A CONVERSATION WITH... DIRT FLIRT
We talked with Dirt Flirt on her self-titled debut EP, exploring heartbreak, identity, and the messy joy of being young and vulnerable.
Dirt Flirt feels like a bold introduction. What did you want people to feel or understand about you after hearing this debut EP?
It feels like the right introduction. I want people to know what I'm about and to feel like they're invited into this world I've created.
The EP explores themes like heartbreak, self-sabotage, and queer identity with both rawness and humor. How do you strike that emotional balance in your songwriting?
I think that balance is how I deal with real-life things I experience. I love exploring the playful side of vulnerability when I write. I think it's what inspires me to write the most. So it comes kind of naturally. I'm not sure I'd be capable of writing a sad song that was just really melancholic and serious.
Your sound has drawn comparisons to The Japanese House and 070 Shake, but what do you think sets Dirt Flirt apart sonically?
Sonically, the EP kind of lives in its own world, and each track draws from different influences. I like that it can't quite be put in a box. Sure, it's an alt-pop record, but that's such a broad umbrella term. I've been told I have a unique voice, too, which helps in being set apart.
Was there a particular track on the EP that unlocked the sound or tone for the rest of the project?
Funnily enough, every track seemed to change the direction. It took me a while to realise how these tracks could all work together, but now they just seem perfect together. The first track I wrote was ‘Dramatic’, and I think the songs got less emo and more pop from there.
‘Necklace’ is an incredibly haunting opener. Can you talk about the relationship dynamic that inspired it?
It started with a note I found in my phone about not wanting to be so reckless when dating people, and the narrative is based on a combination of experiences and relationships I've been in. The narrative of a being in a toxic dynamic, but neither one of you stops it or takes any of the blame for this, then wanting to get out of this toxic pattern, but you can't do that if you don't accept you're at fault. That's how I came up with the concept of the devil on my shoulder being a sweet-talker and talking me into doing things. It's not my fault, it's the devil's fault.
‘Dramatic’ leans into your theatrical side while being emotionally self-aware — do you ever find catharsis in exaggerating your own feelings?
100% - which is opposite to how I deal with my feelings in everyday life. I’m quite introverted and reserved. But I guess I’m also not really exaggerating, because when I wrote that song, I really had been feeling the things I was writing about.
‘Boyfriend’ reads like a queer heartbreak anthem. What does that track mean to you personally?
This track is really special to me, because it allowed me to open up about feeling not good enough for somebody purely because of my identity, which was something younger me really struggled with. I think it resonates with people more than any other track because it's about difficult emotions like shame and rejection, but it also plays with innocent, nostalgic imagery, like sleepovers and hiding behind the bleachers, etc. That combination feels so important to the song.
‘Bodycount’ deals with being reduced to a number. How did that concept come to you, and what was the hardest part of writing it?
The concept came to me after a breakup when I realised I wasn't special to this person anymore. We became strangers in what felt like an overnight, and that's a crazy feeling. Like someone who knows everything about you is suddenly not in your life, and you become a memory. The hardest part of writing it was writing the verses. We had the chorus first, which I was obsessed with as soon as we wrote it, then I knew there was pressure to write verses that were just as good.
‘Don’t Go’ closes the EP on such a ghostly, introspective note. Why did you choose this as the final track?
For that exact reason, because it’s ghostly and comes across as a desperate cry for attention, then stops so suddenly. I debated whether to end on a big cathartic emotional song like ‘Bodycount’, but I think that would’ve felt too satisfying. ‘Don’t Go’ ends, and you’re like "wait...what? Is that it?". I like that.
You’ve described yourself as an “ex-emo”. How does that past influence your approach to writing alt-pop now?
I honestly think pop music is really emo; that's my approach. I think what's changed how I write more than anything has been collaborating with other people.
As a queer artist, how important is it for you to create space for stories that aren’t always reflected in mainstream pop?
So important - that’s a big reason for this project. There are a lot of very important queer artists in mainstream pop, but there is also very little representation of masculine lesbians in mainstream pop music. That's something I want to change. It's one thing to create a separate space for these stories, but our stories deserve to be in the mainstream just as much as anybody else's, and I strongly believe that's the way we're headed.
What role did your producer, Redshank, play in shaping the emotional and sonic core of the EP?
Redshank played a really important role in this. We worked on every track together, and he totally got the vision every time. I could describe a vibe or emotion, and he knew exactly how to capture it. Working with someone who really believes in me and my vision meant that I didn't feel the need to hold back.
Your visuals are striking. Especially from the ‘Dramatic’ video to the lyric clips. What inspires the aesthetic side of Dirt Flirt?
I have a pretty visual brain, and I used to be really into videography, so I’ve tapped into that for my visuals. I’m excited to see how far I can push this in future, it’s quite fun working with no budget because the limitations force me to be really creative. I like landscapes, like the desert from the ‘Dramatic’ video, and the suburban setting of the ‘Boyfriend’ video. They both capture the vibe of the song just through the location and through my performance. I love the simplicity.
Do you think there's a specific mood or place where this EP is best listened to: late-night drives, headphones in bed, after a breakup?
All of the above.
Now that this debut is out in the world, what’s next for Dirt Flirt? And what do you hope listeners take away from this first chapter?
My plan this year is to just keep releasing - I’ve got so much music that I’m sitting on. More shows, too. I hope listeners feel like they've seen a side of me that I've never shown the world before. More than anything, I hope anyone who likes the music chooses to stick around. I want the community around my music to be a place free of judgment, and a space to embrace vulnerability.
