Minneapolis-based musician "Honeygrl" pursues pop-punk fame

 Abbey Doerre, a 23-year-old local punk rock musician who releases music under the moniker “honeygrl,” performed at the University of Minnesota’s Whole Music Club Feb. 13 for the second round of the Spring Jam Battle of the Bands. She mainly performed singles from her 2025 extended play “Chrysalis.” 

Doerre said she primarily focuses on her musical career after learning recording and production software at Rochester Community and Technical College. Doerre briefly majored in the college’s early childhood care and education program before pivoting to music creative technologies.

“I would love to do this for the rest of my life,” Doerre said. “I feel like as long as I can remember, there isn't really anything else I've ever wanted more.”

In her childhood, Doerre wrote song lyrics in her notebook, participated in choir and learned to play guitar when she was 14-years-old. 

Doerre said after taking a break from her degree, she worked as a barista while performing at open-mic nights. She released her first song on streaming services Dec. 2022.

After moving to Minneapolis from Rochester April 2024, Doerre formed her band including Leo and Kelsey Kopper, both of whom she lives with. Doerre has known Kelsey Kopper, who plays bass for the group, since high school.

Leo Kopper, Doerre’s guitarist, said he admired her energy, and her ambition to study performances of musicians to develop her on-stage persona.

“She wants to go all the way,” Kopper said.

Doerre said she takes inspiration from alternative rock and pop artists such as Avril Lavigne, Hayley Williams, Billie Eilish and Chappelle Roan, whom she commends for their appeal within the LGBTQ+ community. 

Doerre said the freedom she felt after leaving a long-term relationship where her partner did not recognize her bisexual identity, influenced the themes and lyrics of “Chrysalis.”

Doerre said her song “Lillie” was inspired by a lesbian experience that was formative to her perception of bisexual relationships.

“Being able to create, like, your story in music is so amazing,” Doerre said. “Like in something that you can listen to and be like, ‘damn, I relate to all of this’ because it literally happened to you.”

Doerre said she aspires to release a full album, perform out of state and appear at major local venues such as First Avenue or 7th Street Entry.