Even though they’ve only been together with the current line-up since April last year, Lipsmack are making waves not only in the Greek community, but in the music world Australia-wide. They’ve even been picked up in Athens and asked to play a festival over there showing that three Greek girls from Adelaide can well and truly rock out with the best of them.

It was last year’s success in the Global Battle of the Bands that catapulted their name in the Australian music scene. Having a higher standard of musical acts because it was of the global competition, Lipsmack took it in their stride and not only won the first round but got third place in the second. Not a bad effort for these Riot Grrrls. Through the competition, the band were able to carve a name for themselves in the SA music scene and they made valuable industry contacts that will hold them in good stead for years to come.

“The best thing about Battle of the Bands is you get to meet other bands and experience the social part of it which makes the music community stronger and more diverse,” explains Shivon of Lipsmack, “and even though you are competing, you become friends with the bands so it’s a positive experience.”

Still in their formative years, Lipsmack are themselves taken aback that they are pulled towards traditional Greek music and sounds while developing their own sound and style.

“We are trying to incorporate Greek rhythms and blend that and integrate that into the rock genre so it becomes a progressive rock genre,” says Shivon.

Iconic Greek female artists like Milena Kana, Eleftheria Arvanitaki and Haris Alexiou are driving this band into a new world of sound by combining traditional and inspirational Greek with straight up rock. And not to mention, sounds deriving from their cultural heritage such as Pontian rhythms, are finding their way into Lipsmack’s newer material.

“The market would be the fact that we have a point of difference,” explains Shivon, “because we are broadening our market to appeal to the mainstream rock audiences but also appeal to the broader musical society as we are using polyrhythmic aspects into our music. So there’s something for rock fans for musicians, and then the yiayiathes would also enjoy hearing a Pontian rhythm in our songs.”

The next gig for Lipsmack will be held at the Tonsley Hotel, 1274 South Road Clovelly Park, SA on Friday 2 March. For more information on the band and for upcoming gigs visit myspace.com/lipsmackbandd