Clews: The Australian Sister Duo Redefining Indie Pop-Rock
Some bands are built from chance encounters, but Clews was forged by something far more elemental — family, heritage, and an almost inherited love of music. Sisters Lily and Grace Richardson grew up in the sun-soaked coastal town of Mollymook, New South Wales, where the seeds of their musical partnership were planted long before they ever stepped on a stage together. Their father and his brother had formed a band called Brother, touring extensively across the United States throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and the young sisters frequently traveled alongside them, absorbing the rhythms of life on the road and developing an intuitive understanding of what it means to connect with an audience through music.
It was Lily, the elder of the two, who first began channeling that influence into original songwriting at just fifteen years old. By the time the duo officially formed in 2017, they had already developed a musical chemistry that felt effortless and deeply natural. Clews cites an eclectic and impressive range of influences, including Oasis, Crowded House, The Beatles, The Strokes, and the incomparable Jeff Buckley — a lineage that goes a long way toward explaining the richness and emotional depth embedded within their sound. Their music sits comfortably within the indie rock and alternative rock space, yet carries a warmth and melodic sensibility that pushes it beyond easy categorisation.
The band announced themselves to the wider world on February 23, 2018, with the release of their debut single Museum. The track quickly earned full rotation on Australia's influential youth radio station triple j, a landmark achievement for any emerging Australian act. Triple j enthusiastically declared that Clews songs would "make your heart explode," while Tone Deaf praised the duo's lyricism as "beautifully crafted poems, where the listener becomes adrift on a river of pure magic." These were not hollow compliments — Museum showcased the sisters' remarkable ability to weave intricate emotion into accessible, resonant songwriting.
Their rise through the Australian music scene was accompanied by high-profile support slots that demonstrated just how quickly the industry had taken notice. Clews shared stages with internationally renowned acts including Portugal. The Man, Ocean Alley, Middle Kids, and Albert Hammond Jr., each tour further cementing their reputation as a formidable live act. The duo signed with Wonderlick Entertainment and found early backing from Sony Music Australia, giving them both the creative support and platform needed to grow their audience at home and abroad.
Beyond the music itself, Clews expanded their creative world in 2021 with the launch of their podcast Love Clews, a venture exploring themes of relationships, dating, and desire that revealed yet another dimension of the sisters' engaging personalities. That same year saw the release of their debut EP Loveluck Omens, followed in February 2024 by Love Prank, each release demonstrating a band continually refining and evolving their artistic voice. Their most ambitious project yet arrived in November 2025 with their debut full-length album What's Not to Love?, a milestone that marked a significant new chapter in their journey.
The duo's growing stature in the songwriting community was further affirmed when their song When You're Around was named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, a record-breaking year for the competition coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It was a fitting recognition for two artists who have always placed the craft of songwriting at the very heart of everything they do. From the coastal shores of Mollymook to the stages of Australia's most celebrated venues, Clews continue to write their story one indelible melody at a time.
