Building a Glamorous Utopia: An Interview With LA’s unpolished*
By Dan Dellechiaie | August 14, 2026
Photo credit: @solus_adrift
When I think of California, I think of happy go lucky indie ballads, the click of paparazzi cameras, the acoustic stillness of Laurel Canyon, and maybe a distant whisper of its punk rock past. unpolished* drowns this corporate sunshine with thick black paint. You can’t help but scream along with this all-girl band. They have a punk rock bad attitude with a modern existential sensibility. knifetwister records new york spoke with unpolished* as they got ready to put out some much-anticipated new songs.
What's unpolished*'s origin story? Where does your band’s name come from? How did you guys meet?
Celinda and Jasmine met each other first through the LA music scene, then Mary met Celinda at a show that the latter was playing at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip and became friends. One day Celinda got a random show offer and none of her other bands were available, so she asked Mary if she would want to put something together. They both had some songs and ideas in their back pockets, so Celinda called up Jasmine (who said yes immediately) and Mary asked a bassist friend. We met Santos later on and recruited her into the brotherhood—and the rest is history!
Can you please describe your very cool visual aesthetic? It seems one part horror carnival, one part Y2K, and one part je nais se quoi.
We’d definitely credit that to the era we grew up in and our love for dramatic arts! We’re loving the juxtaposition of classy vintage styles with creepy horror elements. It’s meant to be a commentary on how ridiculous and uncomfortable it can feel to be so vulnerable onstage in front of strangers.
So you guys wrote the first song I've ever heard about feet pics. Can you talk about the energy of that song? Has that track netted you any odd DMs?
We have definitely received some interesting comments and DMs following its release, but we were prepared for it. A lot of people don’t respect us as musicians or see us for who we are beyond our looks, but we’re flipping the script and building a glamorous utopia where we can ignore them and be with those that see past all of that. It’s fun, it’s sexy, it’s reclaiming autonomy. The usual!
Photo credit: unpolished*
You've been touring a lot recently so you've seen the differences from state or state, scene-wise. Can you give us East Coasters an idea of what the LA rock scene is like, some things that are specific to it?
Once you find the right people and the right spaces, it gets a lot easier. It’s definitely over-saturated (as NYC is!) so it can feel hard to get people out to shows, but it’s all about finding your niche!
Your new EP, FULL FRONTAL: ACT I, is part of an in-the-works concept album. Can you tell us about this forthcoming album?
We’re using the circus aesthetic as a means to express how it feels to be women in the entertainment industry. The main idea is taking those intense, raw emotions and wrapping them up in pretty costumes for your entertainment. It’s a bit of a self-aware mockery of our profession. There will be three acts, taking you through our evolution as artists/performers and how it affects our lives offstage. It begins very anxious and abrasive, then gets more confident as it goes on. We can’t wait for you all to experience it in full!
What's each of your favorite songs on FULL FRONTAL: ACT 1?
Celi: “collateral damage”
Mary: “lobotomy” or “accept me!”
Santos: “accept me!”
Jaz: “feet pics”
Photo credit: @solus_adrift
You guys contributed "collateral damage" to knifetwister records new york's NOT IN OUR CITY 2 compilation record so I'm obligated to ask about it.
That song is somewhat of a battle cry. It’s the refusal to applaud mediocrity, the refusal to shrink ourselves, and the refusal to let anything get in our way. The “collateral damage” is whatever attempts to stop us from making our mark, which, of course, we will smash into a million tiny pieces.
I've been asking bands who have a great social media presence that embraces memes to talk about the different strategies they've tried to make a digital impact. Can you talk about your band's relationship to social media?
We love a combination of cryptic promo and fun videos that remind our fans that we’re real people. There was a time where making social media posts felt like a drag, but we eventually found our pocket.
Photo credit: Tim Lewis
Is there anything I haven’t asked about yet that you’d like to talk about?
We have new music coming out sooner than you think! Follow us on socials (@unpolished.band) to stay updated on new tour dates and releases!!
Who are your favorite bands you've played with, your comrades, your day ones?
We’ve had the opportunity to play with so many bands and we love them all!
Anyone you'd like to thank?
My Chemical Romance<3*
unpolished*’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/unpolished.band