_{By Michael Luce}

Jackson 5. Bee Gees. The Osmonds. History is rife with examples of families teaming up to take on the music industry. However, the Astle siblings have a bit of a unique approach to family music: Instead of forming one single family band, the quartet have formed what could be called a family of bands — projects that are related and connected, but each pursuing different musical aims.

Born to rock

Dylan, Collette, Max, and Sabrina Astle were raised in a musical environment. Their father was the lead singer and songwriter of a rock group named Stained Glass, and their mother taught piano lessons. “A foundational memory of mine is listening to Rage Against the Machine on the way to Pop Warner football games and Bob Marley on the way to little league baseball games with my dad,” said Max. “Mom would play a nice mix of classical pieces and contemporary stuff on the piano.”

The siblings developed a shared appreciation for bands like The Beatles, Audioslave, CCR, Rage Against the Machine, and Nirvana, and it didn’t take long before they were all writing their own songs. Dylan was the first to start finding his own musical voice — a step that proved key to all four siblings’ musical journeys.

“When I was in elementary school … Dylan threw a punk show in our garage and I remember feeling very cool peaking my head in to listen, hoping everyone would know I’m his little sister,” recalled Sabrina.

“His example was very much so foundational for me in terms of my music tastes and activity,” agreed Max. “I kind of skipped the typical ‘gateway’ punk music and was just straight into the thick of it as an elementary school upperclassman … I still remember texting my sixth-grade crush asking her if she listened to Hot Water Music or Streetlight Manifesto (which is absolutely absurd) and arguing with my fourth-grade friends about Green Day not being ‘real punk’.”

All the same team

Fast forward to 2024, and all four are involved with their own musical projects — Dylan is the frontman of Pop Warner; Max leads Callery Pears; and the sisters are both focused on solo endeavors, releasing music as Collette Astle and Sabrina Fair.

Despite captaining their own ships, their musical stories are still quite interwoven. The siblings assist each other recording parts at Dylan’s home studio and playing live shows together. They even once played a Velour show with all four groups on the same night, dubbed “Astle Fest.” Plus, the quartet have teamed up to form their own label, Dirty Astle Records, as a home for their releases.

“I love hearing the songs my siblings are writing and the ones they want to make. It gives an unspoken understanding of what we’re all processing through and dealing with,” Collette said.

While all four pitch in ideas and help on each other’s projects, they seemed to indicate the likelihood of a supergroup project was unlikely. ““If we all tried to collaborate on something, we would never finish it,” laughed Dylan. And in the one timeline where they do manage to finish something? It would be a Christmas album, “but it’s just little drummer boy 12 times in a row and every track is just a microtone off.”

… Maybe it’s good they’re focused on their own stuff for now.

More than music

Even if they’re unlikely to appear officially on a record together anytime soon, you can still rest assured that music will always be part of the special bond these siblings share.

“I would say spending time creating music with the siblings has definitely deepened and enriched our relationships with one another,” Max explained. “I am frequently inspired and moved by my siblings’ creations.”

Sabrina agreed. “Music brings everyone closer together whether you’re strangers or siblings. Because we all write music, I feel very seen and supported by them, and I hope they feel the same from me.”

“We’ve had a lot of very funny, silly, & memorable times while recording music,” said Collette. “Making music with my siblings is one of the only things that has brought me true healing in my life.”

The year of Dirty Astle

With Sabrina‘s debut album on the horizon, Collette’s sophomore effort coming soon, fresh music from Callery Pears, and even a new project from Pop Warner in the works, the next year or so promises to be a breakout period for Dirty Astle Records. Be sure to follow the siblings online (linked in the previous sentence) to keep up with new releases and live shows, or maybe just catch the Astles at their favorite post-show haunt—Del Taco.

Before you go, check out “be apologetic,” Sabrina’s second single from her upcoming debut album!