Cousines Like Shit is the band project of Austrian cousins Hannah and Laura Breitfuß. What began as a shared passion between two Salzburg natives has grown into a distinct and uncompromising musical identity. Since writing their first songs in 2016, the duo has developed their creative process side by side – intuitive, playful, and driven by a sharp sense for nuance.
An early turning point came in New York City. With fearless determination, they reached out to numerous clubs and soon found themselves performing in Brooklyn – an experience that continues to shape the band’s raw, forward-moving energy.
Cousines Like Shit describe their sound as „Avant Trash”: an idiosyncratic blend of lo-fi aesthetics, indie pop, and punk attitude. Striking guitar textures meet stripped-back yet atmospheric arrangements, carried by the cousins’ unmistakable two-part harmonies. Lyrically, they combine wit and self-irony with an observant take on human behavior, relationships, and social absurdities, moving effortlessly between directness and exaggeration.
Following their EP „Young And Online“, their debut album „Avant Trash” laid the foundation for their artistic vision. With their second album, „Permanent Earthquake,” the band expands their sonic palette, incorporating more subtle electronic elements while staying true to their signature style. Pulsating basslines, sharp hooks, and dynamic guitar work frame their pointed lyricism and distinctive vocal interplay.
Working once again with New York–based producer Madison Velding-Vandam, the recordings capture an urban urgency that adds new depth and dimension to the band’s evolving sound. Cousines Like Shit stand for a bold approach to pop music – minimal yet layered, ironic yet emotionally direct. „Avant Trash” is less a genre than a statement: an invitation to challenge convention and embrace individuality.
