The Beaches on Femininity, Challenging Stereotypes, and <em>No Hard Feelings</em>
With their sharp riffs, candid lyrics, and unapologetic charisma, The Beaches have carved out a space as one of the most exciting forces reshaping the face of modern rock.
What began as four Toronto teenagers jamming in basements has evolved into a decade-long rise that’s seen the band — sisters Jordan and Kylie Miller, alongside Leandra Earl and Eliza Enman-McDaniel — sell out tours, top charts, and collect multiple Juno Awards. Their breakout single “Blame Brett” turned heartbreak into a viral anthem, while their sophomore album Blame My Ex cemented them as a force equally at home on festival stages and late-night playlists.
But far beyond their accolades, The Beaches’ power lies within their honesty. Whether tackling queer heartbreak, self-discovery, or the messy humor of growing up, their songs feel like pages torn straight from a diary and amplified through a wall of distortion.
As they prepare to release their third studio album No Hard Feelings on August 28th — an unflinching, hook-laden exploration of love, identity, and letting go — The Beaches stand at a thrilling new chapter in their career, poised to leave a resonant, enduring mark on the modern rock canon.
KP: Historically, there have been incredible all-female rock bands who tore through the stratosphere, from The Runaways to L7, Babes in Toyland to Lunachicks, The Go-Go’s to The Raincoats — but it does feel lacking lately, particularly in the lane that you now unapologetically command: gritty, guitar-driven rock with a pop sensibility that doesn’t dilute its femininity but leans into it as a source of power.
Do you feel a sense of responsibility — or even defiance — in carrying the torch for a legacy of all-female bands in a lane that’s felt largely vacant in recent years?
TB: Absolutely! It’s so important and such an honor for us to be able to represent women on stage. We are lucky enough to have grown up being inspired by lots of amazing female artists, and we’re so happy to continue to carry that torch alongside so many talented women and queer folks!
KP: As an all-female band in a historically male-dominated genre, what challenges did you face early on? Did you ever feel that your musicianship was undervalued or downplayed because of your gender? If so, how did you combat that?
TB: We have definitely experienced our share of challenges being all women in this industry. Early on in our career it was a lot more prevalent, but I think now it’s becoming less common as we are seeing so many more women across the board making music. Early on in our career, we were extremely aware of that and made it a point to use that to our advantage. When people looked at us, they didn’t expect us to be able to play a good show or to be able to play live very well at all. We worked hard to be the best live band possible because of that.
KP: You’re so tight live, and you’ve earned that! Is there a moment in your career where you truly felt that your womanhood was celebrated and not just acknowledged or exoticized?
TB: I think lately, especially on stage, our femininity and womanhood are celebrated by both us and the audience. We’ve learned how to embrace all of our individual styles and to showcase them on stage. It really feels like the energy in the crowds lately is super supportive of women and queer people.
KP: Similarly, have you ever felt pigeonholed or misunderstood as a band or as individual artists? Are there any misconceptions that you would like to dispel about yourselves or the group?
TB: I think early on in our careers, people in the music industry had a hard time fitting us into a box. Since we were women who played instruments, a lot of the time comparisons were drawn to bands like The Runaways, because people weren’t sure of how else to categorize us. But really, our music is quite different from bands like that. It took a lot of work and really staying true to who we were to see that through. We noticed that we stopped being pigeonholed as much when our team changed to primarily women. We were finally just accepted for who we were.
“I think a confident woman is provocative. People expect women to be humble.”
KP: You’ve spoken at length about the unrealistic pressures that the industry places on performers, particularly those who are women. How have you learned to navigate or resist those expectations, and how has your relationship with self-image and authenticity evolved over time?
TB: We’ve always just been authentically ourselves. I think it also helps that there are four of us to keep each other in check and grounded. We are also best friends, and we always have each other’s backs, especially when this industry sometimes expects you to put your humanity aside for the work. We always make each other feel supported.
KP: To move onto the music, your latest single, “Touch Myself,” confidently flips vulnerability into power. What inspired you to frame self-love and autonomy through such a bold, cheeky lens?
TB: Thanks so much for saying that! The truth is, the song came from an actual experience with that issue — not being able to perform self-love after a brutal breakup, which was actually a really devastating experience! It, like, really sucked not being able to have this special, nice thing that was just for me anymore, and it felt like yet another thing that my ex had taken from me. When Leandra was feeling similarly, I was like, “We have to write about this!”
KP: “Takes One To Know One” plays with projection and toxic attraction. What led you to explore that psychological mirror dynamic?
TB: I feel like it’s so integral as an artist to be introspective! It’s almost like performing therapy on yourself. After writing so much about my previous relationship issues — and always focusing on what my ex-partner contributed to its eventual breakdown — I started to note where I was at fault, too. “Takes One To Know One” is finally an attempt — at least — for me to take accountability for my part in all of these complicated relationships that I’ve been in.
KP: Your forthcoming album, No Hard Feelings, is out on August 29th — congratulations! What can you tell us about its writing or recording? How do you feel it builds on what you started with 2023’s Blame My Ex?
TB: We are so excited to release this record! It’s my personal favorite piece of work that we’ve ever put out. We knew that Blame My Ex resonated so well with everyone, so we didn’t want to stray too far from that sound; however, we definitely expanded on it and made it more mature. We are beyond excited for everyone to hear it.
KP: What does this album reveal about you as a band that you feel previous records didn’t? Do you have a favorite track off of it?
TB: With No Hard Feelings, we took the opportunity to speak about the stories of each band member, whereas on Blame My Ex, it was primarily Jordan’s experiences. This took a bit of pressure off of Jordan, and it was a fun experience to be able to be in each other’s shoes while writing.
KP: It’s a great record! I think that everyone is going to really, really enjoy it.
In 2024, you became the first all-female Canadian rock band to reach No. 1 on the Canadian alternative radio chart. What did that milestone mean to you, and did it feel like a personal win, a cultural triumph, or both?
TB: Absolutely! We are so honored to have achieved that. There have been so many incredible milestones lately, and that one was so exciting!
KP: You’ve opened for The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, and Alanis Morissette, and can even count Elton John as a fan. What legacy do you hope that your music or career leaves behind?
TB: I already feel so incredibly successful with what we’ve been able to achieve as a band. The fact that we’ve inspired so many young women and queer people to get into music is everything that we could ever want within a legacy.
KP: What advice would you offer to women looking to start their own band today? And looking back, is there anything that caught you by surprise or that you wish you had known when you were starting out?
TB: Do it with your best friends! And yes — everyone always says it — but you have to put in lots of time and practice. We’ve probably done thousands of shows and band practices in our careers.
KP: What advice would you lend women in work, life, or love?
TB: Support each other!
KP: What do you feel makes a provocative woman?
TB: I think a confident woman is provocative. People expect women to be humble.
Photography: Meg Moon
