What's immediately noticeable from the first single is that there's more to 2charm than their horned-up exterior. They describe themselves as a centre-point between fellow Aussie party starters Confidence Man, underground club legend BabyMorocco and TikToker-turned-pop-princess Addison Rae; it feels correct, a combination of dance routines, strip teases and underlying melancholy. Because behind the big beats and unbridled sexuality is a story about endless yearning and forbidden love. Kind of like if they bottled Heated Rivalry and put it in an album.

"That's one of the things that we are finding the most fun about it," says two. "There's hidden depth in the album, for sure, for those who want to go in and feel it. It can be an album for having fun too, but there's definitely pining and yearning and emotion in there for those who are ready for it."

It's the subtext that makes the 'gooner pop' title feel a bit subversive. As a term with roots in the 4chan weeds, attaching it to a very gay pop album flips it on its head; the themes of loneliness, pining, and sex are still there, but there's a lot of joy to be found in 'star scum city' too.

"It's a place that's kind of grimy and dirty but has a sparkling magic to it," they say. "You're definitely surrounded by all your favourite people, probably partying, listening to good music that makes you feel really good. We like to say that 'star scum city' is all about connection."

Although created in Melbourne – where the pair relocated to from Brisbane – 'star scum city' was born in Europe. 2charm travelled the continent from May to September 2024 and got to work on the album in the weeks after returning to Melbourne. Aside from the numerous tourist stop name drops in the track titles, much of the record recalls 90s and 2000s Eurodance beats, as hot and sweaty as their image would suggest.

"My favourite is 'you will never be alone in barcelona'," says two. "That one was inspired by going to Primavera. In one night, we got to see Omar Apollo, Lana Del Rey, Troye Sivan – I think it was the first show that Troye played of his whole album cycle, and it just felt like such an epic moment in his journey, that was such a special set – and then later in the night, we saw Hannah Diamond, Sega Bodega and Arca. And by that point of the evening, we were feeling particularly transcendent. Their sets were almost back-to-back; that night ended up feeling spiritual. We were just feeling very connected with the music and the people and the space."

2charm will return for their Eurosummer part deux this year, bringing their elaborate live show to these shores for the first time.

"When people ask what it's like, I just say, it's a spectacle," says two. "We start the show in jeans and hoodies, and by the end of the show, we're just wearing footy shorts and Ugg boots. Something that might surprise people about the 2charm show is that we're both actually really good singers. Singing together is our favourite thing ever. Lots of choreo, some pretty overtly horny moments, but all done with a wink and a nudge." ■

Taken from the May 2026 issue of Dork. 2charm's debut album 'star scum city' is out now.