It’s Sunday. And for you religious folks (Satan is our master - j/k), we thought that it’d be fitting to share our interview with The Deli Philly’s latest Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner, Church Girls, which you can check out below. The group centers around the duo of Mariel Beaumont and Evan Anders, and they currently have plans to release their debut EP in January followed by a full-length this summer.

The Deli: How did you start making music?

Mariel Beaumont: Evan was the sound engineer on an EP I recorded at the studio of our mutual friend Scot Sax. We came up with a lot of cool ideas in those sessions, and I really felt like Evan got my vibe.  We became friends, drank a lot of beer in Rittenhouse Park, and started writing music together. Then I moved into his house, and he gets to see my face every day whether he likes it or not. We wrote ten commandments. Now we have Church Girls.

Evan Anders: Now we are Church Girls.

TD: Where did the band name Church Girls come from?

MB: I’m afraid that would break one of our commandments.  

EA: Thou shalt not break Church Girls’ ten commandments.

TD: What are your biggest musical influences?

MB: Punk rock really changed my life when I was 14-ish. I listened to a lot of Against Me! and Leftover Crack, and claimed I was an anarchist. I loved the sweaty, scary shows. I loved the honesty, energy, and rawness. We try to capture that attitude, even if not stylistically.

EA: These days Bowie, Modest Mouse, Iggy Pop, Dead Kennedys, Talking Heads, Fiona Apple, and Dylan are on pretty heavy rotation at our house.

TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?

MB:I can’t stop listening to PUP, and their show at the Barbary made my head explode. This year I dug the latest Single Mothers, Cloud Nothings, Chelsea Wolfe, Deafheaven, and Ivory Deville - also, lots of our pals KGB who we’re joining on stage at Union Transfer in December.

EA: Father John Misty. Love that man. Shakey Graves album Roll the Bones is wonderful. If you haven’t checked it out, make time for them.  

TD: What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?

MB: Backstreet Boys for my 11th birthday because my mom rules. I think my first record was the Violent Femmes cassette our babysitter bought for us, which I loved. We’d listen to it in her Volvo while she ranted about radio censorship.

TD: What do you love about Philly?

EA: Holy hell, throwing out the tough questions already. The food, the beer, R5 shows, cheap rent, XPN, underdogs, cool hangs.  Best city ever. Oh and The Deli!

TD: What do you hate about Philly?

MB: I-76. February.

EA: SEPTA. February.

TD: What are your plans for 2015?

MB: We’re releasing our EP in January. Going to play regularly through the northeast, and plan a bigger tour in the spring. Then release a full-length in late summer, and keep having fun.

TD: What was your most memorable live show?

EA: A few months ago someone asked to take a selfie with us after the show. It made my day.

TD: What's your favorite thing to get at the deli?

MB:I’m gluten-free when I feel like it. When I don’t feel like it is at 2am and Evan says Ishkabibbles is a good idea.

EA: Ishkabibbles is always a good idea.