Precious Pepala Discusses Her Femme Fatale Inspirations, Musical Inclinations, and More
interview
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interview ✦
The versatile artist Precious Pepala is steadily working to earn a reputation as one of UK’s most compelling breakthrough artists, blending pieces of dark pop, alternative rock, gospel, and soul into a richly immersive sound bursting with authenticity.
With her forthcoming EP, Dark Days, set for release on May 2nd via Modern Sky, the 20-year-old singer-songwriter has unveiled a raw, emotional journey through her latest single, “First Love.” Co-written and co-produced with Eg White and Jordan Rabjohn, the track showcases the singer’s commanding vocals against a piano-driven backdrop that swells into an impactful pop ballad. Though beneath its surface, “First Love” conceals a rather poignant story—not a tale of romance, but a reflection on the loss of a loved one, threading love, grief, jealousy, and guilt into nuanced lyrics.
Now, after a stint with a major label as a teen, Dark Days also marks a crucial rebirth as an independent artist, wielding a hard-won confidence and emotional maturity beyond her age.
Your latest single, “First Love,” from your upcoming EP Dark Days, is a pop ballad that tells a deeply personal story about grief behind its seemingly romantic lyrics. How did you approach weaving those complex emotions of love, grief, jealousy, and guilt into a song that’s both universally relatable and protective of the real story, as you’ve said was your intention?
Precious Pepala: It was a lot of going back and forth between the two meanings, the perceived romantic one and the real hidden one, to make sure the lyrics continued to make sense for both interpretations as the writing progressed. I found that I had to somewhat detach my mind from the real story and write as if I were in the shoes of someone finding out that their lover had a previous romantic partner. My intention was always to protect the feelings of the people involved in the real story, so it was important that I got the balance right.
You’ve also said that you imagined your recent track “Lullaby” as a Tim Burton movie morphing into a pop song. What is it about Burton’s work that you connect with on a creative level, and are there other filmmakers or visual storytellers who influence your music?
Precious Pepala: I’ve always been drawn to art which is dark in nature, and l just love how unique and immediately identifiable Tim Burton’s work is. I’ve also recently been inspired by the 1940s and 1950s film noir era—particularly femme fatale films—and I used references from that period when creating the visuals for my upcoming single ‘Dark Days’.
Sonically, your releases feel like they don’t necessarily fit within one genre. How do you decide which influences—like dark pop, gospel, soul, or rock—to weave into a song, and what’s one genre space you feel most comfortable with?
Precious Pepala: The subject matter I’m writing about usually influences the sonic direction me and my producer take. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot more rock music, even some heavy stuff, so I’d like to see myself moving a little more in that direction!
Growing up as the daughter of a preacher, you’ve talked about music being your outlet for emotions that couldn’t be expressed at home. Can you tell us about a specific moment when writing a song helped you process something that you couldn’t say out loud?
Precious Pepala: I wrote my song ‘Bubble Wrap’ during a time when I was really struggling with what I would describe as a ‘crisis of faith’. I was experiencing so much guilt and sadness because I knew I wasn’t the way my parents had dreamed their daughter to be. I wrote the song knowing that my parents would hear it, and I wouldn’t have to say the words out loud. Thankfully, they didn’t disown me, and my relationship with them is better now than ever!
Your upcoming EP Dark Days tackles several heavy topics like religion, queerness, sexual assault, and the power that comes with reclaiming your strength. How did you find the courage to be so vulnerable in these songs, and what do you hope listeners take away from those conversations?
Precious Pepala: I’ve always been quite outspoken about my views on big, sometimes controversial, subject matters, and I like to use my music as a tool to start difficult conversations. I think a lot of us have the mindset that things aren’t ever going to change or get better and I hope to give people hope and the courage to speak up and be bold. I also like to think of my music as therapy for people who are dealing with the things I write about because real therapy is expensive! Hopefully my music is healing for people.
Considering that Dark Days required you to revisit some of these experiences and the emotions surrounding them, was there a song on the EP that felt especially cathartic to write?
Precious Pepala: Writing ‘Sunday Morning’ helped me to release the remaining negative feelings I had from my childhood and growing up in church. It was raw, honest, and very specific to me. As if my 7-year-old self was singing to my parents and the people in my church.
After being signed to a major label as a teenager, you’re now stepping into independence with this EP. How has finding your voice as an artist at 20 shaped the way you make music now compared to when you were 16?
Precious Pepala: The biggest difference is the lack of pressure. I wrote my first ever song at 16 years old and it was the first one I put out under the major label. I was still so new to songwriting and I never got the chance to grow and make mistakes. I’ve spent the last 2 years experimenting and writing without rules or having to think about what will be best for TikTok! I enjoy the process of songwriting now more than ever.
Looking ahead, what’s one conversation—personal, cultural, or otherwise—you’d love to spark with your music that you haven’t yet explored, and how do you see yourself tackling it?
Precious Pepala: I’ve always wanted to write a song about cancel culture. I think it’s a pretty toxic part of the modern day social media driven society which doesn’t allow for people to learn and grow from their mistakes. I’m pretty sure it might ruffle some feathers even within my own fan base but I think it’s a risk worth taking in order to start an important conversation!
