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PHOEBE BRIDGERS
or those of us who practised social isolation “I get questions like, ‘How do you feel about your © DAVID WOLFF-PATRICK • REDFERNS / GETTY IMAGES
before it was part of our everyday lexicon, new album being such a radical departure?’ and I’m
a global pandemic presents a distinct set of like, ‘What are you talking about?!’” says Phoebe,
mental hurdles, which Phoebe Bridgers is chuckling at some of the Punisher feedback she’s
F still trying to get her head around. “It’s all received so far. “People will be like, ‘Clearly, it’s a
right,” says the 25-year-old from her LA home. “I like very experimental record,’ and I’m like, ‘No, I just
days like this, where I don’t have shit to do and can piled more shit on it!’
write or whatever. It’s just hard to enjoy it when the “I did go back to the same producers [Tony Berg
circumstances are what they are. It’s just so confusing. and Ethan Gruska] and strived to try more shit. But
Technically I’m having a nice day but then there’s the the reason that I went back to those same producers
idea that I couldn’t go outside even if I wanted to.” is that I wanted to make something that was at least
You can’t blame Bridgers for enjoying some similar to Stranger In The Alps.”
downtime. Since the release of her debut album
Stranger In The Alps in late 2017, the Los Angeles FAILING WITH STYLE
native has spent an enormous amount of time on the The new album definitely feels like Bridgers 2.0, with
road, supporting that record and touring with lauded the artist maintaining her raw lyrical temperament
side projects Boygenius (with Julien Baker and Lucy and knack for pop hooks rather than disappearing
Dacus) and Better Oblivion Community Center down the rabbit hole of radical stylistic departure.
(with Conor Oberst). Indeed, if not for the Current “Every time I try to do experiments, I fail,” she
Situation, she’d soon be embarking on a massive US says. “I love bands like Joyce Manor, Jawbreaker, and
tour with The 1975, one that would nicely coincide Guided By Voices, bands that have weird songs that
with the unveiling of her much-anticipated second are pretty repetitive and short. Often, I’ll be like, ‘I’m
album Punisher. Released on schedule on 19 June, it’s gonna try to write a minute-and-a-half song,’ and
a record that showcases her evolution as a songwriter, then four minutes later, I’m like, ‘Alright, whatever.
artist and producer – just don’t call it experimental. At least I wrote something!’”
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