How sibling duo The Veronicas pitched a sexy comeback
Jess and Lisa Origlasso are about to release their fourth studio album. Photo: Getty
Ten years after they burst onto the Australian music scene, twin pop duo The Veronicas are reinventing themselves for a comeback – at the ripe age of 31.
Jess and Lisa Origliasso initiated their revival in earnest with an ARIAs hosting gig on Wednesday night, captivating the national audience in nothing but sparkly red body paint during a performance of their new single, In My Blood.
The video for the single features Jess’ new girlfriend – and breakout star of Orange Is the New Black – Ruby Rose, who this week insisted the relationship is not a publicity stunt in answer to an accusation by radio host Meshel Laurie.
Orchestrated or not, The Veronicas’ new album is unlikely to be harmed by a hot new relationship with one of the world’s biggest stars, nor a sexy, dark film clip, nor a raunchy performance at the Australian music industry’s biggest night.
Jess and Lisa described themselves as “loose cannons” at the ARIAs. Photo: Getty
ARIAs
When the twins strutted the ARIA stage in red glitter paint, social media stood to attention.
*Shane Warne desperately searches for the Veronicas Instagram accounts* #arias
— Michael Beveridge (@mickyb273) November 23, 2016
And while the pair’s scripted jokes fell mostly flat, there has never been any question that they know how to write catchy, soaring pop songs.
They’ve been doing it for a long time – raised in Queensland, pair began performing at sports events at the age of five, and released three albums under the name Lisa & Jessica before turning 20.
In 2005, they dominated the Australian pop charts with their first studio album, The Secret Life of… , which included the hits 4Ever and Everything I’m Not.
The girls made a small dent in the US market, and 4Ever was featured in the hit Amanda Bynes film She’s the Man.
Albums Hook Me Up (2007) and The Veronicas (2014) followed, as well as a UK tour and a brief coaching gig on The Voice Australia.
A much younger Jess and Lisa in 2005. Photo: Getty
The twins have been living in LA in recent years, and with the release of In My Blood in early 2017, will no doubt be looking to crack the US market – with Rose (who happens to be good friends with Taylor Swift) and her millions of fans in tow.
Ruby Rose
After KIIS 101.1 host Laurie accused Jess and Rose of staging the relationship for album publicity in September, sister Lisa defended the pair on the radio show one day later.
“[Rose] actually came on board [the project] and that’s what sparked the chemistry again,” she explained.
Rose told Channel Nine’s Richard Wilkins the timing was actually not what she would have wanted.
“I didn’t plan [the timing], obviously,” she said.
“The last thing you want to do when you do a promotional tour on a film and you’ve come all the way out [to Australia] to do it is release a new relationship, so to speak, and a video.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMvzucKAGZ0/?taken-by=rubyrose&hl=en
“It just happened by accident but I’m very lucky.”
One of Australia’s rising stars in Hollywood, Rose was responsible for writing and directing The Veronicas’ On Your Side film clip.
In it, Jess Origliasso and Rose play a besotted couple, until Rose’s addiction to prescription painkillers tears them apart.
It’s darker and edgier than anything else The Veronicas have produced, and is light years away from their debut 2005 single, the lollipop-punk party anthem, 4Ever.