SPAREY - ‘a lot of my writing is my expression of gender, sexuality & digital society’

By Run That Again

Gritty, electro-alt pop.

There’s this earthy element to SPAREY’s music that’s hard to pin down or locate in any one specific genre, and that’s perhaps what is most exciting about her. Unique is not a word we use lightly at Run That Again, but with influences that range from FKA Twigs to Lorde, Lana Del Rey to Billie Eilish, there is something extremely exciting, eclectic and different about this new talent.

We thought we’d sit down with the London-based artist to chat about her music, her future plans and her style.

Tell us more about your tracks you've released like Sucker and Sick Fade and how did they come together?

“With Sick Fade I was just messing around on a Cajon with mates and as a joke sang ‘bang upon my body baby boy I’m your drum’ taking the piss being like ‘this is how you write a song’ and it ended up being the first line of the track haha. For me, writing Sick Fade was a real turning point, establishing a style & tone that I was passionate about. I’d been writing a lot prior to this but I think Sick Fade was the track where I was like ‘ahh this is it’, this is what I want to say and how I want to sound. I think the song is a good intro or summary to what SPAREY is about, a lot of my writing is my expression of gender, sexuality & digital society.

“I think at risk of sounding like a text-book ‘creative’ here, the thing I value most about art and the ability to create is having a platform and space that I can say something of importance or meaning.

“My songs are meant to be fun but also seek to de-throne romantic ‘ideals’ often show-cased in movies, music & popular culture. These themes carry into Sucker which is an angsty heartbreak song that focuses on love and the online self/dating. It touches on the role of technology in relationships and the anxiety this tech can cause without even acknowledging it. My aim is to make music that encourages a discussion/ debate lyrically as well as bangers that people wanna jam to!”

When did you decide to pursue music?

“I’ve always loved making things, from when I was a kid I’ve always been doing some sort of project (not to say that they are any good lol) so I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do something creative. When I went to uni I became obsessed with playing rugby, honestly I was a huge keeno and dedicated all my time to it and it was the thing that drove my decisions at that time. Unfortunately I broke my leg playing in my final year which at first threw me into existential crisis but then also allowed me to focus on something else, which was music.” 

What are your goals for this year?

“More gigs, songs and music videos (pending my bank balance if I haven’t spent it all on the random crap from lockdown). Honestly, one of the things I love about music is the aesthetic and visuals that come with it – music videos are almost as fun to me as writing a track! I have big bold plans for some upcoming music videos so any DPs/ costume designers out there who want to try something The Favourite-esque, hit me up!” 

What are you most proud of so far in your music career? 

“My gals dancing to my songs! When mates send me vids of them dancing to my tracks, or doing a drum cover or playing it in their car it proper gets me. I’m like omg as if they’re listening to my tracks without me hitting them up being like ‘Suckers released pls pls stream and share’ ha! I’m also super proud of the Sick Fade music video, it was a huge passion project for me creating an entire brand for it, getting to script write & direct too. It was such a fun shoot and I had such an amazing team to help deliver on it and bring it to life. DP Joe Kalvis who was just unreal brought the whole thing together so a huge shout out to him.”

Best piece of advice you have ever received?

“To ask people questions. My dad told me this when I was a little kid and it stuck, I think it’s really important to take an interest in people.” 

What's the worst thing people tell you about the music industry and has anyone ever been negative about your desire to pursue music?

“That I’m not going to earn any money! Seriously though obviously an issue close to my heart is about gender in the industry, particularly how womxn are treated/ seen/ the expectations of (the list goes on)…  I don’t know if I can personally change this but I hope that at least in my music womxn can feel empowered.

No one’s ever been negative about pursuing music as a career but I have been booed on stage… I was gigging and giving some context to a song I have called Hide Your Wives and a group of blokes booed and said ‘you should try being a bloke’ which was bant – jokes on them as their heckle provides great promo for the track and fire in the belly for that gig! (At the end of the night one of them did tell me they liked my music though – result, equality achieved!)”

 If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? 

“Joe Exotic? Apart from all of the artists I mentioned above I’d probably love to work with one of my teenage loves like Fall Out Boy, System of a Down & Marilyn Manson. I think that rock & metal music informs & inspires my style & sound. I back that rock & metal artists are some of the best lyricists as well, like FOB are genius.”

What's one surprising thing about you that people may not know? 

“I have trypophobia… google it…”

Okay, *googles*- it’s the fear of irregular patterns…erm, moving swiftly on to our last question, what's your favourite snack?

Super noodles on toast with pepperami hands down.

Stream SPAREY’s music here.