Follow us on a style chronicle of the festival’s most fashionable leading ladies
Lace up your Chucks, and double-down on that kohl liner— Reserved is headed to Warped Tour! We joined music photographer Savannah Warrick at Shoreline Waterfront for the Long Beach leg of this iconically angsty festival, where she snagged backstage snaps of the lineup’s inimitable frontwomen. As they prepped for showtime, we talked alter-egos, what it means to be a woman in music, and finding yourself onstage.
ALEMEDA
Hailing from Ethiopia, Alemeda blends multiple genres such as alternative pop, indie rock, R&B,
and pop-punk into a sound that feels contemporary and timeless. Songs of hers contrast soft,
melodic vocals with candid lyrics about relationships, self-discovery, and independence, with a
playful and effortlessly cool attitude. Her versatility is also evident in her collaboration with
Doechii, where she comfortably steps into a more hip hop-influenced space without losing the
individuality that defines her own sound.
“I feel like me finding myself and having confidence in myself has directly impacted the way I dress and the way I do my hair.”
“I’ve been leaning into the whole alter ego vibe. Before, it was my personal life
and my artist life. As of recently, I’ve been having fun in the alter ego world. I get to dress up
every day. I don’t wear my pink [hair] every day. It’s a wig. But, when I do, it hits harder.”
DOLLY AVE
Dolly Ave is breaking new ground within alternative rock. Her music is highlighted by deeply
personal, often melancholy songwriting with heavy guitar driven production, creating a sound
that is unmatched and powerful. Drawing from experiences of grief, heartbreak, and growing
into oneself, Dolly Ave turns personal struggles into relatable and incredibly catchy rock songs
for any occasion.
“I found my expression through fashion, weaving between masculine and feminine… I
think there’s no right way or wrong way to express yourself.
I was the only Asian representation in school. And so it was a lot of trying to mold and fit in
to my environment of being extra American, extra white– wearing camouflage, you know?
I left school and went to Chicago, a very diverse city. I found my expression through
fashion. I took that into my music now, making kind of all rock music. On my tour, I have been wearing more
masculine outfits— tuxedos, long sleeve shirts— among the feminine. Then, the next night, I’ll be in a
tutu and a bra.”
“Why are women forced to be considered only
edgy and rock if they’re wearing a T – shirt? Like, I’m making the same music, but maybe I want
to do it in a skirt? “
“I think I want to touch on hair. On my last record, I had long, beautiful feminine
hair. Cutting it gave me so much freedom. I was like, oh, now I’m playing with my makeup.
It’s not for you. The gaze, the male gaze. It’s for me and having fun.”
HONEY REVENGE
The vibrance and color that shine through their portraits are parallel to the sound that Honey
Revenge echoes. Bold and striking are some words to describe the energy found in their music
along with their essence. The saturated hues and expressive compositions move in rhythm with
the melodies and unapologetic attitude that define their sound.
“I don’t always identify as a super fashionable person. The band is kind of like putting on a costume, and getting to fake it ’til I make it. As far as fashion sense goes, I think Pinterest has become a good friend of mine. Having imagery and
color helps me a lot in building the fashion sense of Honey Revenge.”
“I feel like that’s been a big thing, trying to dress my age in this era. Whereas, like, with
our first album, you know, I started writing it when I was 21. By the end of the era, I was
almost 27, and I was like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m dressing like a 27 year old woman.’ So this
time has been about that back, feeling less like a preschool teacher and more like
myself. If anyone’s uncomfortable, that’s on them. It’s been very freeing for me personally.”
“I’ve found my sex appeal in the last year. How I move on stage has a lot to do with what I’m wearing. We’re very lucky to have an accepting fan base.”
HOT MILK
The band’s unusual name reflects the memorable, cheeky character that runs through much of
Hot Milk’s music and image. Their songwriting is unapologetic, pulling no punches when
addressing political and social issues. They employ a range of skills to distinguish their sound
from conventional rock, blending elements of pop-punk, emo, electronic music, and alternative
rock creating rhythms and using direct lyrics that are emotionally driven.
“As you get older, it’s not so much about changing who you are, but you just find who you are a bit better. We’ve had different iterations of ourselves over the years. Now, we’re dressing for what we feel good in.”
“I’m in my own way– not even any of these fuckers, because I’m better than them all. There’s no fucking way that they’re only going to tell me how to dress, where to be— anything— because I’m fucking me. I got to do what I want.”
Lølø
Using a combination of musical techniques to create a sound that is both commercially
accessible and emotionally raw, Lølø’s music often relies on distorted guitars, punchy drum
patterns, layered vocals, and dynamic shifts between softer verses and more energetic
choruses. The mesh between vulnerable lyrics and upbeat, anthemic production creates songs
that feel high spirited on the surface while carrying a more introspective emotional weight
underneath.
“I’ve always been a sucker for a little plaid skirt. That is one basic I cannot live
without. Mixing it with little button downs is something I’ve really loved recently. I’m
going for Y2K girly punk.”
“Being a girl in this male-dominated industry is more fun because you get to have more
fun with your outfits. I love Olivia Rodrigo. She’s always on my mood board. Also, old school Michelle Branch and older
Avril Lavigne. When I was younger, I would wear a tank and a tie to school because I was
trying to be her. I looked like a huge loser. Super tall, braces…”
NOVA TWINS
Rather than simply making loud music, Nova Twins use that intensity as part of their identity,
turning aggression, attitude, and experimentation into a kind of unique performance art when on
stage. Distorted bass, abrasive guitar effects, electronic textures, and hard-hitting drums create
a sound that refuses to sit neatly within one genre, making the girls a powerhouse in the music
world.
“We love to make a lot of our clothes. These are from our brand Bad Stitches. It’s not out yet, but it’s something that we’ve always done. It started off as sewing bits on our clothes and customizing things because we didn’t feel like we had the right outfit. We needed the right armor for our music.”
“Our sound and style is a culture clash: R & B, punk, and rock scenes all together create our look. The music came first and inspired the clothes. Bad Stitches is just about being yourself and whether that means to you.”
ROSECOLOREDWORLD
Almost like listening to a diary read aloud, Rosecoloredworld takes a more intimate and
atmospheric approach to songwriting, using production as a way of shaping emotion instead of
supporting the vocals. Their lyrics tend to focus on the small, messy details of relationships and
self-perception while the tracks feature soft synths, spacious reverb, layered harmonies, and
understated beats, creating a hazy sound that can feel almost dreamlike.
“I was always trying to water myself down, because I didn’t really want to be seen
or sexualized in any way. As we’ve grown as a band, I kind of flip that on its head. I can be exactly who I want to be that
day, and I don’t feel like I need to fit a certain mold or hide myself. If I do the opposite, and I show up in that authenticity through our avatars or how we dress or how we talk, it’s something to celebrate. It inspires other people to do the
same.”
“I really love the late 60s/early 70s. The leather, rock and roll. Also, the era of Blondie and Joan Jett, where they stopped necessarily having to do the skirts. They could be their badass selves in the world. That’s a huge inspiration for me.”
“Rae and I both wore rose colored glasses when we met. Legitimately— like the ‘Lennon lenses.’ I had just moved to LA, and we met very serendipitously in Hollywood. When we started writing together, I was like, ‘You’re wearing my glasses.’ We realized we had the same one. We kind of look at the world through that lens, rose-colored. You could be whatever color you like. You just got to create.”
SOUTH ARCADE
Unpredictability gives South Arcade their distinct sound by moving quickly between sections,
using compelling drum beats, distorted riffs, synth layers, and sudden changes in intensity. They
lean into electronic methods, incorporating synthesised sounds, vocal processing, programmed
beats. This creates a contrast between the polished, digital elements and the rawer energy of
rock instrumentation for a more modern perception musically.
“As individuals, we have our own style. We’ve just done a collaboration with Affliction Clothing. We’ve got a couple pieces each.”
“We’ve definitely been on some tours or where I’m feeling insecure. Maybe it’s all like dude fans coming or whatever, and maybe I want to put a T – shirt on. With these guys, I actually got them all to wear bikinis for one of the shows.”
“I know a lot of pop stars are getting slated at the minute because all they’re wearing is basically a body suit and tights.”
TILLIE
TiLLie’s songs feel like conversations between herself and the listener. Personal lyrics and
themes that many people experience while growing up are presented in a way that feels honest
and unfiltered, allowing her audience to connect with her experiences on a personal level. This
style of songwriting makes difficult subjects feel approachable, while her technical production
leaves space for her vocals and lyrics to remain the focus.
“I like to print my own patches, find designs that I like, and pin them on— kind of
make things my own. I’ve sewn a few pieces completely from scratch, but that is so time
consuming. If I had more time, I would probably do that more because I really love making my
own. But for now, I just try to add on to things and make them unique. It’s important for me, with my fashion, to feel like it’s an extension of my personality and express that uniquely, not just where the shirt is worn as purchased, you know?”
