Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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It gotweird, nostalgic, and duh pretty gay.
We all have those pressures.
But I think, looking back on my career, it has been a challenge for me.
So its about resisting that.
Its about having confidence.
None of us are here to play it small, or to not live authentic lives.
That is a complex question.
Like, Oh No, [or] Primadonna.
Its kind of like a trade of my songwriting now at this point.
[That] or [How to Be a] Heartbreaker.
Those songs really helped me establish a huge gay, LGBTQ fan base.
[Primadonna], I think … okay.
So, gay culture gets camp humor very well and utilizes it very well.
And Ive always [had that same attitude toward camp] ever since I was young.
So Primadonna is like a celebration of that; its also a celebration of being feminine and being contrary.
And thats something that I think me and my gay family always really connected on.
Frootsong that most resonates with you now
Happy, for sure.
Sometimes its nice to just be struggling with something, to surrender to it.
But that really felt like a place of surrender for me.
And it marks a change in my life at that time.
I was still relatively new as an artist at that point.
And they thought that I was singing those songs unironically.
So, it was quite hard.Frootwas a liberating album to make because I made it on my own.
Thats probably [the album] closest to my heart.
So thats [my] choice.
I know fan communities do, but I dont.
I havent been a typical top-ten, singles-charting artist; thats just never been one of my main goals.
So thats the biggest misconception I feel so happy with the path that Ive created for myself.
Weirdest lyric
Ahh!
Theres loads onElectra Heart.
I like painting images; I love setting the scene for someone.
Which [also] suited the Teen Idle concept.
For an older song, Id probably say Froot.
It was so fun to make, and my whole album was built around that song.
I think its one of the best displays of my songwriting and melodic identities.
Heartbreaker rule you still follow
I think theres only one left, which is rule No.
1 is that youve got to have fun.
All of the other ones Ive grown out of, unfortunately.
[Not] pure anymore.
[Laughs]
Most technically challenging song to sing live
This whole next record [laughs].
Im like,Why do I do this myself?
Im the one writing, I could do simpler melodies.
Do I have to jump octaves every ten seconds?Yeah, this album is hard.
Purge the Poison is quite hard, Venus Fly Trap, as well.
Theyre just so fast.
Its just … you kind of need time on tour to mold your voice around certain songs.
Hopefully by the time I get on tour, I have managed it.
Welshest song
I would say I Am Not a Robot.
Its a soft, super-beautiful ballad.
Thats what Welsh people are known for, big ballads.
[But] that was just so [ingrained]in our psyche at the time, I felt.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
