1. Hi Bad Cop Bad Cop! Please introduce yourself to those who might not know you. 
Stacey: Hi there! I’m Stacey Dee, singer/songwriter of the band Bad Cop Bad Cop. We are an all-female punk rock band out of San Pedro, CA, that began in late 2010. Our current members are Linh Le, Myra Gallarza, Alex Windsor, and myself. We were signed to Fat Wreck Chords in 2014 and have released four full-length records, as well as a few EPs and singles. We’ve been labeled a feminist punk band, as we write songs about the important stuff in the world, including injustice and equality for all. We’re activists who do our best to make the world a better place.
‍‍
2. At what point did you first recognize the band’s potential for major success? Was there a defining moment or influence that confirmed it was time to elevate things to the next stage?Stacey: It’s funny—you never know that you’re leveling up and becoming successful. It’s always been slow growth, but we work harder than most. Maybe we have to, because we’re all women. We tour extensively and are always creating new music. It’s awesome that we’re at where we are now, but you never really see it that way. It’s like all of a sudden you look around and go, “Oh, we’re here now.” And we’re grateful for the opportunity every damn day!
‍
3. Being an all-female punk band comes with its own set of challenges — what’s one lesson you’ve learned navigating the scene?
Stacey: Well, I’ve learned that festivals here in the States want to have women on the bill, but they always make you play super early—haha. That, and having a blowout period on a tour bus, fucking sucks.
‍
4. What's it like to be a part of the effort to create a supportive community for a set of diverse women in the music industry?  
Stacey: It’s a real blessing! I’m grateful every day that our band has the opportunities it has. We’re super lucky, and we never take any of it for granted. Even on hard days, when we may not want to have to be “on,” we still perform at hundred, because we know that not being grateful for it all could mean seeing it all taken away. I’ve been in touring punk bands for 25 years, and I’m still as excited today as I was at my first show!
‍
5. Your new record LIGHTEN UP just dropped  — what’s the story behind the title, and what can fans expect from this next chapter of Bad Cop Bad Cop?
Stacey: It’s called Lighten Up for a few reasons. I went through a massive life change ten years ago, where I went from a very negative perspective to a very positive one. Though life is hard—and boy, has it almost killed me a few times, literally and figuratively. I found that it’s still so beautiful.

Going through such an awakening forced me to lighten up in order to truly enjoy my life. If I only focus on the terrible shit, I’ll want to commit suicide again—and that’s not an option for me. The whole record is a reminder to myself, and to humanity, to remember to lighten up.

‍The universe challenges us not to focus solely on the injustice and hurt in the world—and if we can find a way, we get more and more of the good stuff. I truly believe that’s the much-needed change in the world.

So yeah… like in our song “Note to Self” — Lighten Up! Hey humanity, we’ve all been through hard shit—life is full of it everywhere—but still…are you happy? Are you well? Can you lighten up?It’s also very much a call to humanity to search for enlightenment—that’s where the freedom and the great shit live. Dwell in possibility. Also, when we smoke the weed, we be lighten up—haha.
‍
6. Can you share a song or moment from creating LIGHTEN UP that really sums up what this record is about?
Stacey: Yeah, I think that would be our song “Dead Friends.” At the very end, I talk about how losing so many people I loved almost killed me—but getting a second chance to live and thrive is such a gift, one that all of my dead friends didn’t get. As a callout to humanity: please try to live and love your lives while you can.
‍
7. Your new record is the first to drop under the newly merged Hopeless Records and Fat Wreck Chords — how does it feel to be part of the iconic Hopeless crew?
Stacey: The Hopeless crew frickin’ RULES! They’re so great and helpful. Fat Wreck Chords is a super rare and killer family. All of the bands on it, past and present, know and care about each other. We love seeing each other around the world! Honestly, the new team feels like an extension of that connection and family. We’re so grateful to get to work with them!

8. Miguel Happoldt produced your new record, he is well known for producing Sublime’s first record 40 oz to Freedom. How was it working with him, and how did he influence the sound?Stacey: Working with Michael was a dream. He truly believes that producers and engineers need to let the band sound like the band — that’s where authentic sounds come from. I honestly feel like this record is our most authentic sound, and we couldn’t have done it without him.

He did everything in his power, for years, to get us to make this record. He got me a 16-track digital recorder, a BeatBuddy drum machine, and set up rooms for me to walk into and create. He’s a magician — you don’t even know you’re being produced at the time… then boom! you’ve got a great record!

He also really knows where to put cool touches in and on a record. His motto is, “Never a dull moment!” Honestly, it’s our best record yet, and that has so much to do with his belief in our band. He’s the best.
‍‍
9. Since your last release in 2020, you’ve added Alex Windsor to the lineup. How has her presence shifted the band’s dynamic?
Stacey: Alex has been a great addition to our band. At first, we thought we needed another strong singer, but we realized we already had that in Myra, who now sings our third harmonies. That freed us up to add Alex’s badass, totally shredding guitars. She not only added great guitar textures to this record, but she also plays so well that it pushes me to play better.

She’s really elevated our sound, as well as our performances and professionalism. She really cares about music and about making it great. She’s the one who went to college for music, she knows theory, and that knowledge really helped shape the songwriting on this record.
‍
10. You’ve built a reputation for combining unapologetic punk energy with uplifting, socially conscious lyrics — how do you balance those two sides in your songwriting?        
Stacey: I’m not sure it’s a balance..I feel like this is just naturally what comes out of us. We’re positive and energetic people. We’re all badass bitches, and we’re all activists. We care deeply about the planet, humanity, mental health, and equality for everyone.
‍
11. Which artists helped shape your sound —not just musically, but emotionally or aesthetically? 
Stacey: I don’t know if any one artist has done that for me. I love music. I pick something up from everything I listen to—I take a piece of all of it with me. I love the great stuff that came out of England between 1976 and 1981: The Clash, The Damned, The Police, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello… I love Joan Jett and the Ramones. I love the Go-Go’s. I love Operation Ivy, Green Day, NOFX, the Odd Numbers, and the Descendents. I love Sierra Farrell and Joni Mitchell. I just love music. I love reggae and ska. I just love something in it all.
‍
12. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be? 
Stacey: Joe Strummer, or Bob Marley, or Peter Tosh. Maybe Brody Dalle—where the hell did she go? Cyndi Lauper or Madonna! Ha, Madonna would be incredible. Joe Jackson. The Police. Joe Jackson’s bass player, Graham Maby—he fucking rips.
‍
13. What would the movie of your band’s story  be called, and who’s starring as each of you? 
Stacey: The movie would be called “Holy Shit, This Is AMAZING!” The only way it would work is if we played ourselves!

14. What’s a musical achievement from this past year that you’re proud of? 
Stacey: That we got this amazing record out! There were a few months when we didn’t know what was going to happen. It was terrifying. But we stayed the course and stayed calm, even though I almost lost my mind a few times and made everyone else nervous…we saw it through! What a fucking incredible feeling it is to put a piece of music out into the world! Again, so grateful!

15. What’s next? 
Well, I’m in an airport lounge, about to fly home from my family’s place in Albany, OR, back to the LBC to see my boyfriend’s band play in Long Beach. His band is Perro Bravo, and they’re so awesome—check them out! Also, my babe just produced an instrumental surf record for the Ziggens. Burt passed away last year, but before he left us, he made a double record of surf music. Michael produced it and got so many great players to play on it. Today is the record release party! Here we go!!!!!
‍