I’m feeling amazing, I hope all is well with you as well!
What are you doing right now and where?!
I am in London, sitting in my living room with my cat, drinking a coffee, answering some lovely questions you have for me :)
What made you want to be a songwriter and artist?
As cliche as it sounds, I’ve been dreaming about being a pop star since I was a kid. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized it was something that I genuinely enjoyed doing and felt like I could do forever. I love writing music because it allows me to connect with people all over the world regardless of our differences. I knew I wanted to do this for a long time based on my experiences in various music fan communities, it’s always been a dream of mine to have my own safe space where anyone is welcome to be who they are.
What inspires your sound?
My sound is inspired by blending the past and the present. I love feeling nostalgic but also love the excitement that comes with listening to something I’ve never heard before. I’m unapologetic about what I enjoy and if I can somehow mix it all together and make it my own, then I’ve done my job well.
You are based in London but you were born in Philadelphia in the US - what inspired you to make the move?
London to me was and will always be the coolest city ever. When I first came here in 2015 I just felt like I was home. There is so much to do and so many cool places to be and people to meet. A lot of my favourite artists growing up were from the UK– my parents raised me on Queen, Depeche Mode, and the Beatles and I eventually grew to find artists like the Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me the Horizon, Florence and the Machine, Amy Winehouse, and One Direction… I made the move in 2018 to get my bachelor's in song writing and the rest is history!
What is the music scene like in London? How does it differ to the scene in Philly? Any favourite venues/ clubs?
The music scene in London is very diverse, there are always gigs being put on of various different genres it would be impossible for me to cover it all. My experience of going to a music university however really helped me get to know some of the up and coming alternative rock scenes. There are some really talented and amazing people making their way up and I’m happy to be a part of it. Some of my favourite venues are shutting down because of the pandemic and it really breaks my heart to see, but some are still standing!! The Fiddler's Elbow, Camden Assembly, the Dublin Castle, The Hope and Anchor, just to name a few. Anyone who is a fan of alternative music, please come out to some local gigs, it’s always a great time.
I didn’t get to spend much time in Philly as an adult to fully scope out the scene but I remember there being a huge alternative rock scene in the northeast of America in general. That however can fully be connected to the fact that I was a warped tour kid though. I would love to get back there and check it out soon!
Who would your dream collaboration be with?
Every time someone asks me this question I get excited because I really have so many people I’d love to collaborate with. Lately, I’ve been dreaming of a collab with YUNGBLUD. I think we have a similar message that we want to send to our audiences and I think his music is super catchy and fun. Plus his voice is insanely good.
Where did the name of your EP "shopping for smiles“ come from?
It actually started as a bit of a joke. My friends and I often come up with silly band names that we would likely never use, but when shopping for smiles came about I actually really liked it. I kept it in my notes for about 3 years and it finally came in handy. Shopping for smiles is searching for happiness and the EP is a journey of all the failed attempts.
Tell us why you decided to release the single ‘frankenstein heart’ from your EP. What is the song about?
Of all the songs on the EP, frankenstein heart is the song that feels the most like priestess. The concept of frankenstein heart is meant to represent the fear of piecing together a broken heart, only for it to be broken again. It is scary being vulnerable and as I said in the song, i’m so tired. It’s exhausting, sometimes it feels like no one actually cares for one another anymore. I wanted this song to have it’s own moment because I know from conversations with many of my peers that I am not alone in this feeling.
Do you have any plans to play gigs this year?
Yes! I am planning on playing some gigs in and around London here and there throughout the rest of the year so please stay tuned on my socials for announcements about that.
What's the best gig you’ve ever been to and why?
This is such a tough question! I’ve been lucky enough to have been to some incredible gigs, but my favourite has been my first the 1975 concert in 2016. They have such a strong concept for their art between the visuals, the writing, and the live arrangement that I really just couldn’t look away. I was in awe that entire show– every time since then I’ve always been happy to see them live whenever possible.
What are your plans for the next few months?
I’ll be writing some new music for the next few months, and working on some collaborations, hopefully, all to be released in the near future. I’m excited to see where the next project takes me. I can’t wait to show everyone a new side of me.
Thanks for speaking to us – where can people find out more about you?
Of course, anytime :) you can find me @priestesstunes on all socials.
Check out priestess on below.