Welcome to In Conversation, a special interview column on the site where we sit down with artists and dive deep into everything music. This week, Joe spoke with Pauli Mia of Twin Princess, discussing their recent singles “Allston” and “Violets“, their upcoming LP Blood Moon and appearing on hate5six.
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Joe: How does it feel to be releasing music again?
Pauli: It feels great, we have had the fully mastered and finished product for quite some time now. However, various things kept happening that caused delays in releasing it. It’s a relief to finally see everything coming together, and I’m excited to release the songs to the world. One of the exciting things is that I’ve come full circle from feeling tired of the project right after completing it, to feeling confident and proud of it again. I’m excited to share it with everyone.
Joe: Were their any particular reasons behind the delays?
Pauli: It’s a little bit of everything. The record was mostly written during the lockdown, the mixing and mastering process didn’t take too long, as we recorded it all at home while working. However, it was a slow process of putting together each component of the songs, rather than working from demos and banging it out. Figuring out how to release it was also challenging – there’s been so many delays for artists, and an explosion of new music, so finding when there’s space to put out an album is tricky. I’ve come to realize that the most important thing is having it out and being able to use it as a reference point, which will feel great.
Joe: What was the response to “Allston” like?
Pauli: The response to “Allston” has been positive. I’ve received messages from many friends who have heard it before, as well as from new listeners who are excited and didn’t know that an album was coming out. There have also been a few write-ups about it in small magazines, which is nice. Overall, it’s very exciting and invigorating, but also a little terrifying.
Joe: Well, I think everyone experiences that kind of feeling, especially when you sign up for something. It can be terrible, like wondering if people will like it. I can imagine that, even though I’ve never released music, because it’s probably a pretty unnerving experience, especially the day before.
Pauli: Yeah, it’s certainly a lot to deal with and a vulnerable position to put yourself in. You’re essentially exposing yourself to people who might not like it or have a negative opinion. Overall, it’s been positive. For example, there was a specific Boston write-up for my song about Boston, Massachusetts. It was nice to exchange memories with people I spent time with when I lived there.
Joe: Violets is out this coming Tuesday, what’s the story or narrative behind that song?
Pauli: That song is about trying to get what you want. It’s a manifestation of the feeling of yearning for something, but knowing that you’ll get it when you’re ready and the time is right. It’s a little bit like crying at the club, but also feeling the strength of the yearning for romance or getting laid. The manifestation of making it happen comes from sitting in that yearning.
Joe: Has their been an intentional shift in tone on the new material, in terms of being more assertive and less atmospheric?
Pauli: The previous EP started out as a fun recording project and a lot of the lyrics came from old poems I had written in undergrad. With this new album, there are some more atmospheric and esoteric moments in terms of production and lyrics, but I’m still interested in making sure my pop sensibilities are upfront. It’s always an effort to try to be more direct in my writing, I love pop music and want to incorporate it into my music.
Joe: Is there a sense of exploring the cycle of emotions in Blood Moon?
Pauli: Yes, there’s definitely an emphasis on catharsis in a lot of my music, including the previous EP. There’s a sense of needing to continue on despite the cycle of emotions and the past. Part of it is just growing older and realizing that, despite feeling like your world ends over and over again, you have to keep moving forward. I’m glad that came through in the music and writing.
Joe: Do you feel Blood Moon is a launching pad for Twin Princess?
Pauli: Yes, definitely. I’m excited to have the album out as a way to showcase the kind of pop music that Twin Princess wants to make and to move forward with a full band. We’ve been working on writing together and I’m looking forward to whatever comes next. The album feels like a path forward and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Joe: What’s your general feeling going into it? I know it’s just about a month away on May 26th. So, what are your emotions now heading into it?
Pauli: I mean, I feel a general excitement and relief to be finally having it out. At the same time, I feel a little overwhelmed with all the things I have to do, like preparing for the album release shows on May 27th. I want it to be a spectacle as much as possible, and Philamoca, the venue where the show will take place, is really cool. If you ever come to Philly, you should definitely check it out. So, I’m excited, but my excitement is tempered by the need to take care of all the little details. I don’t think it will hit me until after the show is over.
Joe: Have you been mostly doing this DIY and how has that been?
Pauli: Yeah, I’ve been working with Lucky Bird Media for some PR stuff. They’re based in Philly, and I know some people there. Other than that, I worked with Heather Jones from So Big Auditory for mixing the record, and Elaine Rasnake (Daughterboard Audio) for mastering it. The video was all DIY, with the help of a friend who is a videographer. I love to be in control of the details and have big dreams to make it happen. I think it will happen, but I need to make sure I take care of everything.
Joe: What was the story behind the Hate5Six recording?
Pauli: Well, that was a funny show. It was also at Philamoca, the first time I played there, with Posture and The Grizzly, a cool pop punk/emo band. We were excited but a little puzzled to be put on the bill with them. It was supposed to be with Harmony Woods, a local Philly musician, but she couldn’t make it. Various things happened during the show, and it was just funny to play. I think someone hit up Sunny from Hate5Six on Twitter, saying he should come to the Posture show in Philly, and he showed up. I knew about Hate5Six from being adjacent to emo hardcore, but I didn’t think the video would get posted. When it did, I felt great. We have a high-quality video of a set that sounds pretty good, and it’s a fun and funny set. There were some mishaps but mostly I remember having a ton of fun playing that show. I was worried that it might be the wrong audience for our sound, but that was unfounded. If anyone doesn’t like it, they can move on to the next thing. There’s an insane amount of content that Hate5Six puts out. People mostly reached out and said it was really cool to see different genres represented, and that we were cool. It was nice to reach a broader audience.
Joe: What have you been listening to recently?
Pauli: I have been listening to a lot of Andy Shauf’s album, “The Party” lately. I’ve also been into Broken Social Scene recently. I think it’s because the weather has been gloomy, and I’ve been in the mood for that 2000s indie rock sound. Additionally, I’ve been obsessed with this band from Richmond called Belly of the Heart, who are a freshman Richmond, Virginia band. Their music is completely wild, with a four-on-the-floor beat and a sleazy, freaky club vibe. It’s electronic dance music, and it’s very cool. They just released an album called Leech!.
Many thanks to Pauli for answering our questions about the new singles and upcoming record which you can pre-order here.