Ever since the supergroup posted a picture on their Instagram of their matching tattoos (and then included the tats on their debut album cover), questions have abounded over the Boygenius tooth tattoo’s meaning. Myself included.
If you (somehow) haven’t heard the name Boygenius yet, here’s the rundown: Indie singer/songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus formed the group in 2018 as a collaborative project. “The boys,” as they’re affectionately known, have since released two EPs and one album and collaborated with Catbird on a jewelry collection.
Without any kind of official statement from the band, it’s impossible to know for sure the meanings of the tattoos, but there are some clues out there for us. Namely, the traditional associations of tooth tattoos and some of Boygenius’ own work.
According to inkcites.com, a website dedicated to the symbolism in tattoos, some of the common representations of teeth include vulnerability, honesty, and strength in adversity. And really, when you’re talking about three queer indie women in the music industry, is there anything more fitting?
One of the main characteristics of indie music is an emphasis on authentic lyrics and boundary-pushing. As indie artists who have kept the indie heart as their fame has increased, the tooth tattoos could call to Boygenius’ continued commitment to remaining authentic in their music.
Another thing that the boys are committed to the authenticity of is representing their queer friendship. While the world can often demand watered-down representations of queerness, Boygenius is unapologetic in showing their love for one another and the queer community.
Finally, three pieces in their Catbird collaboration feature the tooth design from their tattoos. All three pieces are named after the opening song from their self-titled EP, “Bite The Hand.” A reference to the saying “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” a Genius annotation theorizes a metaphor for the complicated relationship between artists and their fans. It could also be a reference to the industry that serves them. Since tattoos most often serve as permanent reminders of things, a physical reminder of some of their earliest work as a group makes a lot of sense.
As women — and queer women at that — there’s a lot that the members of Boygenius have had to face. Staying authentic and strong together in the face of that adversity is certainly something worthy of a permanent binding image between the three.