to Italy, Japan, Australia and now landing in Aotearoa. Joining with fellow band members who have also performed worldwide in an array of endeavours from the UK to South America. The band’s artistic backgrounds range from pop, jazz, metal, rock and classical, bringing together their diverse array of musical experience into the soundscape of Somebody Do Something.

Somebody Do Something made a splash debut with their self-titled EP in June 2021. The four-track EP showcased the band’s experimentation across the genre spectrum, displaying their core pop-funk-dance palette, with some influence of reggae, rock and jazz. The full EP was recorded and produced independently by Jacob Patchett.

The band toured New Zealand to celebrate the EP release as well as featuring at The Mix Festival and Circulation Festival. Other collaborations include opening performances for Yurt Party, Bad Llamas, Oriana Setz and Calla.

‘Liquify’ is the first single from their debut forth-coming album.

It’s eerie yet catchy indie-rock soundscape features large atmospheric guitars, natural drums and in-your-face vocals, with a vast amount of layers and textures. Written by front-women Marlee Fay, it draws inspiration from the feeling of losing one’s mind. She has spoken of her imagined sensation of waking up in a hospital room; confused, a bit hazy from being sedated, then coming to and figuring out where you are. “I know people who have had this experience, and I think about how intense and scary that must be. Waking up and feeling like you don’t belong there but there’s no escape. The lyrics expand from there, and it isn’t clear if the subject in focus is actually ‘crazy’ or not. This is how I personally feel about humankind; with an ever-present question that is; what is crazy, really?”

‘Liquify’ was one the the first tracks the band wrote together after their formation in mid-2020. “It seemed to unleash a lot of energy for the group, both musically and in terms of our ambition for the project.”