Interview: Prynne

We sit down with Prynne to talk all things music. She opens up about her creative process, her connection to her late father (a member of Hello Sailor), and the importance of staying true to her artistic voice.

INTERVIEWS

How did this all start, did you grow up loving music, singing. Was this always a dream for you?
‍I grew up constantly writing poems and kept them all in notebooks under my bed. I never considered doing music until I was 21 and realised that I had a knack for songwriting

Who are your music inspirations/ do you look up to?
‍My all time favourite artist is Bon Iver, and some other artists I admire are Charlotte Cardin, Sarah Klang, Joni Mitchell, ODESZA, Florence & The Machine, HAIM

What keeps you motivated?
‍I’ve definitely been through difficult periods when there’s a lot going on in my personal life, or I feel insecure about my career. And the one thing that I’ve come back to again and again is the deep connection to why I write songs and the purpose behind it. When it all feels very hard in the ‘music business’, what can feel motivating is something as simple as sitting at my piano in the quiet, privacy of night and writing a song that comes straight from the heart. Because it reminds me of the pure magic of music, and that’s really what it’s all about.

Let’s talk about your album, A Fleeting Moment Of Clarity, tell us more about this, the inspo etc.
‍The album is an eclectic journey through my 20’s and all of the life experience that those tumultuous years held for me. The exploration of genre and style on the album makes for a diverse listening experience - it doesn’t follow the rules of any one artistic identity that’s for sure! Each song is so personal and reflects an experience or period of time - for example when I left New Zealand after my dad passed away, those years were such a wild and complicated ride. Navigating heartbreak, figuring out who I really am and what I believe in, what I love about the world and what pains me about it, haha! It was a very cathartic album for me to write. I really needed to honour those parts of my life so that I could let them go.

How did growing up with a famous father impact you and impact the music you’re now making?
‍To be honest life just felt so normal, we grew up in acute little house in Titirangi and I was a total nature child! My parents really created a safe and magical life for my brother and I, dad was the most grounded family man when he wasn’t being a rock n roller! The only thing I can say about the impact of him being in Hello Sailor was how exciting it was to be able to go and watch him play and be around the band. I do remember him getting a lot of attention as he was so loved by everyone!

In terms of the music I’m making now, I’ve always had a pretty instinctive sense of who I am as an artist - what (but more importantly how)I want to say it. I’m super grateful for that and I think that is what comes from my dad. He was completely his own original type of person and without realising it he really taught me to love my own ME-ness. I do put high standards on myself when it comes to what I’m putting out there feeling real and honest. There are so many amazing artists out there and it can be hard, especially at the start, to think that you should go and make something that sounds like that artist, rather than connecting with what really is yearning to come from you.

What is your process when it comes to song writing, is it something that happens in the moment or do you come into it already knowing what you want to say?
‍I think I’m more of a poet at heart (I think a lot of song writers will say this!) because I love writing the words that create the story. So the way I do it most often is writing lyrics into notes on my phone whenever the inspiration comes, I’ve got hundreds of notes of songs (just lyrics) that are either finished or partially finished, and they’re all swimming around in my head all the time. So even if it’s a lyric I started writing last year, as soon as I sit at the piano and start playing something, those random lyrics I wrote last year will pop into my head as the perfect fit. Then I’ll alter it to fit the rhythm and edit it down etc. It kind of comes together instinctively. The hard part for me is finishing the song and editing it, culling lyrics etc. impossible! Occasionally songs come out like a fully formed miracle in a matter of minutes and then I really have to wonder if it was actually my little brain that came up with that, ha ha!! Lately I’ve been waking up with songs playing in my dreams that I’ve made up while sleeping andI can’t for the life of me remember them when I wake up but I’ll work on tha tone and let you know!

What burger do you think A Fleeting Moment Of Clarity’ would be if it were on the BF menu and why?
Totally the Modifried Thunderbird with added pineapple! Packed full of juicy goodness with an exciting tangy twist.

What would your ideal BF burger contain?
‍This question is so hard. I’m salivating just trying to decide. It would have to be buttermilk chicken with melted cheese and lil slices of gherkin, crunchy lettuce, tomato and both tomato sauce and aioli INSIDE the burger.

Sound Check, Vibe Check

1. What is your go to song to Jam out to in the car?

Slow Song - The Knocks & Dragonette (it’s not actually slow)

2. Who is your favourite artist at the moment?

Sarah Klang

3. One thing you can’t perform without?

A double whiskey on the rocks with some Manuka honey. It’s a whole thing

4. One artist or band you would love to co-lab with?

ODESZA

5. Go to BurgerFuel order?

Modifried Thunderbird with Motobites!

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