Q&A: An Ode to the Future, Kristiane Creates Modern Nostalgia With ‘State Lines’
CONFIDENT IN THE VISION AND POETIC IN NATURE — Kristiane is an artist to the fullest extent. Her EP State Lines, released on Aug. 26, comes after her successful debut, I Miss Myself, Sometimes. This project is amazing. From crying my eyes out to “I’ll Call” to screaming alone in my bedroom to “April Showers,” Kristiane captures the innate struggle of finding yourself in your twenties, the longing of connection when battling mental illness, and the anxiety that comes with relationships. Produced by Cooper Holzman, State Lines is an ode to the future, a message that there is a light at the end of the tunnel regardless of where you are now. With standout visuals, punchy lyrics, and an anthemic heart, State Lines evokes a nostalgia that keeps you coming back for more.
Read below to learn more about Kristiane’s process of creating the EP, the themes State Lines explores, and more.
LUNA: Congrats on State Lines! What does this EP mean to you?
KRISTIANE: Everything. State Lines was born out of a feeling of restlessness and a need for discovery. The beginning writing phases of the project began at the end of college, a period where I didn’t have concrete answers on what the next phase of my life would hold. Building this world offered a therapeutic outlet, somewhere to put my budding feelings of longing, anxiety, fear, etc. The roadtrip element of the project is both literal and metaphorical. Literally speaking, I wanted to leave where I had grown up, but also figuratively speaking I was exploring different aspects of myself and my life through these songs. The unraveling of these feelings and stories kind of emulated a road trip for me, except I’m still not sure what it means to return home in a lot of ways. TBD on where I end up next.
LUNA: My partner’s favorite track on the EP is “Three Friends.” Can you talk to me more about that song?
KRISTIANE: It’s a really vulnerable song, which actually made me apprehensive at first about its inclusion on the project. It’s about when you find something or someone that’s pure and good, you want to attach yourself wholly. What’s interesting to me about this song is that it is a love song in its purest form I suppose, but it’s also infused with insecurity, loneliness, reflection of a past cycle of mistreatment, etc. It was written out of a place of isolation in a lot of ways, because I felt unattached to anybody else in the same way I did my partner. But, it’s also me leaning into that, and leaning into the feeling of security I had created with someone really important to me. I tend to be very self-critical, so when I find comfort with someone, it’s freeing.
LUNA: I find that theme of overcomplication and self-induced anxiety a lot in your album. Even in the song “Before The Night is Over” with Carold Ades, you’re questioning who has it out for you. Is that something you struggle with?
KRISTIANE: I definitely struggle with anxiety and overthinking as a person, maybe less so as an artist in some ways. I feel as I continue to develop I have more of an assurance as to what I want my music to sound and look like, and I’m starting to give myself room to grow without judgment. “Before The Night is Over” is a really special song to me on the project because it came from a place of catharsis. I had written an outline of the chorus at a time where I felt really lost and alone, but was looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. I brought a general song idea to Carol and we wrote it very quickly in her living room. I felt so much less alone after. (Sidenote- Carol is the best writer and human being, what a dream to work with her.)
LUNA: We discussed how you explore the gray areas of love. I felt that a lot in “Trying to Find Us.”
KRISTIANE: It came from a place of exhaustion. Relationships are beautiful, but they do take work. You are choosing every day to show up for someone. At the time I wrote this song, I was having a hard time establishing boundaries and showing up for myself. “Trying to Find Us” is an open dialogue with myself and my partner, trying to find some sort of clarity.
It’s kind of scary to talk about any type of relationship (platonic or romantic), publicly because people tend to think in black and white. I can be really happy in a dynamic and have moments of sadness — that’s just being human. A lot of my music is about fluctuations in identity as well.
LUNA: My favorite tracks on the EP are “Trying To Find Us” and “I’ll Call.” What was the journey like creating and finding an order for these songs?
KRISTIANE: “I’ll Call” is my favorite song on the EP as well. Originally, it wasn’t on the final tracklist for the project. We had a tentative collection of songs, and were starting to build the visual world for the project, when I realized something was missing. I had written the chorus for “I'll Call” months prior, but didn’t bring it into the studio out of fear, I think. I ended up bringing the song to both Cooper Holzman (executive producer of the project) and Cameron Hale, and told them I wanted it to feel vulnerable and quietly anthemic. I wanted it to be the sort of song you cry in your bedroom to, because those are the songs that have stuck with me the most in my life. After it was finished, I knew it had to be the closing song on the project.
LUNA: Was there anything you didn’t feel comfortable at first putting on the album?
KRISTIANE: “April Showers.” It’s really personal to me, it actually was the first song I wrote that ended up on the final tracklist of the project. Sonically, I explored a new side of myself as well which can be intimidating, but I’m really happy with the way it turned out.
LUNA: A lot of the images in your album remind me of childhood. What are you most nostalgic for from that time period?
KRISTIANE: I’m literally the most sentimental person on the planet. My apartment is covered in postcards and snow globes from the places I’ve been. I grew up by the beach in California, and sometimes I think about riding my bike or hanging out by the bluffs. I also drove at night a lot as a teenagr to clear my head, and I still do that frequently. . Every time I release new music, I take a drive late at night listening to it. I get Sour Patch Straws and Topo Chico… maybe some hot Cheetos too.
LUNA: In “Three Friends,” you mention having a perfect day. What’s been one of the best days for you?
KRISTIANE: I visited my twin sister in college in Boston and we took the train to see my stepsister in Rhode Island. We walked around Rhode Island after it rained, and it was fall so the air was crisp but the sun was out, (my favorite.) There was something very nostalgic about it, but for the first time in a long time I didn’t want to be anywhere else but in that moment. We didn’t even do anything but walk and get coffee and talk , but we didn’t need to. Those are the best kinds of days.
LUNA: What are you looking forward to?
KRISTIANE: For people to listen to this EP and hopefully feel seen or understood. Also to perform live — I’m so excited.
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