Stella and the Very Messed Ignite With “Not Dynamite”

Stella and the Very Messed don’t make songs that play it safe. They make songs that punch you in the chest, wink in your face, and dare you to press repeat. Today, the Austin-born band shares “Not Dynamite”—their third single from the upcoming album Big Familiar, out September 19 via Double Helix Records.

Fronted by Stella Maxwell and David Hawkins (formerly of cult-favorite Cruiserweight), and backed by a lineup stacked with Austin indie heavyweights—Chris Nine (Schatzi, Moving Panoramas), Mohadev (Stop Motion Orchestra), and Sam Rich (Black Books, Broken Gold)—the group has carved out a sound that is equal parts chaos and catharsis.

“Not Dynamite” is exactly that: a fierce sonic battle cry where jagged guitars and relentless drums crash beneath Maxwell’s piercing, unapologetic vocals. It’s pop, it’s heavy rock, it’s a little unhinged—and that’s precisely the point. “A common refrain during the writing of this song was, ‘I don’t know—this idea probably won’t work,’” Maxwell says. “Most of what we came up with—the poppy programmed loop, the heavy guitars, me shushing in the middle of the song—stayed. The result is a very pop and heavy rock song.”

If the single plays like a feminist anthem disguised as a sugar-rush rock track, the DIY music video doubles down. Conceived by drummer Sam Rich and stitched together from clips sent by friends, the video features women lip-syncing lyrics in raw, playful defiance. Maxwell laughs: “The end result matches the song’s ‘let’s use every idea we have’ zaniness—and it also proves to the world that we do, in fact, have friends… and they’re very talented.”

With Big Familiar, Stella and the Very Messed are building on their reputation for sharp, emotionally raw rock that doesn’t just wear its heart on its sleeve—it throws it across the room. Past singles like “Lack of Secrets” and “Big Familiar” teased the band’s restless blend of synths, crunchy guitars, and soaring choruses that collapse into moments of brutal honesty.

Equal parts power, grit, and release, “Not Dynamite” doesn’t explode—it detonates in slow motion, a perfect mess of pop hooks and heavy-rock defiance. And if the track is any indication, Big Familiar will be the band’s most unapologetic statement yet: messy, electric, and absolutely alive.