Austin indie-pop with hooks, humor, and heart

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Austin’s Stella and the Very Messed make smart, sly, and deeply personal indie pop-rock that refuses to fit in any one box. Led by vocalist/lyricist Stella Maxwell and bassist/co-writer David Hawkins (both ex-Cruiserweight), the band blends sharp hooks, lush melodies, and offbeat humor into a sound equal parts ‘90s alt-rock and modern indie. Think Veruca Salt meets XTC with flashes of Paramore and Squeeze.

 

Their new album Big Familiar (September 2025) captures the band at their most adventurous. Written quickly before their guitarist’s relocation, the record bursts with genre-blurring energy — from pop-forward standouts like “Not Dynamite” and “Crystal Ball” to deeply personal cuts like “Big Familiar” and “Keds With No Laces.” Stella’s vivid lyrics and fearless sense of humor shine throughout, whether reckoning with family ties or writing odes to demolished Austin landmarks.

 

Built from Austin punk and indie scene veterans — Maxwell, Hawkins, Chris Nine (Schatzi), Mohadev (Stop Motion Orchestra), and Sam Rich (Black Books) — Stella and the Very Messed have earned acclaim and airplay from KUTX, packed shows at venues like The Long Center and Circuit of the Americas, and a reputation as one of Austin’s most exuberant live bands.

Big Familiar is their most defining statement yet: heartfelt, hooky, and impossible to pin down.

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For more information visit: FFM.BIO/SATVM

For booking and other inquiries, email stellaandtheverymessed@gmail.com