So going back to these formative influences, going back to the songs that really made me feel something, really reminded me of why I do this in the first place. It’s not for the success or the accolades or the commercial potential – it’s because I love music and I love making music. And I love the feeling that I get when I hear a song that really moves me. So going back to those influences was a way for me to reconnect with that pure love of music and creativity, and to remind myself that that’s the most important thing. It’s not about fitting into a certain mold or meeting certain expectations – it’s about being true to myself and my creative instincts.
And I think that’s ultimately what led to this album being so honest and raw and true to who I am as an artist. It allowed me to let go of those external pressures and just focus on what I love about music and why I do this in the first place. And I think that’s why this album feels so special to me – because it’s a true expression of who I am and what I love about music.
So yeah, going back to those formative influences was really a way for me to ground myself and reconnect with my true creative self, and I’m so grateful that I did because it really guided me through the writing and recording process of this album.
That’s amazing. It sounds like it was a really transformative experience for you as an artist.
Definitely. It was a reminder of why I do this in the first place, and it really helped me break through that writer’s block and reconnect with my creative instincts. And I think that’s why this album feels so special to me – because it’s a true reflection of who I am as an artist and what I love about music. It’s honest and raw and vulnerable, and I think that’s what makes it resonate with people. So yeah, it was definitely a transformative experience for me, and I’m so grateful that I went through it because it really helped me find my voice and create something that I’m really proud of.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us. It’s really inspiring to hear about your creative process and how you found inspiration in those formative influences. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the album or your journey as an artist?
Just that I hope people can listen to this album and feel something. I hope it resonates with them in some way and maybe helps them connect with their own creativity or emotions. I think music has a way of bringing people together and helping us feel less alone, and that’s what I hope this album can do for people. So yeah, I just hope that listeners can connect with the music and find something meaningful in it. Thank you for listening and for supporting independent artists like me. It means the world.
I was probably about three years old, and my mom would play Purple Rain on vinyl in our living room, and we would dance around. I think Prince is so interesting because he’s such a master of blending genres and sounds, and he’s someone who really follows his own vision. I think that’s something that I aspire to do as an artist. I love his lyricism, I love his production, I love his guitar playing. He’s just such a multifaceted artist. I think he’s also someone who really embodies that idea of authenticity and staying true to yourself. That’s something that I really admire and try to take with me in my own work.
How did his music influence the sound of Mirror Starts Moving Without Me?
There’s definitely some Prince influence in the album, especially in terms of the production and the sonic landscape. I think his ability to blend different genres and create something completely unique is something that I tried to channel in this album. I also think his fearlessness in pushing boundaries and experimenting with different sounds is something that I wanted to incorporate into my own music. Prince was never afraid to take risks and try new things, and that’s something that I really admire and wanted to emulate in this album.
Overall, I think Prince’s influence can be heard in the eclectic mix of sounds and styles on Mirror Starts Moving Without Me, as well as in the bold and adventurous approach to songwriting and production. He’s definitely been a huge inspiration to me as an artist, and I hope that his spirit shines through in the music on this album.
But seeing it on screen, seeing it externalized in that way, really helped me start to understand my own feelings and experiences with it. It made me realize that this idea of dissociation, of feeling like there’s a version of yourself that’s separate from you, is a universal experience. And it helped me start to explore that theme more deeply in the music and lyrics of the album.
The character in Perfect Blue goes through a similar journey of questioning her identity and feeling like she’s being controlled or manipulated by outside forces. And while my own experiences aren’t as extreme as hers, I think there are elements of that struggle that everyone can relate to. The film really helped me tap into that emotional core and express it in a way that felt authentic and true to my own experiences.
Overall, Perfect Blue was a huge inspiration for me during the making of this album. It helped me find the language and imagery to explore complex emotions and themes, and it gave me a deeper understanding of my own identity and the way it’s perceived by others. It’s a powerful film that continues to resonate with me, and I’m grateful for the impact it had on the creation of Mirror Starts Moving Without Me. It’s supposed to help process trauma and rewire your brain a bit. It’s not something I did a lot of, but it was helpful in the sense that it allowed me to process things that were really overwhelming to think about. It’s a way of compartmentalizing, in a sense, and moving past things that are hard to process on your own. It’s definitely something that I would consider doing more of in the future, because I think there’s a lot of value in processing things in a way that isn’t just talking through them. It’s more about activating different parts of your brain to help you process and move past things that are difficult to confront head-on. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Pom Pom Squad’s Mirror Starts Moving Without Me is out now via City Slang Records.
Mirror Starts Moving Without Me by Pom Pom Squad