Fresh from the release of debut album zero.point.genesis, and with two trips to the UK already planned for 2026, we meet The Pretty Wild sisters Jyl and Jules Wylde at the end of their breakout year to talk all things creativity, confidence and coughcore…
It’s been said that destruction is a form of creation; in order to build something new, you must first demolish what once stood in its place. The Pretty Wild have taken this notion to heart. Striking an alt-metal match on the social norms and expectations that bind them, the Las Vegas sisters are enacting their own cataclysmic “purge” to usher in a new era of fearless femininity and confidence.
Their debut record, zero.point.genesis, serves as a theatrical take on sonic ego death. It’s confronting inner turmoil head-on, dismantling years of internalised misogyny and uprooting decades of generational trauma with a snarl of guttural hysteria. And it’s all done in a flurry of nu-metal breakdowns, sweeping classical violin movements… and blood-curdling mosh-calls of, ‘Slay!’
Wait… what? Even now, Jyl and Jules Wylde can’t keep a straight face. As soon as the tongue-in-cheek breakdown cue is mentioned, they’re cackling like a pair of mischievous schoolgirls. “People fought me on this,” Jyl, the younger of the pair, exclaims. “I was just like, ‘Let her breathe!’”
And it’s not the first time The Pretty Wild have taken the unconventional route. Back in 2024, they unintentionally sparked a ‘coughcore’ movement with their single sLeepwAlkeR; while the track’s heavy shroud of gothic gloom and a razor-sharp injection of rap makes for some truly gnarly metal, its needle-scratch of a ‘mosh cough’ is what made it go viral.
That’s what sets The Pretty Wild apart from the rest. The sisters rejoice in any opportunity to make the gristly world of metal a little more playful. They emanate an aura that can only be defined as Tim Burton’s answer to the ’90s it-girl, serving up nightmarish growls and dark pop mystique with a side of Hot Topic-clad sass. It’s metal sprinkled with a little Vegas razzle-dazzle.
zero.point.genesis is a culmination of that dark, theatrical attitude. From PARADOX’s glitching breakdowns, to the creeping, Halloween-infused Button Eyes, right down to h Alf a Li VE’s shoegaze-y ruminations, the record feels like a multi-faceted play. And that’s all down to the pair embracing their more melodramatic side. “Some people might think it’s a weird fusion, but we don’t limit creativity,” Jules explains.
While they have a diverse sonic palette – a meeting point of a ‘y’allternative’ background, Jyl’s “dark-pop girlie” taste and Jules’ life as a diehard metalhead – the sisters’ respective love of performance also informs their art. “When I’m not writing metal, I’m writing for theatre,” Jules reveals, her personal hype-woman Jyl chiming in to say that her sibling is even working on something with the legendary Danny Elfman right now.
Jyl, on the other hand, has an accomplished background in acrobatics. It’s helped her pull off some devastating beatdowns as a possessed demon in the sLeepwAlkeR video, as well as making her a total firecracker onstage. And the pair are always looking to expand their creative arsenal.
“We taught ourselves to scream,” Jules says. “My first screams were on sLeepwAlker, and I’ve taught myself so much since. Now, my main focus is studying violin extensively. We want to bring that into 2026, and really push ourselves for Download Festival and our tour with Sleep Theory.”
As The Pretty Wild continue to steamroll on, what’s clear is that it’s all in an effort to serve their incendiary debut. Beneath the gothic theatricality and bone-rattling “don’t fuck with me!” attitude, zero.point.genesis is a self-help record – and they’re doing everything they can to bring it to life onstage. “It’s a rebirth, a journey through the highs and lows of life,” Jules muses. “We’ve put everything into it, and we hope that people can feel empowered with us.”
“This record is an attempt to encompass reality, which is why it’s so layered,” agrees Jyl. “Just like life, creativity is a rollercoaster. The creative process was like therapy for us – because it’s layered, emotional and it can honestly make you feel alive if you trust it. You shouldn’t smother that creativity. You need to be comfortable with your truth.
“It’s helped me feel more confident in my own body – because sometimes, as a woman, everything makes you feel unsafe,” she continues. “It’s an emotional excavation, removing all this deeply rooted trauma. Now, we’re able to start from zero and grow.”
As our time together draws to a close, Jules brings up the notion of the “metalphysical”. “A lot of people think we’re making a typo if we write that, but it’s purposeful,” she stresses. “We do incorporate a lot of metaphysical elements into our sound, because it’s important to us to talk about philosophical and spiritual themes.”
Whether it’s escaping the clutches of the Jungian persona or a bid to embrace your divine feminine power, The Pretty Wild are here to help. But don’t be alarmed – as traumatic and mentally exhausting the process may be, you can trust the Wyldes to guide you through it with a cheeky, knowing wink.
“We’ve even been thinking we want to choreograph a K-Pop style ‘pit dance’ for one of our most intense breakdowns, y’know…” Jyl ponders as we share our goodbyes. “We’ll get even the most serious guys to bust a move!” As Jules laughs, a cunning grin slithers over her sister’s face. Judging by the fiery look of determination in Jyl’s eyes, we don’t doubt she’ll get her wish.
zero.point.genesis is out now via Sumerian. Catch The Pretty Wild supporting Sleep Theory in February, as well as appearing at Download Festival in June.
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