Stella Mozgawa

Stella Mozgawa
Born	Sydney
Genres	Psychedelic rock, indie rock, art rock
Instruments	Drums
Years active	2007–present
Associated acts	Warpaint, Kurt Vile, Andy Clockwise, Mink, Swahili Blonde, jennylee, Flea, Jamie XX

Stella Mozgawa is an Australian drummer. She is best known as a member of the psychedelic rock band Warpaint, with whom she has recorded two studio albums. Alongside her work with Warpaint, Mozgawa has contributed to recordings by indie rock musicians Kurt Vile and Andy Clockwise, and is a former member of the bands, Mink and Swahili Blonde.

Upon joining the band Mink, Mozgawa and her bandmates moved from Sydney to New York City, to pursue their musical career. After recording one studio album, Mink (2007), and touring alongside Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, Mozgawa befriended Red Hot Chili Peppers bass guitarist Flea, who suggested she move to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Mozgawa performed in Swahili Blonde, and befriended Warpaint vocalist and guitarist Theresa Wayman, who subsequently invited her to join the band during the recording of their debut album, The Fool (2010). In 2014, the band released its second studio album, Warpaint, with Mozgawa contributing fully to the songwriting process.

Biography

Childhood and early life

Growing up in Sydney, Mozgawa was raised by her Polish parents, who had moved from Poland to Australia to perform music together as a musical duo. Regarding her musical family, Mozgawa noted: "It would have been totally unnatural for me to not play an instrument in the family. That said, when I told my mum I wanted to play drums, she was like, 'No fuckin' way!' We managed to sort things out after that though."

At the age of thirteen, Mozgawa began playing the drums, and was initially influenced by the drummer Zac Hanson from the pop band Hanson: "For a lot of people who are a half-generation older than me it was Tommy Lee, but for me it was Zac Hanson from Hanson. I'm probably in a smaller group of people who were really turned on to the profession by that particular man." At the age of fourteen, Mozgawa would pretend to be a "20-year-old Polish immigrant with no ID" to perform at Sydney music venues.

At the age of eighteen, Mozgawa's high school band supported Foo Fighters at a secret show. Frontman Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins both mentioned her on stage, later that evening: "I was so young and so impressionable and I really felt like the hand of god had touched me in a weird way. I respect those drummers so much. I wasn’t like always a huge Foo Fighters fan, but knowing that those guys who were at the top of their game had so many sweet things to say to an 18 year old girl playing drums in a band in high school, that was a turning point for me and I honestly don’t think that I would have had the confidence to do with what I’m doing without that moment."

Mink and moving to America (2006–2009)

Mozgawa joined the band Mink, and moved from Sydney to New York City with its members. After releasing their debut album, Mink (2007), the band toured with Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, and supported both Angels and Airwaves and Kiss.

While living in New York, she befriended Red Hot Chili Peppers bass guitarist Flea, with the two performing a live show together: "It was a pretty intense moment for me, and [Flea] asked me on stage if I would record some of his music with him. So it was like this three or four-tiered psychedelic experience! I called my best friend in Australia and I was like I don't know what's happening I think someone may have spiked my drink and I think I might move to LA. It all happened really quickly."

Joining Warpaint (2009–2010)

Before joining Warpaint, Mozgawa was a fan of the band: "I was fan of Warpaint before I joined the band. I knew them through friends and stuff. I heard a few of their songs and thought, 'This is a really cool band, I really like some of their songs and they are in it for the right reasons.' After spending time with vocalist and guitarist Theresa Wayman at Coachella Festival, Mozgawa was invited to join the band during the recording of their debut album, The Fool (2010). Mozgawa noted: "I secretly wanted to be in the band, but at the time they had this great drummer already, the wonderful David Orlando, so I just put it out of my mind, and I knew that they had had quite a few different drummers over the years. Then one day, they just called up and asked if I wanted to come in and help them record the album, and be part of the creative process. They didn’t say that there was going to be any long-term commitment or anything, but just be part of the process, and I was like ‘absolutely’, and everything came from that."

Discography

with Warpaint

• The Fool (2010)
• Warpaint (2014)

with Mink

• Mink (2007)

with Kurt Vile

• Wakin on a Pretty Daze (2013)
• It's a Big World Out There (2013)
• B'lieve I'm Goin Down... (2015)
• Spotify Sessions EP (2015)

with jennylee

• right on! (2015)

with Swahili Blonde

• Man Meat (2010)

with Flea

• Helen Burns (2012)