Bachelor Girl are Waiting For The Day
Photo Credit Jess macc
Australian pop band Bachelor Girl has re-released their 1998 track ‘Treat Me Good’, with the new reimagined version of ‘Treat Me Good’ featuring a joining of forces between Bachelor Girl and fellow Aussie musician Jessica Mauboy. The revamped track is set to feature on the band’s forthcoming revival album ‘Waiting For The Day : Artist Sessions’, which is scheduled for release in June and will feature a plethora of special guests and collaborations. We caught up with the wildly talented and stunningly beautiful Tania Doko to ask her about the new track, the forthcoming album and what comes next for this legendary band.
Congratulations on the release of the reimagined version of your 1998 hit ‘Treat Me Good’, how has the new format been received by your legion of longtime loyal fans?
Cheers for the well wishes! It’s an exciting time to go back and refresh these song babies (now grown up!) from our album ‘Waiting for the Day’. The buzz from our awesome fans for the new Treat Me Good has been electrifying. Feels like yet another poignant time to remind ourselves to treat each other, and ourselves, good.
‘Treat Me Good’ sees you team up with Aussie songbird Jessica Mauboy, how did this collaboration come about?
Jess was right up there on our bucket list of Aussie artists to invite onto this project. I(Tan) co wrote ‘Risk it’ for Jess on the ‘Secret Daughter’ soundtrack, and my respect and admiration for Jess’ vocal prowess skyrocketed! When Jess was invited onto Treat Me Good, she was so enthusiastically a YES and we couldn’t be more chuffed. She told us how she used to busk Bachelor Girl tunes in Darwin pre Idol. What a full circle mutual admiration club we joined the day we recorded Jess in studio. One of the greatest recording experiences we’ve experienced - she blew our minds!
“After almost 3 decades(!) we’ve come to appreciate on an even deeper level what happened for BG back in the late 90s,”
‘Treat Me Good’ is the first single to be released from your forthcoming album ‘Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions’, which sees you deliver reinvented versions of all tracks from the ‘Waiting For The Day’ album. What inspired you to want to re-do this album in particular?
James and I had frequently discussed revamping our first album. We had genuine, new fun with the tracks, dressing them up in new clothes, re-voicing them the way it feels good to, in 2026. After almost 3 decades(!) we’ve come to appreciate on an even deeper level (with distance, time and space) what happened for BG back in the late 90s, and how to this day people share with us the impact that body of work had on them. The ‘Artist Sessions’ became a very organic and free flowing mission where we dared to ask our artist friends we have written/produced/toured with in the past, to jump on board this new album. One by one, they said yes, and we couldn’t be more chuffed with the process and the results.
‘Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions’ features 15 tracks and sees Bachelor Girl collaborate with a bunch of singers and musicians. Who can we look forward to seeing featured on the body of work?
Sorry - it’s all embargoed - we can’t tell you quite yet! Needless to say, you’ll be pleased. The cream of the crop of Aussie talent - rock/pop/soul singers who have honoured our tunes and brought their own IP to each track. Again, lucky us. Our next stellar artist is a long time friend with whom we have toured a couple of times, the one and only, DARREN HAYES.
“We made a shopping list of dream artists, and almost all of them said yes! ”
How did you select who you would team up with?
We made a shopping list of dream artists, and almost all of them said yes! Every single artist, beyond their formidable talents, are fabulous people. AND many of them grew up on ‘Waiting for the Day’ and were chomping at the bit to be involved once we let them know what we were up to. The relative ease and flow from when we asked them, to the actual recording of their vocals (whether we were in the studio with them or not) is one of the most remarkable features of this whole process.
Did any of the songs take on major transformations?
The album tracks probably took on the greatest transformations, e.g our next single, BLIND…whereas the singles from the original Waiting for the Day were trickier to completely transform. We found they are much more imprinted in our D&A’s and probably our fans’ too. In the end, the song needs to speak and be the hero. Stay tuned!
“Hearing Jess Mauboy do all her super soulful frills when we recorded her in the studio for Treat Me Good had our heart melting and brains frying. Tania and I looked like the kid from Home Alone.. jaws dropped to the ground.”
Were there any memorable moments or funny stories from the making of ‘Waiting For The Day: Artist Sessions’?
To quote James Roche here:
“Hearing Jess Mauboy do all her super soulful frills when we recorded her in the studio for Treat Me Good had our heart melting and brains frying. Tania and I looked like the kid from Home Alone.. jaws dropped to the ground.”
You’re heading out on your Waiting For The Day Redux Tour this month, are you excited to be taking the new styled tracks to fans? Will you be joined on the road by any of the album’s special guests?
We’re pumped to play these versions live. Regarding some of the special guests showing up at particular shows. we’re working on it… ;-)
Photos by Andy Kershaw
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
What a great question!!!
2 people:
Marcus Knight - who’s managed this project with us from day one. It’s a monumental job, and to a great extent an experiment collaborating with 14 artists, plus ourselves, on one album. Not for the faint hearted and it would not have been possible without Marcus’ mentorship, poise and unrelenting commitment to help navigate the almost daily pivots, twists and turns of this project. I am better for having Marcus involved. Eternally grateful to MK!
Tammy Blake - friend and crucial in the team. Manages so many details there’s not enough space here to mention them all. Loyal and cares deep in her bones. One thousand thank you’s, Tam!
“Fans can look forward to such different interpretations of our songs, giving them new life and added meaning in 2026.”
What's next for Bachelor Girl? What can fans look forward to?
More singles and the grand enchilada ARTIST SESSIONS album to be unleashed late June. Fans can look forward to such different interpretations of our songs, giving them new life and added meaning in 2026. Also - THE SHOWS KICKIN’ OFF IN AUGUST. You’ll hear all the tunes in redux mode, stories from the late 90s, as well as little nuggets on the making of the ARTIST SESSIONS album. Come soak in both nostalgia and fresh vibes, in real life. Visit bachelorgirl.com for tickets
Do you have a message for the Bachelor Girl fans and supporters?
Aside from our own need to create art and play live, YOU are the fuel! Thank you for lifting us up and sharing your stories of inspiration you draw from our music. It’s life affirming and the world’s greatest feeling.
See you on the road for hugs and singalongs!
STREAM: TREAT ME GOOD FT. JESSICA MAUBOY
BACHELOR GIRL - WAITING FOR THE DAY REDUX TOUR DATES
08/08 BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, BRUNSWICK VIC - 18+
23/08 THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD - 18+
28/08 THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA - 18+
04/09 CUBE 37 FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE, FRANKSTON VIC - ALL AGES U15s W ADULT
18/10 THE FACTORY THEATRE, MARRICKVILLE NSW - 18+
Tickets available from https://bachelorgirl.com/
Interview by Michelle Symes
April 2026
