Halloween, Being Underrated & More

With two new singles — “Pure” and “House and Pussy” — gaining traction, Kiana Ledé is able to ship much more to her followers. The L.A.-based singer stopped by Billboard‘s NYC workplace for an episode of Billboard Gaming, simply in time for the discharge of her Reduce Ties album arrival on Friday (Nov. 1).

In Reduce Ties, Kiana Ledé delves deeply into the complexities of anxious and avoidant attachment types, reflecting on the methods relationships can supply each consolation and ache, shaping one’s emotional responses over time. The album invitations listeners to expertise a journey by love’s emotional spectrum—from the safety and closeness of a relationship’s early phases to the eventual sense of detachment and heartbreak which will observe.

We confronted off with the singer-songwriter in a number of rounds of Mario Kart whereas discussing the inspiration behind her album, her love for Halloween and Excessive College Musical and extra.

You simply dropped two new singles, “Pure” and “House and Pussy.” Are you able to dive into the themes of self-assurance and womanhood? What’s the inspiration for these tracks? 

Ooh, “House and Pussy” and “Pure.” I imply, I feel they’re fairly reverse of one another, simply because “Pure” is about feeling so snug with the person who you’re with that you’d do something—wink wink—with them.

After which “House and Pussy” is like, I gave you my p—y, and I gave you area, and, like, what extra might anyone ask for? And also you’re silly since you f—ked it up. They’re fairly reverse, however they each should do with p—y, I assume.

Is {that a} surrounding theme for the album?

P—y?  

Yeah.

[Laughs.] Yeah, I imply, I really feel like p—y is sort of a theme of my life.

And why is that?

I simply suppose p—y is gorgeous. I feel my p—y is gorgeous. I feel different individuals’s p—ies are stunning. P—y, normally, is only a stunning a part of life. It provides us life, you understand?

You additionally just lately dropped a visualizer for “Pure”. What was the artistic course of for that?

I needed to do one thing, like, type of spooky as a result of, clearly, spooky is my favourite style—horror is my favourite style. I like spooky season. But additionally, one in all my first performing jobs was Zoe in Scream [the show], and, spoiler alert, I die in Scream. And I liked dying — it was so enjoyable — and I needed to both be the villain or die once more and produce that again. Ultimately, I need to write my very own horror film, and I need to, like, I don’t know, simply… it’s one thing that I’m actually obsessed with.

So, the “Pure” video, I used to be like, “Why don’t I simply get again into the horror bag?” as a result of I do know persons are going to be excited to see me doing horror stuff once more too.

Music is supposed to be skilled, and everybody interprets songs and albums otherwise. However with this album particularly, what message, thought, or theme would you like your listeners to remove?

I feel I would like them to take heed to the story. This album can be a story. It’s a message about how nice issues can go horribly fallacious. I feel one thing actually necessary to remove is the story of me discovering out who I have to hold in my life and who doesn’t should be in it faster than I’ve previously, and hopefully that evokes different individuals to do the identical.

I heard this album can be impressed by like your ardour for Halloween, is that appropriate?

Yeah, I like Halloween.

How has loving Halloween influenced this album? 

I imply, clearly, it was good timing as a result of it’s spooky season.

I made that one thing that was part of what we have been doing as a result of I needed to have the ability to rejoice. Like, for me, there are solely two holidays yearly: my birthday and Halloween. And so, I take it very critically. I used to be excited to doubtlessly launch an album on Halloween.

So, the entire 12 months is Halloween aside from my birthday. Then it’s my birthday, and the remainder of the 12 months is Halloween. I like spooky. I grew up watching horror motion pictures and having horror film marathons with my sister and my dad and simply at all times being drawn to darker issues normally in life.

I simply love issues that folks don’t actually like to speak about. It pursuits me. I observe Creepy.org on Twitter, and I’m simply actually drawn to issues which can be scary or that folks don’t need to speak about. It simply excites me. So, I used to be excited to deliver somewhat little bit of that into this album and the visible half.

I’m not used to having a good suggestion for the visible artistic a part of the album as a result of I’m not a really visible individual. However as soon as I added that facet of horror and introduced that spookiness into it, I used to be like, “Oh, I received this. Increase, growth, growth. That is what we’re doing.”

So, did that concept additionally affect the duvet?

I’m an enormous Pinterest individual. I like Pinterest. So, I had a Pinterest board, and I used to be simply placing collectively various things which can be type of on the darker aspect that should do with the themes of the songs on the album. And ropes have been one, particularly as a result of “Reduce Ties” — we even have one other tune known as “Too Many Strings.” And typically relationships could be scary, you understand?

I do know I’ve been in all these relationships in my life, so we took the ropes to indicate, “I’m caught on this state of affairs, however I’m about to chop the s—t. Don’t fear about it; I’ll be good.”

You latterly went unbiased — why?

I feel I used to be simply prepared for one thing totally different. I’ve been in label conditions, main label conditions, since I used to be 15,14,15. And I used to be prepared to only be capable of make extra of my very own decisions. And I actually got here into this new period of getting freedom. So now I simply actually totally have all the liberty.

Do you suppose this album represents freedom in a way?

Yeah, I’d say so. I imply, even within the album, I’m breaking free from the individual within the relationship and from friendships that I’ve had that I’ve simply wanted to chop ties with earlier on than I did. So, yeah, I assume it represents the liberty that I’ve to decide on.

Going unbiased is an enormous step for any artist. What challenges have you ever confronted since?

Truthfully, I don’t really feel like I’ve felt a variety of challenges. As a result of I didn’t have as a lot management earlier than, I didn’t really feel as a lot stress on guaranteeing choices. However I want I did make extra choices. Now I could make all the choices; I’ve to. It’s overwhelming, virtually. Like, I actually should get this proper, and if I fall on a sword, it’s going to be my very own sword.

So, if issues go fallacious, it’s all on you — there’s nobody else responsible. How do you handle that stress?

There’s undoubtedly instances the place I really feel that stress, however I really feel like my staff is simply so supportive, and I’m very massive on teamwork. All of us are shifting as a unit collectively each single step of the way in which. So I undoubtedly really feel a few of that stress typically in my most susceptible moments, however I feel I simply really feel a lot like a staff that it appears like we’re all serving to this machine work for us.

All on this collectively? Like Excessive College Musical?

Precisely. Are you aware the dance?

[We do a quick version on the dance in our sets.]

That’s good! That was good!

My mother really purchased Excessive College Musical 2 on DVD and I had the soundtrack, however I don’t have it anymore.

Sure, you do. [Smiles.]

I don’t.

you do.

I don’t, my mother most likely has it. I do love Excessive College Musical, I actually do.

Excessive College Musical is the very best. I used to need to be Gabriela so dangerous.

You’ve just lately been on tour with Jhené Aiko, and now you’re heading out once more for the third leg. How’s the expertise been to this point?

It’s been a lot enjoyable. I imply, she’s superb. I’m obsessed along with her. She’s my favourite artist on the earth. So, it’s been a variety of enjoyable simply to have the ability to be on the identical stage as her.

And likewise, she is such an incredible individual, you understand? There are a variety of experiences we’ve had within the business the place the individuals that you just respect sadly aren’t the good individuals, you understand?

I can relate.

And she or he’s actually f—king cool. We go to the inexperienced rooms each day, and there’s rose petals and confetti and glitter at our door.

And she or he’s so real and candy. So, I’m having a variety of enjoyable. The chaos is a lot enjoyable. Yeah, everybody’s fairly nice. I feel that’s what makes a tour expertise good or not—not even essentially the present itself, however the individuals. So, it’s been enjoyable. However the followers have been superior. Her followers are nice.

Typically they be combating throughout random songs, although. I get so confused. There are these items I’d seen on Twitter, like, after we have been on tour, and so they have been like, “How are you combating after a Jhené Aiko live performance?” And I’m actually, like, identical. Like, how do you try this?

It’s so soothing.

Yeah. However they discovered a manner.

As you head into the third leg of the tour, will there be any adjustments to your efficiency, or will it keep principally the identical? What can followers sit up for this time round?

I’d add a tune, a brand new tune.

From the album?

Yeah, I’d add a brand new one; who is aware of?

Getting again into the album, what’s your favourite tune?

My favourite tune? That’s onerous. Possibly “Out of Luck?” Possibly — no, no, that’s a lie. “Too Many Strings?” No, “The Fact.” I don’t know; that’s onerous.

Are all of them your infants?

Yeah, I at all times have a tough time with that query as a result of I additionally suppose it relies on the temper.

Just like the day, the hour, the time.

Yeah, proper now I really feel like I’m type of in a nasty b—ch, possibly somewhat bit in a nasty temper earlier type of temper. So, I feel the dangerous b—ch would come out immediately. “Out of Luck” is me.

I like “Burn It Up.”

Oh, you want that one?

Sure, I like “Burn It Up.” I don’t know if it’s the beat or just like the message I similar to once I hear it, it makes me really feel good. ?

Yeah, I like that. “Burn It Up” is sweet. That’s undoubtedly a psycho tune, for certain.

With over a billion streams, your music retains evolving, however how do you keep true to your unique self earlier than the celebrity, earlier than the respect, earlier than the glory?  How do you evolve, however nonetheless keep true to you?

I feel, actually, one of many issues that has been a blessing and a curse is having imposter syndrome.

Having imposter syndrome is absolutely loopy and shitty typically, but additionally, like, it weirdly does hold me grounded. I do know that each time anyone listens to my music or a fan comes as much as me and so they’re like, “Oh my god, are you da da da da da da?” and so they freak out, I don’t know why they’re freaking out. It most likely sounds dumb, however I actually can be like, “Why are you?” That is loopy that they’re freaking out.

Like, I’m simply chillin’ right here… I’ll actually be like, “Who’re they freaking out about? Who’s behind me?” [Laughs.] As a result of it doesn’t make sense to me. It doesn’t click on in my head for some purpose. So, that’s one of many issues that I feel is sort of a bizarre method to keep grounded as a result of I simply recognize it each time; I simply don’t count on it.

After which I feel the opposite manner is I’m very shut with my household, and I’m greatest associates with a few of the individuals I work with. I’m additionally greatest associates with anyone who I’ve recognized since third grade. She’s been my greatest pal since third grade. So, it’s simply type of a reminder to me that if she nonetheless loves me, I’m the identical individual… As a result of I do know if I have been to f—okay round and alter up, she wouldn’t be f—king with me, you understand? So having these individuals in your life which can be your constants from once you have been a baby, it’s like, you understand that that core you continues to be there.

Yeah, prefer it reminds you of the place you got here from.

Yeah, precisely. So, it’s nice. I like that.

Do you suppose you’re underrated?

It’s so humorous; I don’t really feel like I’m underrated. I feel individuals say that I’m underrated. I really feel prefer it’s type of a bizarre factor to say simply because I do know my followers price me, you understand? I feel they imply it as a praise, clearly, once they say you’re underrated. To me, it’s like what the nice Marcel the Shell stated: “in comparison with what?” Like, in comparison with what? As a result of I really feel like I’ve carried out—like, sure, I’ve been on this s—t for twelve years, most likely nearer to 13 at this level, and it’s been an extended ass time.

Do I really feel like I’m the place I believed I’d be once I was a child? No, not essentially. But additionally, I feel I’ve sure expectations that folks don’t most likely learn about, you understand? I’ve my very own targets. I feel individuals count on that in the event that they love you and your music is nice and also you’re an amazing individual.

So from what they’ll see, they assume that you have to be — otherwise you need to be — like Beyoncé, you understand? Or near that. And that’s simply not the place I need to be. So whereas I recognize individuals saying that, as a result of actually what they’re saying is extra individuals ought to learn about you as a result of your music is so nice.

I actually am proud of the place I’m at. Clearly, I’d love to earn more money [laughs] and have extra individuals hear my music, but it surely’s actually additionally about simply making individuals really feel one thing. And I’ve needed to be taught to get the love again for music, and it’s not like totally there but, however I feel individuals weirdly — and I don’t need to sound ungrateful — however individuals saying issues like “underrated” takes away that love somewhat bit once I hear it.

However I do see that it’s factor, and I’m grateful that folks say it.

I really feel like in relation to being an underrated artist it’s like, “You’re an amazing artist, however why don’t extra individuals learn about you?” Or “Why isn’t your identify introduced up in conversations in regards to the high three, high 5, and even high 20?” It’s not to consider “what am I doing fallacious?” however to suppose “hmm why aren’t I being talked about?” what I’m saying?

Yeah, I feel possibly that’s what it’s. Possibly I’m simply projecting as a result of when individuals say that, I’m routinely pondering, “Am I doing one thing fallacious? Am I not the place individuals see me or the place individuals suppose I ought to be?” Does that make sense?

Yeah, moving into the highest three, who would you say is in your high three?

Ooh. That’s onerous. I’d say Jhené, Sinéad [Harnett], and Destin [Conrad]. I simply threw two of my associates in there as a result of they’re f—king unbelievable. I imply, Destin is an unbelievable songwriter. He’s so f—king gifted.

After which Sinéad is among the most superb singers I’ve ever heard in my life. I get so mad at her when she sings in entrance of me as a result of I’m like, “How the f—okay are you able to…”

Sound like that.

Yeah, like, how do you do it? Her runs are so clear, and he or she’s so humorous and real. So, yeah, I’m gonna put them up there in my high three. After which Jhené for apparent causes.

Talking of Jhené, collaboration coming quickly? Received any tracks lined up?

We’ll should see.

The persons are asking.

Individuals will get a solution once I give them a solution. [Laughs.]

Are you a rap fan in any respect?

To be trustworthy, I don’t actually take heed to music.

So what do you do once you’re touring?

Play Township on my cellphone, take heed to audiobooks, take heed to spooky podcasts. I watch a variety of exhibits trigger it’s actually comforting for me to only have one thing on within the background. However, yeah, I don’t actually really feel prefer it.

I really feel like a variety of artists say that. They’re like, “No, we don’t take heed to music. We simply exist.” I don’t know, for me, I’m strolling someplace, headphones in. I’m going to work, headphones in. I’m working, headphones are in…

That’s so good.

How do y’all dwell and never have your headphones in?

I don’t know; I really feel like once you do it for a job, it’s like something, you understand? Like a chef most likely doesn’t need to come residence and cook dinner, and that’s the very first thing that they do once they get off work. I really feel prefer it’s partially that. I feel additionally simply a variety of dangerous, dangerous f—king experiences within the business.

I simply don’t need to be reminded of sure issues or sure individuals simply by listening to, like, a f—king playlist on Spotify, you understand? I’d moderately simply have my very own recent concepts. I feel that’s one other a part of it.

You’re feeling like enjoying tracks influences you in a manner?

Possibly. I don’t even need it to be a query, I feel. However, yeah, I don’t take heed to music in any respect. More often than not once I’m listening to music — this isn’t even to be like immodest — I’m listening to my very own music, but it surely’s my music that I simply made as a result of I need to ensure that I adore it, you understand?

Music for me could be very connected to experiences and emotion. Should you go to a live performance, you both love the album otherwise you hate the album, and so listening to music type of does that very same factor for me.

Like, I need to take heed to the album and listen to the tales that I’ve been by and type of relive that for a second, simply to giggle at it or simply see that some artwork got here out of it, you understand?

Why did you stray away from performing?

I really didn’t actually stray away. I feel it was simply that there was a lot happening with music on the time that it simply made extra sense than going out for roles that have been simply probably not suited to me on the time— probably not what I needed to do. I’m wanting ahead to performing once more, however by the point I used to be able to get again into performing, the entire world shut down, after which there was a strike, and like, you understand, I simply wasn’t very fortunate when it got here to that point of my performing profession. However I’m excited to get again into it.

So we’re going to see you on the display screen? The silver display screen or a TV display screen?

We’ll discover out. I’ll take both one.