Killing Heidi: ‘Reflector’ in Retrospect
A quarter-century after Reflector reshaped Australian alt-rock and became an anthem for the 2000s, Killing Heidi’s Ella and Jesse Hooper return to the road. Ahead of their Adelaide show, the siblings reflect on the legacy that launched a lifetime in music.
Words Dakota Griffiths // Photo Michelle Grace Hunder
When Reflector hit the airwaves in 2000, Killing Heidi weren’t just Australia’s next big thing – they were already the soundtrack that defined a generation. Teenagers Ella and Jesse Hooper poured their unfiltered emotions into a record that felt like a mirror to young Australians everywhere. Now, 25 years on, the siblings are hitting the road once again, ready to revisit the album that started it all.
Reminiscing on the Reflector era, emotions run high.
“Pride and gratitude,” Jesse reflects. “It was such a special moment that we got to be a part of. It wasn’t just all about us. Of course, we were there to make the music and perform it, but the way it connected people was so special.”
“[That] connection and the result gave us our whole career,” Ella adds. “It’s the reason we are here 25 years later. The process was almost like the education I’d been waiting for – no offence high school – but this was real education for me. It was learning the ropes of recording, running a band and navigating other people’s creativity.”
Ella was 17 when Reflector was released (she started writing the LP at only 13); the sibling’s youth and industry inexperience turned out to be their strength. Songs like ‘Mascara’ and ‘Superman/ Supergirl’ feel like unfiltered journal entries – poetic, angsty and set to soaring alt-rock riffs; ‘Live Without It’ pulsed with defiant urgency; ‘Astral Boy’ revealed flashes of teenage vulnerability. However, it was runaway track ‘Weir’ that encapsulated the spirit of the project. It was the one of the last songs written for the LP – a conscious attempt to distil the record’s electrifying mood into one defining “flagship song”.
The raw surge of teenage emotion at the heart of Reflector weren’t softened by industry hands either. Instead, Killing Heidi were given the rare freedom to channel their unfiltered feelings into powerful, honest lyrics that resonated deeply with listeners. “As the lyricist, I was really lucky people could see it was something pretty special and to not mess with that too much,” reflects Ella.
Reflector’s trail blazed bright. It took six months for the album’s first single, ‘Weir’, to hit No.5 on the ARIA charts – by then, the anthem had crowned Killing Heidi Australia’s most electrifying band, ready to ignite. When the LP dropped in March 2000, their cult following exploded into mainstream triumph. Reflector smashed records as Australia’s fastest-selling album, ruling the charts at No.1 for seven weeks and going five- times platinum. The band scored seven ARIA nominations, taking home four – including Album of the Year.
At the time, the siblings say they “didn’t realise the impact the album would have”. But now, away from the cloud of instinct and urgency, what they created is finally clear. “There’s an emotional element to this 25-year reunion,” Ella says. “And it’s really hitting hard. There’s a whole cycle [its] gone through – childhood, teenage, middle age I had trouble analysing [Reflector]… because it was quite intense. I think we’re only getting our heads around it now.”
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Their anniversary tour will begin where their legacy still holds strong: Adelaide. Kicking off at The Gov, the choice to start the tour in SA wasn’t just a logistical one, but a nod to a city that’s always shown up for them. “We love The Gov,” Jesse says. “We’ve played there five or six times over 20 years; we always have a great night there.”
That strong connection to fans has carried them through Reflector, career changes and creative shifts, including the formation of their folk project The Verses, in 2009. When asked about the disbanding of Killing Heidi and the formation of their second project, Ella says: “We just needed a break. We’d been in the band since we were 15 and 13, so for us, it felt like we needed to try something else. It was a direction we needed to take, to grow as people and musicians.”
The creation of The Verses provided Ella and Jesse with a plethora of opportunities – including the development of an 11-track LP and touring with Fleetwood Mac. “I think it was an enriching journey,” she continues. “At first some people were questioning what we were doing and why we would check out of the nationally known brand of Killing Heidi that Australia came to love. But we just needed change, and I really wanted to work on my songwriting. The Verses allowed me to explore a different kind of writing with lots of narrative.”
With Reflector back in the spotlight and fans lining up for the anniversary tour, the big question remains: Could this reunion spark new Killing Heidi material?
“We haven’t had much time to even think about it!” Jesse laughs. Ella elaborates that while they have been busy with their own projects and haven’t considered creating new music, “it’s definitely not a no; we haven’t got anything planned, but who knows! In this weird world, the book isn’t closed yet. But maybe a book is more likely at this stage.”
Whatever the next chapter brings, Reflector remains a defining release – not just for Killing Heidi, but for a generation who grew up beside Ella and Jesse. Two decades on, the siblings aren’t chasing nostalgia. They’re revisiting the raw intensity that sparked it all, this time with fresh eyes and a deeper appreciation. That teen urgency may have mellowed, but its spirit still pulses through every lyric, reminding them of just how far they’ve come.
Killing Heidi play The Gov on June 20, supported by Siobhan Cotchin & Hassall. Tickets are sold out.
