If You Want Me

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew just dropped the needle on something that hits like a two-stroke engine kicking over in a Melbourne garage. The Stripp’s “If You Want Me” from their second album Life Imitates Art is pure high-octane rock and roll that refuses to sit still. It opens the record with chugging guitars and a groove that feels like it was built for late-night highway runs, the kind where the windshield fogs up and the radio is the only company you need. The lyrics dig into that messy pull of attraction when someone has been circling you but never quite commits. Lines about having an eye on someone, keeping your guard up while knowing it is just a facade, and the back-and-forth of being picked up and put down land with a raw honesty that cuts through the speed. Reviews have called the track the perfect prelude to the whole album, marrying the sturdy punk edge of bands like Radio Birdman with the catchy swagger of AC/DC, all tethered by Bek Taylor’s confident, unrushed delivery that keeps the whole thing from flying off the rails. The band mixed it with Danny Greet and brought in production help from Jason Rudzyn, giving the song that grubby, muscular tone that sits somewhere between classic hard rock and the sharper edges of action rock. The official video, produced and edited by CJay Perros, matches the heat of the track with a visual punch that fans have been spinning repeatedly since it dropped ahead of the full album. In interviews from a couple of years back, members talked about writing with more vulnerability and experimentation for this record, and you can hear that in how the simple hook still carries a clever story about mixed signals and wanting more without losing the band’s trademark speed and big hooks. It is the kind of song that makes you lean into the speaker and feel the tension in every syllable.

The Stripp came together in 2019 out of Melbourne’s gritty underground scene, born from Jason Zeke and Bek Taylor’s shared passion for raw rock and roll that does not mess around. Bek handles the lead vocals and most of the rhythm guitar with a presence that has been described as the love child of Joan Jett and Lemmy Kilmister, bringing grit and soul in equal measure. Jason takes the lead guitar, while Matt Brown locks in on bass and Alex Dawson drives the drums. Early on they released a self-titled EP, then a split with New Jersey action rock veterans Electric Frankenstein that showed they could hold their own against established names. By 2022 they had their full-length debut Ain’t No Crime To Rock ‘n’ Roll out, which drew attention across Australia and beyond with its rapid-fire guitars and no-frills attitude. They have spent the years since touring relentlessly, sharing stages with heavy hitters like Supersuckers, ZEKE, Cosmic Psychos, Stiff Richards, the Hard-Ons, and The D4, building a reputation for captivating live shows that turn any room into a high-energy blowout. In one interview with Under the Radar, Matt Brown noted how the Australian rock scene has seen a resurgence of garage rock and punk with an emphasis on DIY and creativity, and The Stripp fit right into that wave while drawing from influences like the Hellacopters, Radio Birdman, The Saints, and even Scandinavian rock for its unique edge. They still pull out covers like the Hellacopters’ “Gotta Get Some Action Now,” and once had Metal Marty from Supersuckers join them onstage for it during a tour. That kind of road-hardened experience sharpened them for Life Imitates Art, released in January 2026 through labels like Spaghetty Town Records in North America and Ghost Highway Recordings and Beluga Records in Europe, with the band handling things directly back home. The album pushes past their earlier action rock mold into something heavier and more explosive while keeping the punch and singalong hooks that make their sets unforgettable. Tracks like “Murder Mobile” barrel along with Motörhead energy, and they even throw in a solid cover of The Datsuns’ “MF From Hell,” but originals such as the opener stand out as the real fireworks. The band’s Instagram and Facebook have been full of launch show announcements, limited-edition splatter vinyl notes, and thanks to the community that keeps the rock and roll train rolling, showing a group that still values the connection with listeners who dig the same raw sound. You can find their official home at The Stripp Bandcamp, where Life Imitates Art sits front and center in the discography along with earlier releases, plus merch and updates. Follow the official Facebook page at The Stripp Official Facebook for show posts and album drops, and the Instagram at @the_stripp for photos from the road and studio shots. No dedicated fan websites or active Facebook groups turned up that focus solely on supporting the band, but the broader rock communities that share their posts keep the conversation going. Spinning this one on THE ZOO feels like the right place for it, right alongside the deep cuts and freeform rock that the Zoo Freaks live for. The Stripp keep proving that high-energy rock and roll from Melbourne still has plenty of fire left, and “If You Want Me” is a fine example of how they channel that into songs that stick with you long after the last chord rings out.