Charli XCX, "Claws"

How do you feel about your new chapter of new music?

I'm super excited. I'm so hungry to meet new people because me and my friend have been doing stuff for three or four years and we only started to get some recognition last year. But the amount of people who fuck with us in Russia is kind of crazy. I need more, I want more, I need everything. I want everyone to hear this shit.

Where did you grow up in Russia?

Vladivostok. I lived there all my life before I turned 16. I was never about being based in Moscow.

Has growing up in Russia influenced your music?

Have you watched the movie, Anora?

Yes.

Vanya is THE guy, he's a worldwide player. I really love to show my Russian side. I'm not gonna lie, it really plays with my ego, and it pushes me to deliver music that's not only for Russian listeners.

What are 3 words that comes to your mind when you think about your latest music?

Paradox.

Ritual.

9mm.

How does being a part of Viperr and collaborating with other artists influence your music?

Viperr is not just about collaborating. It’s more than even a collective, it's a family. It’s the type of thing where I have his back and he has mine when I’m down. Me and my friend Kai Angel have been building this thing out of years of struggling and not being heard and shit.

But we are also different. Sometimes he wants this direction and I want that direction but somehow our mutual goals and expectations allow us to collaborate on our lives not on just our music. We've been going through this journey together.

How many years have you been collaborating with Kai Angel?

We’ve been locked in since 2022 I guess. I don’t know…He my twin.

It's dope that you have that type of family vibe. I saw that you've experimented with a lot of different genres. Is there any genre that you want to explore that you haven't yet?

I feel like I want to be and forever have been Madonna in her prime. I feel it inside of me. I have countless amounts of music in different genres. I just don't have a chance to release it because most people are just not ready. They won't try this shit or they just want an old version of me, you feel me? I wish they could hear my stuff. I'm really not on some ego shit, I'm just saying that it takes time. It really takes time.

So you feel you have Madonna inside of you?

Kind of yeah.

Love that. Are there any specific genres you can think of?

I feel like I’m referencing my favorite music from 2011-2016 but I love to take inspiration from the biggest pop stars, the “hidden gem” songwriters, and alternative divas. Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, OPN, Jack Antonoff , Arca....I don’t know. I never think about where I’m going to end up experimenting and playing with genres and combining them. I have some songs that sound like rage-beach-ambient-deconstructed ballads.

What's your favorite song right now?

Hmmm I would say my favorite song right now is Frank Ocean’s new snippet where he says “...I wanna drink ur words like wine... “ I love his vibe. But my favorite song by him is Pyramids.

Who would you say are some of your biggest artistic influences?

I’ll bring flowers to my dad. He is and forever was my number one supporter and critic. But who influenced me was Abel Tesfaye. The Weeknd is better than Michael Jackson in my world. When I turned 15, my dad got me my first mini keyboard for my birthday. First thing I remember doing was a Dirty Diana instrumental remake. I would love to work with XO.

What's something that you never leave home without?

I'm not really into leaving my home. I love being in the crib. I love to meet my friends here, cook some food, listen to some music,  and make some music.

That’s a great answer. And my last question is what are you looking forward to when you go on tour?

We are preparing for the tour but I'm so excited. We need more people united. We need to see the faces. We need to touch the souls of the youth. It's time for all of us to meet and just break this fucking endless cycle. It's time to get real.