Biography
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Necking began life as an in-joke shared among longtime friends yet evolved into a serious act whose lean, high-energy indie rock carries a punk edge while threading feminism, social critique, and pointed humor through its lyrics. After building early momentum in the city’s independent scene, the group issued its first recordings on the 2017 EP Meditation Tape before delivering a more refined statement with the full-length Cut Your Teeth in 2019.
The quartet came together in Vancouver in 2017 when Hannah Karren (lead vocals), Nada Hayek (guitar), Sonya Rez (bass), and Melissa Kuipers (drums) decided to turn their long-running jest into reality. Having known one another since elementary school and each harboring a private interest in music, the four had never considered forming an actual band until their playful banter about a nonexistent group—temporarily dubbed Four White Guys or Britney Bitch—started circulating widely enough to attract unsolicited performance offers.
Seizing the unexpected opportunity, they began rehearsals, assembled roughly twenty minutes of original material, and secured a slot at the Music Waste Festival, Vancouver’s annual celebration of DIY music. Performing under the name Necking, the women made a strong impression and quickly shifted from prank to working band, booking regular shows. In November 2017 they documented their early sound on the five-song EP Meditation Tape, whose wit and incisiveness earned favorable notices and drew the attention of Mint Records. The Vancouver indie label signed them, and in July 2019 Necking released Cut Your Teeth, a tighter and more assured set that retained the same irreverent spirit as their debut EP.
The quartet came together in Vancouver in 2017 when Hannah Karren (lead vocals), Nada Hayek (guitar), Sonya Rez (bass), and Melissa Kuipers (drums) decided to turn their long-running jest into reality. Having known one another since elementary school and each harboring a private interest in music, the four had never considered forming an actual band until their playful banter about a nonexistent group—temporarily dubbed Four White Guys or Britney Bitch—started circulating widely enough to attract unsolicited performance offers.
Seizing the unexpected opportunity, they began rehearsals, assembled roughly twenty minutes of original material, and secured a slot at the Music Waste Festival, Vancouver’s annual celebration of DIY music. Performing under the name Necking, the women made a strong impression and quickly shifted from prank to working band, booking regular shows. In November 2017 they documented their early sound on the five-song EP Meditation Tape, whose wit and incisiveness earned favorable notices and drew the attention of Mint Records. The Vancouver indie label signed them, and in July 2019 Necking released Cut Your Teeth, a tighter and more assured set that retained the same irreverent spirit as their debut EP.
Albums
Singles
