Artists Interview: ANGELI
Meet ANGELI, a London-based British Asian artist making a splash with her unique sound. Blending alt-rock, electronic pop, and punk, ANGELI's music is both an homage to the past and a bold step into the future. Her songs are a vibrant mix of explosive energy and heartfelt messages, drawing on her personal experiences to create a sound that is entirely her own. In this exclusive interview, ANGELI shares her creative process, the stories behind her most powerful tracks, and her vision for the future of music.
Tori: As a British Asian artist, how do you think your background influences your music and artistic style?
ANGELI: Having lived and grown up in London all my life, this is somewhere I love and call home. Yet due to the racism I’ve experienced at different points in my life, I've never quite felt like I belonged. Those feelings are complex and multifaceted and ones that I find most interesting to unpack. I started my whole artist project as a way to address those feelings and provide a sense of empowerment to anyone else feeling like that, so that inspires pretty much everything I do musically and artistically.
I blast FETCH! when someone’s done me dirty but I can’t tell them straight to their face, Fuck a Love Song (FALS) when I’ve had someone tell me I'm ‘exotic’ on a first date, or Kohinoor when I feel like reclaiming my power and standing my ground. Although, I definitely want to make some completely pointless songs for the hell of it in the future, because why the fuck not?!
Tori: Your music blends alt rock, electronic pop, and punk. Can you walk us through your creative process when crafting a new song?
ANGELI: Honestly, I’m just tryna blend all my loves into one at the moment. I love electronic pop and love that y2k is making a comeback so I’m leaning into this while combining the music that helped me get through my teenage years. In terms of writing a new song, I have to feel really strongly about something in order to write about it otherwise my heart is just not in it. That may make the creative process a bit longer but it’s worth it in the end because you know it’s all killer no filler. xoxo
Tori: How do you use your platform to challenge the status quo, and what issues do you feel most passionate about addressing through your music?
ANGELI: I believe everyone is an influencer. Whether you have 2 followers or 2 million, you have the power to shape hearts and minds. Why wouldn’t you be using your platform for good?
I’m the most passionate about equality for marginalised groups - which sounds very much like a pageant queen response doesn’t it? But why isn’t this something we can at least aim towards? Call me idealistic and living in a fantasy land, I don't care. It should be the base for everything.
Tori: Your live shows are known for mixing comedy, performance art, and drag. Can you tell us about your approach to creating a bold, safe space for outsiders?
ANGELI: Yes absolutely! I never felt like I fit in (and as an adult probably still don’t) so I really lean into this in my live shows. There’s wig reveals, there’s lots and lots of audience interaction as well as comedic dialogue etc. I try to make my show as theatrical and absurd as possible, trying to up the ante each time to lean into the weirdness and the uniqueness that makes us all so friggin cool. I want to take the things we were bullied for at school and now showcase that on a stage. Community is a massive thing to me and has been really the driving thing in everything I do. Having built a successful WhatsApp community for the core fans (which you can join too via Instagram if you would like), I'm finding ways for the fans to make friends at my gigs too IRL. Each gig really and truly is better than the last and that’s been so refreshing to see.
Tori: What inspired you to take a punk approach to pop music, and how do you think this genre-bending style sets you apart?
ANGELI: I’m a punky punk at heart and it’s fun :) But honestly speaking, it’s not something I’ve seen that often in pop music and have wanted to see SO SO much. This is why I love Rina Sawayama and eagerly await her next move. Part of it is me trying to carve my own lane and see if there’s something in this. Sorry, but who else is writing jersey club tracks about Karens?!
Tori: What role do you think music plays in shaping cultural attitudes and perceptions, and how do you hope your music contributes to this conversation?
ANGELI: Music is reflective of how society feels at the time. We’re seeing a resurgence in ‘recession pop’ when we’re living in what feels like a truly apocalyptic time. When we want to get away, some of us turn to music for escapism which you can really see in the current musical landscape. I love listening to your classic pop songs for escapism, but I also like to listen to music that reminds me what world we’re living in, for a weird sense of reassurance that others feel this way. Call it trauma bonding.
Tori: Can you walk us through your songwriting process, and how you turn sociopolitical ideas into fun, danceable songs?
ANGELI: I usually start off with having a really strong hook because I want the song to be IN YOUR MIND FOREVER. So far, both FALS and FETCH have both been written like this. Once you have the hook, everything else comes so easily. From there, I usually have an idea of the topic and what I want to write about at that moment, then flesh this out with my team (shout out to Plushy and Ian Howell!). I find the humour in a traumatic situation and then just make silly lyrics to laugh the trauma away. Honestly, it really works in healing some unresolved shit.
Tori: How do you stay motivated and inspired as an artist, and what drives your creativity?
ANGELI: This industry has some of the highest highs and lowest lows. You could perform a sold out gig the one day and then be performing to 2 people in a shitty pub the next day. Consistency is something you’ll never get in this industry. What keeps me motivated are the small yet powerful fanbase I’ve grown (shoutout to my fangelis!) and the community of freaks, weirdos, outsiders and people with exquisite music taste that I’m building.
I’ve always been driven by things that go against the grain. That’s why Doja Cat is one of my favourite artists, I really do see her as a trailblazer and about 5 steps ahead of everyone else. That drives me creatively for sure. I don’t want to do what everyone else is doing. Never have.
Tori: How do you think your music can help spark important conversations about social issues, and what do you hope listeners take away from your songs?
ANGELI: All music has the power to educate, so I hope my music has the power to make people think and realise about their privileges in the world to try to do their bit to make the world a better place, because everyone has some degree of privilege, whether they know it or not.
But tbh, what I really want my listeners to take away from my songs is to be mid ass shake and think: “oh damn, this song is about THAT? Sick! I’ll shake my ass some more”. Give me a song with layers upon layers and you’ve got me SOLD.
Tori: Can you tell us about your approach to crafting a live show that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, and how you balance these different elements?
ANGELI: I’ve realized humour has always been my go-to in everything (consider it a trauma response if you will) but I have to add this humour not only to my music, but into my live shows. Whether that’s through a call and response, forcing people to wave their middle fingers in the air or singing songs as Karen, the comedy is tinged with a deeper meaning that people know it’s there. In my opinion, I don’t really need to shove it in people’s faces because then it loses its accessibility, music should still be fun to a degree.
Tori: How do you balance your artistic vision with the commercial aspects of the music industry, and what advice would you give to emerging artists?
ANGELI: Commercial? Honey, I’ve accepted I'm not going to be making music for a long time and that’s okay, because that’s just the way the game works in 2025. My advice to emerging artists is that your music may not be seen as marketable right away, but keep going. Be distinctly, unapologetically you and the rest will fall into place. Make yourself undeniable so people HAVE to listen.
Tori: Looking ahead, what are your plans for future music releases and performances, and how can fans stay up-to-date with your latest projects?
ANGELI: Debut EP baby! Guess you can call this an exclusive? FETCH! was just the start……
Comments
Post a Comment