Poppy Jean Crawford rides Cosmic Waves to "Glamorous" heights on Angel Olsen curated compilation
Rising star Poppy Jean Crawford is no stranger to the spotlight, building a reputation for incendiary live performances and chameleonic studio releases that span a wide breadth of styles, each executed with impressive skill and dedication. With the release of her latest single on the Angel Olsen curated Cosmic Waves Volume 1 compilation, Crawford continues her upward trajectory with clear-eyed confidence and a willing openness to further developing her craft in whichever direction her artistic impulses may take her.
TDR.B - What attracts you to making music?
Poppy Jean Crawford - It just comes out of me, it's so natural. I've always been a singer, I've always been a performer, I've always written songs. I've been writing songs since I was a little girl. It's an unspeakable bond.
TDR.B - Do you view being a musician as more of a job or more of a lifestyle? Or is it a little bit of both at times?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I think it's a lifestyle and a job, but it depends on how you present yourself. I’m a free spirit, it’s just who I am. I could be more business oriented, but I'm an artist. But when you're on tour, that’s hard work. You're just going, going, going.
TDR.B - Does your songwriting serve as a way for you to express yourself personally, or as a way of commenting on bigger picture topics?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I'm not much of a bigger picture writer. When I really got serious about writing music it wasn't like “oh, I'm going to be a musician,” it was an emotional release, I just started doing it. It's actually crazy to think about how quickly it all unfolded.
TDR.B - A lot of your work has a palpable sense of cinematic drama and glamorous tragedy. These are qualities that are often associated with LA and the idea of “Old Hollywood.” Do you feel like your environment influences your songwriting and your sound, or do you find your inspiration from other sources?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I do love movies and films, but it's the expression of me. That’s just how I am, I'm quite dramatic - heartbroken and in love!
Growing up in LA, the life I've led and all the things I've seen, of course that influences my sound. Last year I was living in London, and I feel like I stayed true to who I am. I didn't change my sound to fit into the London scene, but it's another level to the story - kind of like TV shows that have a London season.
TDR.B - Let's talk about “Glamorous,” your new single that's included on the Cosmic Waves Volume 1 compilation curated by Angel Olsen for her Jagjaguar imprint somethingscosmic. Is this an entirely new track that was written for the compilation or is it something that you had in your back pocket for a while?
Poppy Jean Crawford - That was one of first songs I ever wrote, and that was my first ever recording session when I was around 17. I scrapped the recording, I wasn't going to put it out. Angel [Olsen] heard it, she really loved the song and she wanted to release it.
TDR.B - “Glamorous” is packed with a lot of vivid imagery with a powerfully gothic, alt rock soundscape. It's quite different from the dance-y, synth-forward style of your 2023 EP The Takeover. Is there a common vision that's shared between these different styles, or do you consider your releases to be standalone personas?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I feel like music is changing now. There's just so much information and so many different styles we have at our fingertips. It's not like we all just listen to the radio.
Angel [Olsen] said she really likes that I kind of flow through genres. I'm not, like, “oh, I'm a psych band so I'm doing psych rock,” it's just what comes out. I'm a songwriter. I go through different inspirations, and I naturally make stuff.
Björk is a good reference of that. On her debut album, there's so many different styles of songs but it's all her. She's the common thread. I really admire her for that.
My goal is I want to make an album, but releasing music is so different now. It's all about singles. I’m in a place in my career where I can still experiment.
TDR.B - Do you think you'll continue down this harder, alt-rock path for a while or are you going to explore some new styles for your next releases?
Poppy Jean Crawford - In London I was doing a lot of pop music, dance songs. Then I felt a little confused because [“Glamorous”] was coming out, and I had that in the back of my head that I'm gonna put out this hard rock song.
I have a couple more recordings from that session that I might put out, but who knows. I might end up putting out a super psychedelic album, or a country record!
TDR.B - Angel Olsen covers your song, “The Takeover,” on the Cosmic Waves compilation. What's it like to have your work reinterpreted by an artist like her?
Poppy Jean Crawford - It's a cool thing, a cool compliment.
She brings out the lyrics. It's interesting hearing someone saying your words, it makes you reflect on what you're saying in a different way. I feel like she got the message of the song and highlighted that.
TDR.B - Your live shows they are remarkable, full of verve and passion. Are you more at home on the stage or in the studio?
Poppy Jean Crawford - They're so different, but I love them both. The studio is the practice, and the stage is the reward. I bring a similar energy to both, just openness. Being ready to receive, being ready to give.
With recording you work out all the bumps. When I was recording “One Time Hunny” I kept on redoing my vocals, I wanted to keep on singing and doing better. My friend Rayla [Delanova], who was playing in my band, and the producer at the end of the night were like, “you've been singing for 10 hours.” And I was like, “was I singing that long!?” That’s the same with a show. It’s all about what you’re gonna give.
TDR.B - In addition to Angel Olsen, you've worked and toured with some big names: Placebo, L.A. Witch, The Black Lips, just to name a few. What are some of your biggest takeaways as an emerging artist, having worked alongside bands like these?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I'm very lucky.
Touring is so essential for being a musician. It hones your craft in such a particular way. Seeing the bands play is amazing. My first tour was with Starcrawler and I feel like I learned from Arrow [de Wilde]. She's such an amazing performer.
With Placebo, that was just next level. That was a kick in the butt doing that tour, but it was amazing. We were driving in a little “mom car” all over the country. We would roll up to these huge venues in this little car. It was so funny, like, “beep beep - can someone help bring our amp in?”
TDR.B - Are there any artists that might be on your dream collaboration list? Especially considering that you like to explore all these different genres?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I would love to do a song with Father John Misty. He's an amazing songwriter. Oh my god, or Dojacat!
TDR.B - What's next for Poppy Jean Crawford? Are you working towards another EP or a full length, and can we look forward to more of your incendiary live sets?
Poppy Jean Crawford - I want to put out a full-length album, for sure. I haven't ever done that, and I'd love to do that. But I don't know what's next, you never know, but I want to be prepared for it!
Cosmic Waves Volume 1 is available now on vinyl and digital via somethingscosmic, here. Stream “Glamorous” on Spotify and follow Poppy Jean Crawford on Instagram.
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