In this episode of 'The Hang!', Wonderland Rejects make their second appearance on The Hang! following a huge few months that included performing at Doll Fest and completing their sophomore album, Hello Rejects, arriving August 29.
This interview explores a band refusing to stay inside punk rock’s traditional boundaries.
Where Goodbye Wonderland embraced a raw, old-school punk sound, Hello Rejects goes deeper—mixing punk with blues, hip-hop, EDM, dance music, Tejano and grunge. The band even describes the evolving sound as “New Grunge.”
Alice, Dolly and Kitty break down the creative evolution behind the record, from more ambitious guitar work and unusual drum patterns to “Thank You Billie Holiday,” which recognizes the Black blues musicians whose influence runs through rock, punk, metal, rap and popular music.
They also discuss “El Rey Rojo,” bringing Spanish and Tejano influences into their music, and “Cardboard Me,” a slower and surprisingly complex song that pushed Kitty into new rhythmic territory.
But Hello Rejects goes beyond musical experimentation.
The band explains why their songwriting has shifted from primarily exploring their own experiences as queer and trans women toward confronting larger issues including racism, white supremacy, representation and supporting marginalized communities.
What You’ll Learn From The Band:
• Why Wonderland Rejects call their evolving sound “New Grunge”
• How blues, rap, EDM and Tejano entered the band's punk sound
• The stories behind “Thank You Billie Holiday,” “El Rey Rojo” and “Cardboard Me”
• Why Artisan Octopus is trying to make live music more diverse and inclusive
The conversation also introduces Artisan Octopus, the band's new live-events and media collective built around a simple idea: different artists, communities, generations and musical styles can remain completely themselves while still working together.
As the band puts it:
“Music is the greatest superpower that a human being has.”
Support your artists. Buy the record. Buy the merch. Go to the show. Support your local music community.
And subscribe to The Hang! from Almost Famous Magazine for more conversations with independent artists pushing music forward.
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The Hang! Podcast – Presented by Almost Famous Magazine
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Chapters:
Wonderland Rejects discuss the evolution of their sound from the punk roots of Goodbye Wonderland to their latest release, Hello Rejects.
This conversation features the band members breaking down the creative shift between their earlier work and their current musical direction. If you follow indie punk music, this discussion provides insight into how the group approached their songwriting process and artistic growth.
Beyond the interview, you get a look at the energy behind their live performance style. We examine the contrast between their raw, old-school punk influences and the new textures present in Hello Rejects. Fans of the band can hear firsthand what inspired this transition and how they view their evolution as musicians.
Catch more artist interviews and band spotlights by subscribing to the channel. Which track from Hello Rejects do you connect with the most? Let us know in the comments.
00:00 Wonderland Rejects Return
01:46 Life After Doll Fest
03:41 Hello Rejects & the Birth of “New Grunge”
07:25 “Thank You Billie Holiday”
08:28 Punk, Blues & the Roots of Modern Music
12:41 Punk Meets Tejano: “El Rey Rojo”
15:22 The Challenge Behind “Cardboard Me”
19:21 Artisan Octopus & the Power of Live Music
21:20 Why Representation in Music Matters
27:51 What’s Next for Wonderland Rejects
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