The Perth music scene has gained a vibrant and uncompromising force in BRIBERY, a pop-rock quartet whose sound is as complex and diverse as their origin stories. United by a "rock through-line," the band—featuring Abbie (Vocals), Cooper (Guitar), Matt (Drums), and Sam (Bass)—channels influences from ABBA to KISS, creating a unique sound defined by infectious funk grooves and raw, emotional honesty. Having formed in early 2024, the band is quickly establishing themselves, relying on dedication, persistence, and a whole lot of community support.
The members of BRIBERY each followed a different path to rock and roll, which they say is precisely what makes their sound so exciting. Abbie started as a "choir nerd," with her musical awakening arriving via the Singstar ABBA game on PS2. Cooper spent years learning the trumpet before his uncle introduced him to Deep Purple at age 14, leading him to obsess over all things '70s rock. Sam was hooked by Arctic Monkeys in his early teens, prompting him to pick up the bass. Finally, Matt confesses that after learning guitar at age six, he "got bored" and made the most "drummer" move possible by switching to the drums.
The band’s formation was a classic tale of modern musical serendipity. Matt and Cooper met unexpectedly at a mutual friend's 21st birthday party, quickly exchanging numbers. After chatting for a few months, they decided to form a band. Cooper then reached out to Abbie, a classically trained choir singer he knew from university, and despite their different backgrounds, something instantly clicked. They struggled to find a bassist until Cooper connected with Sam, who he knew from high school. Sam brought his love for funk into the mix, and from there, BRIBERY as they are today came together. The very foundations for two of their crowd favourites, "Innuendo" and "Don’t Turn the Gun on Me," were laid during those first trio jams.
The collective sound of BRIBERY is the result of four distinct musical journeys colliding. Abbie is heavily influenced by ABBA and '60s/'70s rock. Cooper transitioned from being inspired by Ritchie Blackmore to being heavily influenced by Elton John and Ace Frehley from KISS. In fact, Cooper taught himself guitar by watching KISS concerts and mimicking Ace until he figured it out. Sam’s influences evolved from Arctic Monkeys to funk titans like Jamiroquai, Les Claypool from Primus, and Graham Central Station. Matt’s traditionally trained drumming pulls from classic artists like Led Zeppelin and Foo Fighters, alongside punk and progressive acts like Paramore and Måneskin.
The true evolution of their sound occurred with the addition of Sam. When the band started as a trio, the sound was predictably poppy and rocky. However, Sam brought his undeniable funk expertise, which began filtering through the music, despite Abbie's "very misplaced reluctance." This shift was reinforced by a fortunate coincidence: Cooper was coincidentally being taught funk guitar by his teacher, Quentin Edmonds. Cooper and Sam immediately clicked, successfully integrating funk into the band's repertoire, leading to the sophisticated sound audiences hear on stage today.
The band is currently navigating the hectic reality of being an emerging act. Three of the members are still at university, balancing studies, full-time work, and band commitments. In any free time, they are focused on writing and rehearsing, having recently recorded two brand-new demos for singles slated for release in early 2026. Their world is busy, with Cooper impressively adding to the chaos by racing cars nationally and even winning a national title this year.
The best gig they've played so far was their “Innuendo” single launch in August at the Indian Ocean Hotel. The venue was packed with friends, family, and fans, and the band successfully sold their first merch, feeling immense support while seeing people genuinely enjoying the music.
Their worst gig, however, was a memorable display of rock and roll commitment. During one of their first few shows at a Monday Milk event at The Bird, Abbie woke up with a crippling case of strep throat and couldn't speak. She performed the entire show pumped full of steroids, croaking her way through the set just to make it through the night—a classic demonstration of the "you gotta do what you gotta do" ethos.
The creative process is intentionally uncomplicated. It usually begins with a riff and a basic structure brought in by Abbie, Cooper, or Sam, with the rest of the band building their parts around it. The song "Sunscreen" perfectly illustrates this basic approach: it was written during Sam's first rehearsal, starting with Sam's bass-line, Cooper's funky chords, and Matt's funk beat. The basic components of the song have remained unchanged since that moment, later gaining lyrics, a melody, and a bass solo.
Each member has a different favourite song to perform live, reflecting the band’s diverse influences. Abbie’s pick is the pop-rock track "Don’t Turn the Gun on Me," which she loves because the lyrics were written from a place of frustration and vulnerability, but hearing the crowd sing them back has become a reminder that "we’re not alone in it all." Cooper’s favorite is "Innuendo," as it was the first song he wrote with the band and heavily inspired by KISS. Matt and Sam both chose the funk track, "Ego," with Matt admiring its well-composed structure and Matt enjoying the intricate bass-line.
On stage, the influence of their heroes is clear. Cooper wears the "hat" of Ace Frehley, drawing inspiration from his infectious, contained energy. Sam channels Deon Estus from Wham!, admiring his precise way of holding his own without stealing the show. Matt looks to the great Classic Rock drummers for his stage inspiration. Abbie feels she is playing a "version" of herself, balancing the imposter syndrome of not having the same voice as her idols with the genuine need to express her own spirit.
The band is looking forward to the future, dreaming of opening a show for Olivia Rodrigo, whose sound and lyrics they admire. They'd love to collaborate with Amyl and the Sniffers (Abbie admits she "won’t shut up about how much she wishes she was Amy Taylor") and Blondie, who embodies the '70s and '80s pop-rock era they draw from.
The best piece of advice they received was delivered at the Spacey Jane talk at the More Than A One Night Stand Sessions in Busselton. The emphasis on being persistent in writing and playing every gig possible stuck with them, proving there’s "no magic formula for success; it takes dedication, persistence, and consistency."
They believe the best thing for the industry would be to try and expand it, ensuring venues are "safe spaces filled to the brim with both good music and good people." They also advocate for better mental health and mentoring support to keep people engaged in the tough industry.
They acknowledge the double-edged sword of the internet: it has helped them connect with audiences interstate and overseas, making the process more affordable. However, the pressure to maintain relevancy while staying genuine remains a conflict.
Their message to their fans is one of gratitude: "We just want to say that we’re still very new and haven’t even been together for a year, so thank you so much for your support! You’ll never know how grateful we are." They urge fans to stay tuned for their next single in the early months of 2026 and hope to see everyone around soon (and they do take bribes)!