Lambrini Girls bassist Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez has announced that she is taking “a step back from live shows”.
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The band are set to embark on a US tour later this month and a 19-date trek across the UK and Europe starting on November 19 at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town.
But Macieira in a lengthy post on her Instagram page, has announced she will not be part of the US tour and Big Girl’s Kaitlin Pelkey will be filling in for her.
“Hello. I want to talk about something quite personal, partially because of my violent need to be deeply understood by those in my life, partially in order to be transparent about touring with disabilities in hopes to raise awareness, in hopes, that people in my position can relate and feel less alone,” she began before adding: “And also because I’ve never understood, nor had the desire to understand, the taboo of being very personal with strangers.”
She continued: “Being in this band has taken me places and shown me things I never thought I’d see, and I’m forever grateful that I get to play shows for a living and write music that people enjoy.
“But after extensive touring, I’ve been forced to come face to face with my limit. I’ve always struggled badly in touring environments, and despite my best efforts, those struggles have consumed me entirely and spat me out again.”
Macieira goes on to explain that she was diagnosed as being bipolar and with autism four years ago and after touring last year she “developed a physical tic, that has since progressed to a vocal tic” and is “causing me a lot of distress and pain.”
“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to be able to exist normally in this world, and having the realisation that this is not possible has put me in a dangerous place mentally,” she said.
“I have to withdraw and try to simulate a safe environment, to mend the foundations I’ve cracked in myself to try and come back to myself. Unfortunately this means I will be taking a step back from live shows with Lambrini Girls, to give myself a chance to seek medical help.
“Our scheduled shows are still going ahead and I’ll appear on stage when I’m able, but for our upcoming US tour you’ll have the brilliant Kaitlin Pelkey from Big Girl filling in for me on bass.”
Macieira went to say that she is tired of being “expected to be ‘loud’ and ‘energetic’ – to be ‘on’ all the time.”
She concluded: “I’m tired of feeling like being quiet in this band is weakness and inadequacy, like it’s not enough. I’ve betrayed myself for so long at nobody’s cost but my own. No more cosplaying from me. Peace up, A-town.”
The duo’s debut album ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ was released earlier this year. In a glowing five-star review of the LP, NME shared: “Lambrini Girls prove punk is alive and kicking. They’re unapologetically amplifying chaos, calling out societal wrongs, and daring us all to feel something. This record is loud, raw, and impossible to ignore.”
Lambrini Girls are due to kick off their UK tour on November 19. Check out a full list of tour dates here and visit here to purchase tickets.
