Q&A: girli's Confessional Portrayal of Love, Growth & Ego With Her Latest EP ‘why am i like this??'
THROUGH AN ARTISTIC ENCOUNTER WITH THE NUANCES OF CONTEMPORARY LIFE — girli’s latest EP is all about the ever so relatable and indeed inevitable question of self-reflection, why am i like this?? Having started making music in her teens, the London-based singer-songwriter explores themes of queerness, identity, and self-expression through her artistry.
As girli blatantly confesses, her journey in the industry has been “anything but straightforward,” a sentiment beautifully and unapologetically crystallized by her expression of the universally renowned question for artist and listener alike, “why am i like this?” In an EP consisting of four songs embodying an intimate deep dive into relationships, growth, ego, and an abundance of nuanced emotions and intricacies of our everyday lives, girli’s confessional style is refreshingly authentic.
Rhythmically the use of the juxtaposition between lyrical despair and upbeat instrumentals, this unique contrast is undoubtedly representative of the memorable and poignant narrative composed by girli at the heights of her creativity and artistry.
Having recently performed sold out shows during her latest US tour and recent endeavors touring around Europe, girli’s continuous evolution throughout her artistry is starkly apparent. Read below to learn more about girli’s EP, why am i like this??, and her plans for the year ahead.
LUNA: Hey, girli! It’s so cool to be talking to you about your latest EP, why am i like this?? It’s a pretty relatable sentiment to have — I can literally hear myself saying it! (Laughs) I just wanted to start by asking if you could elaborate on your journey into the industry as an artist and how this evolved over time for you?
GIRLI: Hi! Oh yeah, same. Especially with the two question marks. My journey as an artist has been anything but straightforward. I started making music as a teenager, got signed to a big record label very young, released an album with them, and then got dropped and had to basically start again and figure out who I was as an artist and a person without a big team around me. I went independent, started releasing music on an indie label, and started to find success with songs, videos, and an online presence that felt so much more authentic to me. My biggest song, “More Than a Friend,” came out, and I started touring independently. Ever since, my fanbase has been growing so much. It’s been a long journey to get here, but I feel so happy with where I’m at as an artist!
LUNA: Breaking down the meanings and sentiments behind the songs on the EP, I wanted to start off by asking about “Cheap Love.” Can you touch upon the sonic element of the song and the process behind forming the instrumentals on the track?
GIRLI: The production of “Cheap Love” actually started off with me listening to “bellyache” by Billie Eilish on the way to the studio that day. I loved the repetitive soft rhythm of the guitar on that track, so we started the song with something similar. Because it’s such a happy topic, I wanted the production to feel uplifting and summery.
LUNA: Focusing a little more on the lyrical aspect of the EP, are you able to expand on the meaning behind “I Really Fucked It Up”? What was the inspiration behind the self-confessional style of the song?
GIRLI: All of my songs are confessionals, basically. The studio is my non-religious confession and the songs are my journal entries. That song is about me despairing over why I keep fucking up my romantic relationships and hurting people I love.
LUNA: In terms of the raw aspect of the lyricism of the EP, “Inner Child” is also a song that does not shy away from explicitly and boldly lamenting your feelings. Was there any particular inspiration behind this song in particular?
GIRLI: This song is about someone’s ego and immaturity getting in the way of you having something special. I wrote it about something I had with someone that could’ve been a relationship but didn’t end up going past the casual stage because they needed to grow up and I was already past that. Realizing that you’re this person’s therapist instead of their lover. The frustration and the sadness of someone not living up to who you’d hoped they’d be.
LUNA: Touching upon “Imposter syndrome” — which I think might be my favorite on the EP — the track seems to embody quite raw, emotional, and emotive lines, with lyrics such as “What if I’m a fake? It’s why I run away.” The deep dive into your emotions and the ever so relatable self-doubt are contrasted by upbeat, catchy instrumentals. Was this intentional? Why do you think it is important to create this juxtaposition between the lyrics and the sonic element of the song in this way?
GIRLI: So many of my songs do this. For me, I want to make songs people can scream and dance to because that’s my favorite way of feeling music … [it’s] like therapy for me. I do have slow, sad songs too, but mostly my songs are depressing but upbeat. I can imagine people jumping and singing on their bed to them or driving and belting the songs and getting all that pain and hurt out.
LUNA: Are there any particular thoughts or emotions you hope to evoke for listeners while listening to the EP?
GIRLI: That I’m still figuring everything out. And that I feel lost and confused most of the time, and that it’s okay for them to feel that too. Everyone is a work in progress.
LUNA: After selling out shows in your previous US tour and having just wrapped up your European tour, are there any other plans, projects, or tours you have for the year ahead that you would like to touch upon?
GIRLI: Yes! I just announced another headline US tour this fall, and I’m playing a bunch of festivals across Europe this summer that people can come see me at.
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