Q&A: Pom Pom Squad Gets in Touch With Her True Self
POM POM SQUAD’S MIA BERRIN LOOKS IN THE MIRROR — as she reflects on how her life has changed since her debut album, Death of a Cheerleader, came out. The album’s release brought up anxieties around public perception. Now, she is set to release her second album, Mirror Starts Moving Without Me on October 25.
With this album, she acknowledges the expectations placed upon her and boldly defines her self-identity. She rooted the creation process in the idea of getting in touch with her younger self. By drawing inspiration from her favorite childhood movies and music, Berrin speaks as her most authentic self.
Berrin emerged from New York City’s DIY scene with Death of a Cheerleader’s punk-inspired indie rock sound. Now, she spans genres effortlessly. Mirror Starts Moving Without Me features everything from the haunting music-box melody of “Doll Song” to the campy, over-the-top fun of “Street Fighter.”
Recording in the iconic Electric Lady Studios brought out a new level of intensity in Berrin. She co-produced her previous record, but with a renewed sense of confidence, she took on a larger production role this time around. Working with co-producer Cody Fitzgerald, she felt free to experiment with different genres.
Berrin’s greatest inspiration for this album comes from stories of young women experiencing great changes: Alice in Wonderland, Sailor Moon, Perfect Blue, and Black Swan, to name a few. Her love for these movies helped her reach the emotional depths needed for this album. These stories of conflict and negotiating identity resonated deeply with Berrin. “The Tower,” which closes the album, sprouted from a moment of intense change and reflection. As she looks in the mirror and reflects on her growth over the last several years, Berrin grows into a stronger sense of herself. By getting in touch with herself, she learns to balance the public persona that she reflects.
Berrin’s ambition knows no bounds, and with this album, she reflects on how that ambition serves her. On the lead single “Downhill,” she negotiates her self-destructive ambition and her private self. Mirror Starts Moving Without Me is Berrin at her most free and vulnerable. She sheds the cheerleader costume that became her public image and emerges fully herself. Read below to step into her mirror world.
Photography Credit: Eliza Jouin
LUNA: Something I really admire about your work is how you cultivate such a clear aesthetic for each project. You’ve talked about really enjoying creating the world of an album. Where did you find inspiration for the world of Mirror Starts Moving Without Me?
BERRIN: When I was making the album, I knew that I was exploring a huge range of emotions. A lot of the album deals with the idea of feeling lost within and finding a way back to myself. I found visual inspiration in my childhood by reflecting on it in therapy sessions. Alice In Wonderland is probably the biggest visual inspiration for the project. I play with a lot of darker themes on the album, so it’s an interesting contrast.
LUNA: In terms of getting in touch with your younger self while working on this album, I saw that you made a playlist of your all-time favorite songs from childhood to now. What are some of those songs?
BERRIN: It’s all songs or artists that changed my view of music in some way. So there’s “Lolita” by Prince, and then there’s music by The Beatles, The Sugarhill Gang, Ben Folds, Weezer, Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé and FKA twigs. It’s really all over the place!
LUNA: You’ve worn some stunning outfits throughout the album promo cycle. I particularly loved the outfit you wore for your friends and family listening party! What role does fashion play in your work?
BERRIN: I think that fashion is one of the easiest forms of self-expression in day-to-day life. Of course, the outfits I’m wearing on stage aren’t for day-to-day. I love crafting my image through fashion, and I love working with independent designers.
The corset I wore for the listening party was made by a brand called Sourpez. I worked with a designer named Meg Beck for the album looks, so she did the outfits for the album cover and the record packaging. A designer named Bailey Elayne did some other outfits I’ve worn for this album, including the “Downhill” single cover.
LUNA: You’re in the middle of a small Northeast tour right now, and you have a 2024 Europe tour and a Spring U.S. tour coming up. How have these first few shows been?
BERRIN: It’s great so far! I love seeing people react to some of the new songs we’re playing.
LUNA: Any particular favorite songs to play live?
BERRIN: “Street Fighter” is a lot of fun! And then there are some songs on the album that we’ve been having a lot of fun with in rehearsals that aren’t quite ready yet. But, they’ll be ready for the next legs of the tour!
LUNA: You described “Street Fighter” as the “goofiest and most fun song you’ve ever written,” and you leaned into nostalgic video game visuals. What was it like working on such a fun song?
BERRIN: It was one of the earliest songs that we made. I knew that I wanted a fun song, especially because most of the album deals with more difficult themes. When I wrote it, I was having trouble accessing that fun side of myself. Cody Fitzgerald, my co-producer, and I ended up staying up until five A.M. just working on it, and the delirious songwriting helped that fun side come out! There was such a joy in being stupid with the writing.
LUNA: You’ve said that “the album title is inspired by a horror movie trope and relates to the uncanny feeling of seeing yourself reflected — both literally and figuratively.” Can you talk more about that experience of seeing yourself reflected in the public eye?
BERRIN: It’s a common horror trope where a character is looking in the mirror, and then the reflection does something that the character doesn’t. It usually symbolizes a change going on in that character. When I was working on this album, I felt disconnected from the persona that I present as an artist. In real life, I’m more shy and reserved, so it’s a little strange that I’ve chosen a job that requires me to put myself out there so publicly.
I think it’s part of the work as an artist to interrogate how your sense of self changes and ask yourself “Who am I?” with each project. I know who I am in my day-to-day life, but it’s very different from who I am when I’m performing. With this album, I’ve gone through an important change in how I see art.
LUNA: On “Tarot Interlude,” you say “It’s unsettling because it shows that no matter her plans for herself, a divine act can completely uproot everything.” On “The Tower,” you sing about feeling like your sense of self has been completely uprooted. How does tarot help you make sense of your experiences?
BERRIN: I started reading tarot in high school. My best friend is really into tarot and reading birth charts, so she pulls cards for me. It’s actually her voice on “Tarot Interlude!” I wouldn’t say that I’m religious, but I’m definitely spiritual. Tarot is a way to ground myself and make sense of my life.
I had done this reading, and I pulled the tower card, which represents an intense change. I didn’t really know what to make of it at the time, but as I’ve looked back, I can see a lot of stuff that came from that reading. I’ve been through a lot of major life changes, and that reading has stuck with me through all of it. “The Tower” is a reflection on that reading and how my life has changed since then.
LUNA: You lead up to your album announcement by sharing puzzles on social media for your fans to solve. How did you come up with this idea?
BERRIN: I knew that I wanted the promo to be fun, but also something that I could easily put together myself. We did a lot of word games in the studio, especially The New York Times games like Connections and the Spelling Bee. I’m super competitive, and I take a lot of pride in getting good at something, so I got really into it. When it was time to come up with ways to promote the album, the word games just felt like a very organic choice.
LUNA: You’re a huge cinephile, so what was it like to have your song “Shame Reactions” in the movie Do Revenge?
BERRIN: It was so great! I think that movie soundtracks are really special. I got really lucky as an artist, which doesn’t always happen, to have my music in something that I love. It was just such a fun movie, I would’ve loved it even if my music wasn’t in it!
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