Swiss live performer/singer/songwriter/producer Natascha Polké has just dropped her melodic but dark-edged, indie-spiced three-track EP ‘Into You’, out now on [PIAS] Électronique. Her sophomore EP on the new electronic arm of the historic imprint features eponymous exclusive track ‘Into You’.
The Zurich-born London-based talent recently rose from the Swiss techno underground to become a world name as her sweet/dark mix of indie/folk-pop with techno won her millions of Spotify streams, the London Roundhouse Rising prize leading to a 4-year residency, and releases on Anjunadeep, Einmusika, Stil vor Talent and Gardens of Babylon, as well as live performances at Club Chinois Ibiza, Scorpios Mykonos, Hamburg’s Dockville… with the likes of Parra for Cuva, Agoria, Tale of Us, Rampa, Christian Löffler, Kollektiv Turmstrasse and Miss Monique.
We had a chat with Natascha around the new EP, the story behind it, and what she’s got coming up..
Hey Natascha, hope you’re well! Where in the world are you speaking to us from today?
Hi there, thanks for having me! I’m currently in my studio in Zürich.
You’ve just dropped your EP ‘Into You’ on [PIAS] Électronique. Congratulations on the release, how long have you been working on it? How does it feel to finally have it out there in the world?
Thank you so much! I actually started working on this EP during my winter break about a year ago. The whole process of releasing music can be quite lengthy, so I’m absolutely thrilled to finally share these tracks with everyone.
When you started writing the songs, did you have an EP in mind, and think about how they all would work together on one EP? Or did you just create one track after another, and then decide later to release them as a body of work?
When I first started writing, creating an EP wasn’t my primary goal. Yet, as I finished each track, it became clear these three tracks shared a common heartbeat. It was definitely the raw emotions and butterflies that found their way into these songs. Thus, it felt natural to unite them on a single EP.
Where as for example ‘Mind Games’, that I also created during the same time, stemmed from a different source of inspiration altogether, and therefore wasn’t added.
What key gear was essential in the creation of these tracks? ‘Heavens Will Fall’ was more software/digital based right, and the others more analog?
You’re absolutely right! ‘Heavens Will Fall’ was heavily influenced by digital production methods, as I experimented with new plugins for that track. On the other hand, ‘Into You’ relied heavily on analog equipment, particularly my Moog Sub 37 synthesiser. I find that working with analog gear often yields a richer sound. Additionally, for ‘Into You,’ I incorporated beautiful, dreamy wind chimes, which contributed significantly to the overall ambiance. Interestingly, ‘Into You’ came together quite swiftly, whereas ‘Heavens Will Fall’ took me considerably longer to produce.
We read that ‘Into You’, the latest track on the EP is one of your favourite songs you’ve ever written and was written about your relationship. Do you get inspiration from your relationships and personal experiences often? Or are your tracks usually inspired by a musical moment or a studio jam session?
Typically, I tend to shy away from straightforward love songs. I prefer to explore thought-provoking concepts that delve into the complexities of the mind, often with a hint of darkness. Then from there I try to connect it to my own emotions.
With ‘Into You,’ it was the other way around. I began with a personal experience and then infused it with an element of vulnerability, to add depth to the narrative.
As things start warming up for the summer season, where will we be able to catch you playing?
I’m absolutely looking forward to the summer ahead! You can find me playing every weekend throughout Europe. I have a few exciting festival appearances lined up, including Fusion, Bucht der Träumer, and Zürich Open Air. Additionally, I’ll be embarking on a tour with KIASMOS, which I’m incredibly excited about. And if all goes well with my USA visa application, there might be a trip across the pond in August, but I can’t reveal too much about that just yet!
Anything else we should know?
That wraps it up for now, thank you so much for having me!
Thanks!
Natascha Polké ‘Into You’ EP is out now on [PIAS] Électronique. Get it here!
