Juanita Stein excited to release first album in 12 years
Juanita Stein is excited to hit the road with Howling Bells after a 12-year album break, alongside her brother Joel and drummer Glenn Moule. Their newest album, ‘Strange Life’, released on Friday, is receiving a positive reception, which is a relief to Juanita after feeling anxious about the release of ‘Unbroken’, their first new single in over a decade.
She remarks on the fitting choice of ‘Unbroken’ as the album’s opening track, highlighting its sonic power and thematic connection to the band’s resilience over the years. Reflecting on the album’s creation process, she praises producer Ben Hillier for helping Howling Bells craft a timeless sound. One standout track, ‘Angel’, explores personal experiences of feeling stuck in a relationship and draws inspiration from 1950s American music, which she views as inherently dark when listened to through a contemporary lens.
Comparing the music-making process of ‘Strange Life’ to their earlier work, Juanita notes the contrasting technological advancements and the band’s preference for a more traditional recording approach involving live studio performances and tape recording. Despite keeping familiar elements like the studio, producer, and label consistent with her recent solo projects, Juanita found joy in the collaborative nature of creating music with her bandmates for ‘Strange Life’.
As part of the 2026 album launch, Howling Bells are excited to kick off an in-store tour, tapping into the vinyl revival that Juanita sees as a nostalgic wave worth embracing. While fans lament the absence of a cassette release for ‘Strange Life’, the band is pleased with the renewed interest in physical copies, especially since their early albums were not initially released on vinyl. Looking ahead, Juanita doesn’t foresee any specific plans to commemorate the band’s 20th album anniversary but hopes to release the new album on vinyl and focus on upcoming tours.
Having relocated from Australia to the UK years ago, Juanita praises the vibrant music scene in her former hometown. Observing that contemporary Australian bands now choose to stay in the country rather than seeking opportunities overseas, she highlights the positive changes in the local music landscape. Additionally, Juanita notices a resurgence of early Howling Bells’ sounds in current acts, such as Wednesday’s grunge-Americana fusion, Alvvays’ alt-pop tunes, and The Marias’ dreamy-pop textures, showcasing a growing diversity of female-led bands in modern music.